Fermented Feed and Poop

[tigger19687]

Do you notice their poop does not smell, or does not smell as bad


Thought a poll might be nice as the FF thread is 839 pages.

It has been about 5 days with my 12 wk old pullets on FF (short FF, not a full FF)

But I read somewhere that some said the poop was not smelly, and with that thinking there would be less flies.

 

[barred2rock]

Less smelly and more firm, but I'm sure if you put your nose to it you'd smell something. I feed FF and use the deep litter method, no noticeable smell in the coop or run. I haven't changed their litter yet in the two and a half months they've been out there. Flies are not an issue, just them damn mosquitoes.

 

[igorsMistress]

My chickens free range all day and only roost and lay eggs in the coop. It's been 4 months since I put litter in there.

I notice less odor since starting FF a couple months ago when I do weekly coop chores. Poops are firm in the morning, but the heat means lots of water and it's a bit runny in the afternoon.

The only time I've noticed any odor is when I washed off the patio and it also rained, and the patio was rinsed again. Things were just too wet and I was lazy and didn't sweep up the poop first. My fault. As soon as things dried out the issue was resolved.

 

[centralcaligirl]

Less smelly and more firm, but I'm sure if you put your nose to it you'd smell something. I feed FF and use the deep litter method, no noticeable smell in the coop or run. I haven't changed their litter yet in the two and a half months they've been out there. Flies are not an issue, just them damn mosquitoes.

X2

Flies all over the dog poop but none in the chicken coop or run. And sometimes the chicken poop is dry enough I can just sweep it off the patio with a broom.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I picked "less smelly more firm" though frankly I haven't exactly done a smell test to see if it's really all that less smelly. I have a good sense of smell but don't really smell anything in the run so I guess it's working?

They're definitely more firm though. I use a small dog poop scoop to clean up as needed and other than cecals or more tarry looking poops during hot weather, the poops easily roll in and out of the scooper without sticking or falling apart. Still get flies but only on the cecal/tarry poops, not the normal dry ones.

 

[centrarchid]

I have played around with fermented feed and seen nothing to indicate fecal smell or nature is impacted. Both can be impacted by ingredients, especially with respect to fiber and protein levels. It is better to make comparisons when both feeding systems are used in parallel.

 

[barred2rock]

I have played around with fermented feed and seen nothing to indicate fecal smell or nature is impacted. Both can be impacted by ingredients, especially with respect to fiber and protein levels. It is better to make comparisons when both feeding systems are used in parallel.

I've fed my girls both dry & fermented feed with the same bag of feed. The fermented definitely makes a difference both in smell & firmness. It's not just wishful thinking.

 

[Mraya]

Less smelly and more firm, but I'm sure if you put your nose to it you'd smell something. I feed FF and use the deep litter method, no noticeable smell in the coop or run. I haven't changed their litter yet in the two and a half months they've been out there. Flies are not an issue, just them damn mosquitoes.

I don't know if it is the DLM or the FF or both but no smell in the chicken coops or runs and inside the house I have my brooder with 30 chicks I use the same methods and no smell.

 

[JaeG]

Fermenting my quail feed cut down massively on the smell when I had them indoors. It made such a difference. My chickens love their fermented feed too and despite the very wet winter we are experiencing I do not smell them.

 

[andreanar]

Just started FF yesterday, so Ill update when I find out. The girls loved it. Heres to hoping for healthier girls and less stink=less flies!