how to reduce smell and flies?

[chickennonie]

Our chicken yard stinks really bad. I asked the Farmer's market people and they said chickens should NOT walk in hydrated lime that is used to reduce the smell. I'm looking for other alternative. We are 6 inches over in our rainfall this spring and since we are in the "city" we could get hammered by the Code Enforcement officers.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Our chicken yard stinks really bad. I asked the Farmer's market people and they said chickens should NOT walk in hydrated lime that is used to reduce the smell. I'm looking for other alternative. We are 6 inches over in our rainfall this spring and since we are in the "city" we could get hammered by the Code Enforcement officers.

The biggest cause of odor in a chicken yard is the moisture you are dealing with -- the fix for moisture is drainage. What is currently in use in your chicken yard for a substrate? If you post a photo or two of your run and the area around it we may be able to offer suggestions to better drain the area. For very wet areas it can often be a matter of designing the yard in a way that adds a layered drainage filed to wick the moisture out and away and/or using drainage lines - combined with choosing substrates that won't capture and hold that moisture in with the waste from the birds.
It will help if you include the size of the area, the number of birds in the area and your basic maintenance routine you are currently using.

 

[sg1junkie]

My run is an enclosed yard of
50ft x 50ft with an elevated chicken coop of
8x12 and an peacock coop of 8x12 that is elevated 6ft.
The whole enclosure is covered with chicken wire to keep peacocks inside.
I have about 35 chickens and 4 peacocks. When I got my chickens I over purchased because I thought there would be losses as the chicks grew. Maybe 5 have died. Reducing smell in this large of an area is a challenge. Any suggestions?

 

[AldenK]

My run is an enclosed yard of
50ft x 50ft with an elevated chicken coop of
8x12 and an peacock coop of 8x12 that is elevated 6ft.
The whole enclosure is covered with chicken wire to keep peacocks inside.
I have about 35 chickens and 4 peacocks. When I got my chickens I over purchased because I thought there would be losses as the chicks grew. Maybe 5 have died. Reducing smell in this large of an area is a challenge. Any suggestions?

I put wood chips in mine but hay works good to just make sure to throw feed on it every once in a while to keep it mixed up

 

[powerline]

Hydrated Lime, the white powdered kind, will keep the smell and flies away, in addition to keeping the ground disease free. Put it out 2 or 3 times a year. Make sure you scratch it in the ground to keep it off their feet. Add Apple Cider Vinegar at 2 oz per gal of water to keep flies away from their droppings. ACV will keep their digestive tract clean, too.