How to keep chicken poop from smelling so bad

[tony49055]

I have heard a lot of things to use, one is sawdust, that works good but can get costly, someone said fireplace ashes.. How often do you clean the droppings? any other ideas on keeping the smell down and keeping it covered?
Thanks! Bawk Bawk

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

I use chopped straw, and use the deep litter method. When the top layer of straw gets poo-ey, I lay another thin layer on top. The smell is never bad (the straw scent covers it, and smells wonderful), and on the in-between days of not adding a new layer, I will throw some scratch on top, so the girls do the "turning" and aereating, themselves.
I have been really happy with this method for the year I have been using it.

Best of luck, and Bright Blessings!

 

[Lisa7907]

I just use sand and scoop it like kitty litter.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

The key to keep the poop from smelling, whether in the coop or run is to keep it dry. In the coop I scoop the poop off the poop board daily and dump it into the compost pile, which is covered with a tarp. I also scoop any big wet poops that have missed the poop board. Periodically, I add DE to the shavings to dry things out. My run is covered and I periodically add dry leaves. No smell...unless they just dumped a fresh cecal poop, and even that smell doesn't last long.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

I use pine shavings and I totally agree with Yay...you have to keep it dry. When it's wet is when it begins smelling. I also use the deep litter method but use pine shavings instead of hay/straw. I clean out my coops twice a year and inbetween that time I add fresh shavings on top and the throw in a little corn and the chickens mix it up for me

 

[BrattishTaz]

Sand

 

[Judy]

A little agricultural lime added to the pine shavings helps, too. I use pelletized; much easier to handle, not dusty. Between that and some added pine shavings from time to time, it is all cleaned out only once or twice a year. I also add a little DE or Sevin now and then; the DE may help some with odor. There's also Stall-Dri and some imitations that people say works well to dry and deodorize; haven't tried it yet.

 

[psyverson]

I have a lot of banana plants and ginger plants, big leafy green plants that grow well in
sub-tropical New Orleans. I plan on using these, as well as mulch and wood shavings, of
course I'll cut and dry the big leafs before crunching them up and adding to the coop, again
I'll only have 3 Buffs so I don't imagine they can get TOO stinky. Plus a good hosing and allowing
them to free range most of the day should help.

As I live in New Orleans my house is raised, though there is no way out to the front from under
the house, but do you imagine this could be a problem with the chickens seeking shade under the house?
Will they come out just as my dogs come and go as they please?

-Pete

 

[Sassafras]

I used the deep litter method and I have a 10' x 6' coop and have used less than 2 bags of pine shavings since they were a day old, so not so expensive. I sprinkle a bit of shavings on the poop board after I scrape it and it helps dry the poop out so no smell really. It is almost too easy.

 

[SassyKat6181]

I sprinkle with DE and fresh shavings about once every 2 weeks. No stink at all in my 12'x12' coop. I am planning to switch to sand next week when I strip my "deep litter method". I am so tired of having clumps of poop stuck to my rubber boots.