How to get rid of smell?

[chickens45]

I let my chickens free range throughout the day. We have a smaller metal building containing a plow and lawn mower etc they like to get under when it’s hot and lounge.
The building is raised off the ground and has dirt under it they like to roll in and it’s cooler under there. It’s their fave hang out spot on these Miserable hot days

I noticed today it’s starting to smell horrible under there.


I do take the hose 2-3 times daily and spray under there to cool it down further for them on hot days, but it’s not helping the smell.
I also can’t really get under it to clean it. I can’t reach where they stay under there it’s too far back.

Any ideas on what I can do to get rid of the smell or keep it clean?? They love it under there and keeps them cool so I hate to have to ban them from it. I don’t even know how I’d keep them out of it.

 

[cavemanrich]

I do take the hose 2-3 times daily and spray under there to cool it down further for them on hot days, but it’s not helping the smell.

You are doing the curse by adding water to there. I have chicken gumdrops in run area, and run is dry, for most part. The chicken smell is slightly present, but easily tolerated.
When the chicken droppings dry out, they smell very little, compared to wet fresh ones.
Stop watering, and allow chickens to enjoy the shade. You can provide other things that will provide shade as well. Maybe they will choose these spots instead.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[3KillerBs]

I do take the hose 2-3 times daily and spray under there to cool it down further for them on hot days, but it’s not helping the smell.

That's your problem. Wet chicken poop stinks. Chickens' area should be kept as dry as possible.

How high is it under that shed?

If it's high enough, you could add bedding such as pine shavings, wood chips, pine straw, straw -- any "compost brown" material that you'd use in your run -- to take up the moisture and create a composting environment that will break down the poop and eliminate odor.

 

[chickens45]

Gosh I’m an idiot!! I’ll get the hang of this raising chickens thing someday! Lol

 

[CHlCKEN]

I let my chickens free range throughout the day. We have a smaller metal building containing a plow and lawn mower etc they like to get under when it’s hot and lounge.
The building is raised off the ground and has dirt under it they like to roll in and it’s cooler under there. It’s their fave hang out spot on these Miserable hot days. I should Also mention: don’t wet down chicken poop! I see a lot of other people telling you this but why not back it up, this is probably the most likely thing

I noticed today it’s starting to smell horrible under there.


I do take the hose 2-3 times daily and spray under there to cool it down further for them on hot days, but it’s not helping the smell.
I also can’t really get under it to clean it. I can’t reach where they stay under there it’s too far back.

Any ideas on what I can do to get rid of the smell or keep it clean?? They love it under there and keeps them cool so I hate to have to ban them from it. I don’t even know how I’d keep them out of it.

maybe a bird layed an egg under there, it sat in the awful heat and rotted and then another bird came along to lay and broke it.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Gosh I’m an idiot!! I’ll get the hang of this raising chickens thing someday! Lol

I'm two years deep and feel like I know 10% of chicken things.

I actually came here to say a dust bath helps keep them cool too, so by allowing the area to dry you'll be doing a double favor. My gals dust bath under the coop, and poop there too, and so do the cats, and believe it or not it doesn't stink and it's been in the mid to high 90s for almost a month now.

 

[LizzzyJo]

Yes, the water is the problem. I also suggest throwing a whole 5lb bag of shavings under there and shoving them back in there to create a sort of deep bedding scenario. Possibly 'push' them back there with a leaf blower?

 

[aart]

Possibly 'push' them back there with a leaf blower?

Not sure if adding shaving would help, but maybe.
Or maybe use just the leaf blower to help dry it out under there.
Chickens won't care much for that tho.

Gosh I’m an idiot!! I’ll get the hang of this raising chickens thing someday! Lol

DOH!!!
Oops!
Don't beat yourself up too bad, we all make mistakes...and learn from them.
Just stop with the water and it should dry out OK,
hopefully there's good drainage under there?
How big is building....and how much clearance underneath it?

Might depend on your climate how fast it dries up.
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[David61]

Sweet PDZ stall refresher. Load a 16oz tin can up and sling bit back as far as you can . Get a piece of pvc pipe to slide over your heavy metal yard rake handle and put a screw in it. It should now reach under the shed.

 

[Compost King]

Let me take part in a broken a record here, Keep the manure in the coop dry.
If you can dry out manure you do not even need bedding but I highly recommend having bedding,

My first chicken experience story so you know we all make mistakes:
I lined the floor of my storage shed with 6 mil plastic, then layered about 1 foot of straw. I had the feed and waterer in there. Chickens would bump into a hanging waterer and a little would spill here, and a little would spill there. Eventually the coop was filled with an Ammonia odor that was so unbearable the chickens would not go in there anymore. It felt like Chemical Warfare. I could not figure out why, I had a foot of straw. When I cleaned it out I noticed the worst of the smell was under the waterer. I realized a water proof floor and a waterer inside the coop was a huge mistake. I no longer allow water in coops unless I keep chickens locked in a coop for what ever reason. Water is kept in the run or spread out through out the "free range" of a chickens.