Litter/deodorizer choices for inside the coop

[Molliep2]

I am looking to purchase new deodorizer/litter for the coop and was wondering what you use. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you!

 

[cavemanrich]

When I clean out my coop, I spread a thin layer of DE. Controls creepy crawlers. Spread a slightly thicker layer of Sweet PDZ. 1/4 inch or better. Cover that with hay. I have Pine Chips also. Sometimes I use that instead of hay.
The PDZ is the active ingredient to keep odors to minimum. It does not totally eliminate chicken odors. Not sure there is anything out there that does.
The hay,,,,,,,, Alfalfa, or Tymothy, give off its own smell, that I find pleasant.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Birdinhand]

I think the key is to understand a little about microbes. you have microbes that like oxygen (aerobic) and ones that like no oxygen (anaerobic). the Anaerobic microbes are the ones that produce methane, the stinky smell. that smell can not readily be masked. we humans want to make our environment very clean so it's unintuitive that chickens like it dirty, not disinfected and sterile. when allowed, chickens will naturally cultivate a pro-biotic micro biome around them. they do this inadvertently in search of food, by constantly pecking and scratching. the very best way to prevent smell is the deep litter method. a good base of 6-8" of rock free, clean, somewhat sandy, not too dusty dirt is the best thing. I clean my coop once or twice a year, mostly to harvest the nutrients for compost for the garden and to keep my head from hitting the ceiling. the chickens turn over the soil and add oxygen, more than you ever could reasonably, they take dust baths, cover their own droppings and before you know it the droppings get broken down and viola, they disappear. this is their design, it really does work the best IMHO.

 

[Melky]

I am looking to purchase new deodorizer/litter for the coop and was wondering what you use. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you!

I clean my coop with 50/50 vinegar/water with few drops of lavender essential oil in my cleaner. I use coop and flakes deodorizer in the nesting box and chick house and manna pro deodorizer in the run. I spend a little more in the chick house. I also spray with poultry protector coop/run and puff some food grade DE in both as well to remove risk of bug infestations. I use nesting box mats that spray clean plastic and reusable to reduce cost of mulch. I use pine mulch from TSC in chick house sleep area. I like smell. I use landscaping fine mulch in the run. Prevents many odors and easy to clean. I can just scoop out waste with my kitty litter scoop in house and small rake in run. All waste goes to compost.
I scoop out big stuff every couple days and clean everything including dumping pine mulch out completely in chick house every 1-2 weeks. I scrub all roosting bars and ramp at this time as well. Hope this helps!

 

[aart]

I am looking to purchase new deodorizer/litter for the coop and was wondering what you use. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you!

It's about manure management, not 'covering up' odors.

There are lots of ways to do this, but telling us about how you do it now,
and providing info about:
-your flock(numbers and ages of birds),
-your location (climate can be most important),
-coop size and ventilation(dimensions and pics),
-type and management of current bedding,
may be more helpful to you, there may be some easy 'fixes'.


But here's how I keep my coop odor free:
-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.

-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.

-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.

-Runs have semi-deep litter, never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials.

 

[blackdog043]

 

[SimplyLivinthatFarmLife]

I do what most are saying with the deep litter method, shavings, DE, as well as herbs. I also open up my coop doors every day to let it air out and this really helps.

 

[llombardo]

I use flax bedding. Easy to scoop poop, very absorbent(stays dry), Wong catch fire(for those that use heat lamps and worry) and dust free. No odors. I use it for the chickens and ducks.