How can I keep my brooder from reeking

[FathertoFeathers]

I am currently raising 10 jersey giant chicks who are about three weeks old. Today when I got home from school the brooder smelled bad! How do I keep the brooder smelling good?

 

[aart]

What are you using for bedding and how often do you clean it?
Pics would be most helpful.

 

[boskelli1571]

The combination of chicken poop, wet bedding and heat usually does smell pretty raunchy at times.
The only ways I can suggest for you is to either clean it more frequently or move it into a larger area that has some airflow.
You could also try using some PDZ which you should find at your local farm store...

 

[CindyinSD]

If it smells bad it’s time to put them into a bigger brooder. Birds grow SO fast. I like to use deep litter for them, but it doesn’t matter how deep the litter is if the brooder has become too small.

Pictures will help people advise you. For your numbers and their age, I suspect the largest available plastic tote (preferably clear) would be appropriate at this point. I cut a large window out of the lid and affix 1/2” hardware cloth in its place with washers and short screws. If you don’t plan to brood chicks often, you could get away with something makeshift. Just be SUPER careful of fire if you’re using a heat lamp. You need to cover it because they’ll soon be hopping out if you don’t. Also it keeps the warmth in. I lay some smaller tote lids over the wire loosely at night for warmth. (I use infrared brooder heaters or homemade heating pad brooder “caves”.)

Search brooding chicks outside for ideas about what you can do when they outgrow the tote. It won’t be long.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Nothing to add waiting on those photos

 

[PirateGirl]

I'm not sure your setup, but as they grow they need about 2 square feet of brooder space for bird, so an expansion might be in order as they get older.

 

[FathertoFeathers]

I am using straw and shredded paper as bedding. I am using a large Christmas tree tub that is four feet long and two feet wide. I change the bedding almost every other day.

 

[CindyinSD]

That’s a pretty good-sized brooder. Could we see a current pic of the chicks in the brooder?

 

[Gray Farms]

The straw and paper is your problem. They retain moisture and start to mold/rot. Change to pine shavings.

 

[PirateGirl]

That’s a pretty good-sized brooder. Could we see a current pic of the chicks in the brooder?

but still only about half the size that is ultimately needed... it's gonna get dirty and stinky fast as they grow. I'm surprised you don't need to clean it more often yet... or perhaps you do.