For all of you with raised coops, do you clean out under them? what about smell?

[Joe.G]

Hi, I have a raised coop, and it does tend to stay damp under there for a couple day's after it rains, My chickens don't spend much time down there since they free range.

It was grass then dirt under there and now there are wood chips from them dragging them down there from the main coop.

There is a odor down there and I was just wondering what I could do about it can I throw something on top to knock the smell back a bit? On really hot or rain day's is when you notice it the most.

Thanks

 

[duckinnut]

Mine is raised but can't say I have the same problem. Is the coop located in a poor drainage area or run off accumulate there? Even on rainy days it stays fairly dry under mine enough so they can dust bath. Not having a good picture of your coop, the only thing I would suggest is bring the grade underneath it by 3 or 4 inches with screened sand.

 

[Joe.G]

That area does seem to stay wet now that the coop is there, it does puddle up which it never did before, I can do some drainage work and change grade a touch.

 

[azygous]

I think many people overlook the advantages of raised coops with the resulting sheltered space underneath. I purposely built raised coops for this reason - chickens covet cover.

If the space beneath your coop is damp, moldy or muddy, the chickens are being deprived of a wonderful place to safely dirt bathe and shelter from the heat. I consider this space as important as the run part. It would be important to improve the drainage around your coop so it can remain dry under there as well as free from mold which can cause respiratory problems.

Keeping the ground under the coop dry and raking out the poop should keep it from smelling.

 

[Joe.G]

It does get dry but it takes a day or so more then the surrounding ground, I need to rake it out under there, there prob is a good 2 Inches of wood chips under there now. I will do some drainage work, I did a total of 800 ft of french drains last year around different areas of my property. what is another 40 Ft.