I hate to start yet another smelly coop thread,but...

[ONSTAD1]

I think I have a somewhat unique question. First the facts:
I set up my 4'x4' coop as my brooder 3.5 weeks ago. 5 chicks. Shavings 3-4 in deep. DE rather liberally weekly. 32 ftsq of run. Chicks spend days in run and nights in coop for the last two+ weeks. I "turn" shavings every couple of days. Live in CO where relative humidity is 13-16% tops. Temps have been lows in the 60s highs in 90s. Lots of venting in coop.

So my question, could the smell of "dead animal" be coming from my coop. I haven't been aroung enough smelly coops to know what one smells like. I have read they smell like ammonia. This is a rotting smell not ammonia like. I can honestly say this is the first time I have ever hoped something like a squrill has died and is rotting under my back porch ; )

For my sake and those who live around me I sincerely hope this isn't my coop. My gut and what little commen sense I have tell me it isn't. Thoughts?

Thanks

Mo

 

[Erin~TheChickenLover]

I've never heard of this. My main coop is 7 years old and still doesn't stink. If it does start to stink, it just smells like poop, not like dead animals. I really don't think that the rotting dead animal smell could be caused by your coop. Maybe something just died nearby?

 

[NovaAman]

I think you may have a dead animal... Mouse, rat... Nearby...

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Take a few moments to watch and see what types of flies are around the coop and more importantly what the flies are doing...Of particular interest would be Blue & Green Bottle Flies. Bottle Flies are attracted to the odors of rotting flesh....they will want to lay their eggs to utilize this food source.

If you have these types of flies hanging around in quantity...then you most likely have rotting flesh indicating a dead something or other. See where the flies gathering...If the location is not obvious to you, watch what the flies do. They can easily be digging down in to the litter to the location.

The presence of Carrion Beetles are also a strong indication that the smell that you are noticing is from rotting flesh.