How do I keep the run from becoming smelly?

[Bookworm chick]

The run is situated on a sandy-soil location with good drainage and so far I've been raking out the poo on a weekly basis. Next, I've been using the hoe and fluffing up the soil. I also dumped a wheelbarrow load of garden soil into the run. I'd heard that putting down lime would also help with the smell. Will the lime harm the chickens?
So far the smell isn't real bad, (I just get a whiff now and then) but I just want to keep it as fresh as possible. We also have some topsoil we dug from our flowerbeds which has some mulch mixed in with it. Would this work or should I sift out the mulch as best as I can and just use the soil?
We live on almost an acre and the neighbors don't even realize we had chickens. They are in the backyard and our yard is fenced in.
I don't want to let them range free because of the number of hawks in our area and I'm afraid they'd destroy our garden too.
Any input would be appreciated.
The neighbor on one side has a little girl and in an effort to stay on their good side, I gave her two of the bantam eggs and told her they were just the right size for her. She was tickled pink and went right in to show her mother.

 

[Renee]

Hi there, and welcome to BYC.

How big is the run, and how many chickens do you have? The deep-litter method might be best in your situation.

Since the chickens don't have shoes on, I think lime sounds like a bad idea. It's quite caustic.

Some people use diatomaceous earth to help with the moisture, but you should use it with caution since it is a lung irritant. Be sure to read the instructions.

You can use the deep litter method, or you can put sand in the run. I have sand in mine. It dries out the manure well, but I only have three chickens, and they have an additional fenced yard with hard-packed earth. I pick up the poop in the coop and the yard daily.

Giving away eggs is an excellent idea for making friends. You have some lucky neighbors!

 

[big greg barker]

how big is your run, and how many chix? Do you have another area adjacent to your coop that you can put a second run in? If you do, make a second run and alternate them every couple weeks. That way you can lime the runs without burning your chix feet.

 

[Bookworm chick]

I have 5 bantam hens and 1 bantam rooster. The run (which is attached to the coop) is 8 x 6.
There isn't any room for another pen because of the spruce trees.
My hubby says he can't smell anything. Maybe it's just me. I just don't want any of the neighbors to complain. I'm probably worrying for nothing. It is a rural area and there's a neighbor just a few houses down the street that has chickens (and several roosters judging from the crowing going on).
Guess for now I'll just clean it more often. I don't want to get a problem with flies during the summer either.

 

[cmom]

I use FOOD GRADE Diatomaceous Earth (DE). I have no pest problems as of yet and negligible odor. When people are around my coops, runs and chicken yard, they comment on how they don't smell. This is a good thread to check out.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=189629&p=1

 

[CityChook]

from MN!

I love sand in the run. Poo simply dries out and disappears. My run is covered, so it's pretty dry. I rake it about once a month. I also add sifted wood ash from the fire pit every now and then. I have no smell and no flies. 4 chickens in 8x6 run.

 

[AnnesChicks]

At most feed stores is a product called Stall Dry, a 40# bag is about $13. It is DE and clay, clearly labeled non-toxic and safe to use with a variety of livestock including chickens. I am using it with the deep litter method in my coop. Once a week I add a layer of new shavings and a couple scoops of Stall Dry and give it a light raking, no smell.

I'm assuming is could also be mixed with sand in the run to help dry the poo, which keeps the smell down and the flies away. I'm adding a layer of sand just to try this.

I also don't think you need to worry about sifting the mulch out of your garden soil. Whenever I weed, I dump my bucket in the run and they have a blast scratching through it looking for goodies. Small minds are easily entertained.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

I think lime sounds like a bad idea. It's quite caustic.

Hydrated lime is caustic. It is Calcium Hydroxide, and should not be used

"Ag" lime or pellitized lime is simply Calcium Carbonate, and not harmful at all​

 

[Mahonri]

keep it dry.

 

[Agape Builder]

Quote:
Hydrated lime is caustic. It is Calcium Hydroxide, and should not be used

"Ag" lime or pellitized lime is simply Calcium Carbonate, and not harmful at all

Thank you for that clarification. I was about to make the same correction until I saw that you did so.

As far as the DE being a lung irritant, it is no more of an irritant that any other dry dust with silica like cement dust. Just wear a mask if you are going to use a ton of it and make big clouds of dust you will be inhaling, and you will be fine. Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is great to sprinkle all over the coop, birds, and run to eliminate odors and also fleas, ticks, mites, and other parasites. It is the best thing to use.

Regular agricultural lime is probably the next best thing to use. And, don't worry about it hurting the birds. It is calcium carbonate, something the laying hens need a lot of in their diet anyhow in order to produce firm thick eggshells. So, besides sprinkling it in the coop and run, mix a little in their food if their eggshells are a little thin or weak. You could even offer it free choice. It could take the place of more expensive crushed oyster shell with the added benefit that it would dissolve in their crop easier.

The DE / clay product (Stall Dry) is good to use as well, but ONLY in areas where it will remain dry. The reason is that the DE is the same, but the clay portion is basically kitty litter. We all know of the great odor eliminating and moisture absorbency properties that kitty litter has, but not everybody realize how nasty and slimy kitty litter gets when exposed to the rain. It will cake and stick to your shoes or boots like crazy and is just a big mess.