Managing the smell of ammonia

[Bear Foot Farm]

would the lime burn theit feet? I have never used it.

Use Calcium Carbonate and it will be fine
Do NOT use Calcium Hydroxide (Hydrated Lime)​

 

[martin.d]

I think i'm going to add extra ventilation in the coop ceiling as thats easy to get to and well protected from the elements by the roof, fingers crossed that'll sort it. Cheers all!

 

[Lollipop]

Quote:
Use Calcium Carbonate like Bearfoot said and it will do as required.......Pop

 

[FarmerRob]

Lots of Ventilation--just so long as they can avoid being in a draft or getting soaked. Clean dry air. Ammonia doesn't just smell bad it will make your chickens sick and kill them if it gets too concentrated.

 

[martin.d]

I spent today making two of these that will sit in the ceiling (roof above), the cutout is 7" x 20" so they give 140 square inch each.

We had a heavy frost this morning and i noted that the bitumen roof was wet and dripping on the inside! Not exactly sure why this was, maybe the moisture in the air froze to it and defrosted once it warmed up a bit, but it won't help keep everything dry.

Hopefully the added vents will work (i have space for two more if needed).

 

[JackE]

martin.d :

I spent today making two of these that will sit in the ceiling (roof above), the cutout is 7" x 20" so they give 140 square inch each.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7175/6441614625_6291dbe638_z.jpg

We had a heavy frost this morning and i noted that the bitumen roof was wet and dripping on the inside! Not exactly sure why this was, maybe the moisture in the air froze to it and defrosted once it warmed up a bit, but it won't help keep everything dry.

Hopefully the added vents will work (i have space for two more if needed).

What you are seeing, is a prime example of insuffient ventilation leading to excessive humidity in the coop. You look to be on the right path with the improvements you are doing, by increasing your fresh air flow in the coop.
Jack​

 

[epeloquin]

Personally, I don't like the 'deep litter method. I get why people use this method but you always have to mitigate the ammonia.

I was using sand which worked quite well. It is cheap ($3-$4 for a 50# sack). I used a kitty litter scoop to keep it clean and I place "poop boards" under their roost t catch most of the PM poop. For the winter I did change back over to wood shavings for the insulating properties. But, I still use the poop boards and scrape them off into my garden about every other day. Then I use one of those grabbers that people use for reaching things to pick up whatever might be in the shavings. Honestly, it takes me less than 5 minutes every other day or so. It keeps the air clean in the coop for the girls and it is easy.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Ammonia should never be a chronic problem in a deep litter coop. It just means something is wrong that needs to be fixed. Not everyone does everything perfectly the first time.

 

[ga_goat]

Just a thought , if the ammonia problem is at the floor of the coop , how is a vent at the top going to help ?
At the bulding material places they have a flat foundation vent it's 8" x 18 " and if you cut a hols about 1 inch smaller than they are you could just screw/ nail them over a the holes . this would put air flow down where the problem is .

 

[WoodlandWoman]

The reason a vent will help is primarily because it will let out the warmer humid air that will rise in the coop.

Chickens give off a lot of moisture in their breath, as well as there being moisture in their droppings. Excess moisture in the litter causes more ammonia to be released. If the air is extremely humid, the litter stays wetter, too. Plus, the ventilation will help with the immediate problem with the ammonia.

Once there is a large exit in the roof, more fresh air will come in, through the pop door during the day, as well as the other mid-level vent holes. The older, warmer air will rise and go out through the roof vent.