Help with ammonia smell

[Acre4Me]

So, just have to ask since you specifically said it smells like cat pee. To me cat pee us more offensive than the ammonia smell build up that can occur. So, could there be a cat that is marking the coop wall? Since you say it’s 4ft tall, my guess is your coop is elevated and less likely to be marked by a cat. But, just curious.

Ventilation and clean out of the coop is key. The space is nice and roomy for your 12 chickens, which is good. So, the lack of enough ventilation is likely the culprit, along with higher humidity due to your location in a rainy area. Look into roof vents along with vents installed in the walls.


Good luck.

 

[chrissynemetz]

I'm thinking you just need a little more ventilation as others have mentioned.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It’s about 6X12. About 4 feet tall inside. It’s rather large
12 hen boxes
11 hens and one rooster

the venaltion is about 8 inches tall and 8 inches long

Regards to ventilation, give this article a read: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop.47774/ If the 8" windows are all of your ventilation, you're well below the recommended amount. My coop is 6x10 with about 32 sq ft of ventilation not counting any doors, which is more than "needed" and yet I'd consider adding even more if I were to redo it.

Should I be turning the bedding every day?i so about every week

What's your bedding, strictly wood shavings? Have you considered poop boards? They'll need to be cleaned out regularly but it's less work cleaning out a contained area instead of an entire coop. I don't personally like treating litter in coop (unless you have a working deep litter system inside) the same way as one would treat deep litter in a run, because unlike in deep litter type run, there's nothing to help break down the poop, so it just sits there building up.

I use wood chips (since it's free) and since I don't have poop boards I spot clean every morning under the roosts.

The leaky nest boxes are still a concern because water is still getting into the coop, so that's something that also needs to be addressed. I assume they're top opening boxes?

 

[pennyJo1960]

Are you able to post any photos of the coop please this may help allot I am up the road in Washington state we get the same rain most often

 

[ellend]

Agreed that ventilation is critical. Ammonia worsens with dampness. Are they spilling water? I used duct tape to tape a lightweight piece of coroplast (the corrugated plastic that people make signs out of) to the outside wall of my coop (several inches above the nest box seam.) The bottom edge of the coroplast extends out at an angle and rests (untaped) midway down the roof of the nest box. This keeps rain out of the crack between the nest box lid and the coop. (Hopefully your nest box lids are sloped; if flat, you need to change that.) The coroplast slides up with the next box lid. You additionally put duct tape over that crack, because the tape flexes. One more thought; sand doesn't hold humidity like wood chips do, and sand changes color when wet; you can see where it needs to be removed. If there is anywhere rain blows in, put a frame around it that sticks out, like a tunneled entrance. Same over windows: think awnings. If you don't use tools, you can make a short tunnel by bending one long edge of a plastic strip and cutting that edge every 1/2 to 1", then curving the plastic and stapling or nailing it on. Think of an igloo entrance. Good luck; wetness is gross...

 

[gtaus]

Is there such a thing as adding a little fan in the Ventilation window?

I know a few people around where I live that use the cheap $15 bathroom replacement ceiling fans to force humid air out of the coop. If you go with something like that, be sure to mount it in such a way that it is easy to remove and replace. Those fans don't last long, but I am told they can push a lot of air out of the coop.

The problem I see with using fans is that most house fans will get gunked up with poultry dust and could seize up and potentially be a fire hazard. There are barn type fans which are made to work with all that dust. Those barn fans are about $125 at the low end, but they last much longer and are much safer.

From the posts I've read here, it sounds like you have a water leak problem that should be fixed first, and then maybe increasing your natural ventilation. I use a dry deep litter of about 8 inches of wood chips. I have yet to notice any ammonia smell in my coop, but now that we are into the deep freeze, I am starting to see the chicken droppings accumulate under the roosts. I'll throw more wood chips on that area throughout the winter, but the goal is not to clean out the deep litter until spring. I guess I'll find out if it works that way or not. The smell will tell.

 

[Kchicken1988]

I will take a picture today to give everyone a better idea. Today I will be fixing the leak to get that under control.
I’m still figuring out how to give the house more venaltion without causing an area where rain can get in.

 

[aart]

So, just have to ask since you specifically said it smells like cat pee. To me cat pee us more offensive than the ammonia smell build up that can occur. So, could there be a cat that is marking the coop wall?

I wondered the same...any cats around @Kchicken1988 ?

I will take a picture today to give everyone a better idea. Today I will be fixing the leak to get that under control.
I’m still figuring out how to give the house more venaltion without causing an area where rain can get in.

Lots of pics! Inside and out.

 

[Mrs. K]

Often times the cat pee smell, is a mold. Basements in this area sometimes get this smell.

Dryness is key, deep bedding will help, unless water is being added, then it will just soak up the wet, and that leads to the mold and the smell. Ventilation will help with dryness, unless it adds to the rain.

I do the deep bedding - but we are nearly arid. Every so often, I sprinkle the tops with scratch and the girls turn the bedding.

But I think you have bigger issues.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I’m still figuring out how to give the house more venaltion without causing an area where rain can get in.

General answer would be baffled or louvered covers, but once there's photos we can get a better idea of specific suggests.