getting rid of smell in run

[frizzleman74]

i have an open run and it reeks of chicken poo. I rake it every now in then but its still not enough, its not covered yet so i dont know why it smells so bad, what are ways to get rid of the odor?

 

[BarefootMom]

What is in your run? Just plain dirt or do you have sand/pea gravel/ or wood chips? Straw/hay will make more stinky. I just recommend keeping it clean and covering it if you can. Also how big is it and how many chickens? Over population could be the problem too.

 

[stilldeb]

You didn't say what kind of surface you have down - we have recently put sand down in our runs and love it. Easy to rake out and does not smell. You can add some DE and/or lime (agricultural lime) as well. The chickens love the sand, too. We bought coarse river sand, and they use it for their grit, for dustbathing, peck and scratch endlessly in it...gives them something to do.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I'd put sand down as stilldeb said and sweet PDZ- sprinkle a cupfull when you smell the odor. DE works also.

There is a sweet PDZ website with chicken recommendations. I get it from the feed store. It is a horse stall refresher.

 

[frizzleman74]

right now its just plain dirt, but i put some hay down in certain parts, so that might be my issue, part of it is coverd and there are only 3 silkie chickens in it. its 16ft by 12ft so its pretty big for 3 chickens

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

i put some hay down

There's where the odor is coming from​