Run bedding smells

[ChickaBob]

Just look for some tips if anyone has some.

I have had chickens now for 3 or 4 years and it is just this last summer than the run bedding is starting to smell.

I live in the city so I am worried about the neighbours.

I have been scooping the top layers off an piling it and then adding saw dust or straw to the top of the pile and the run. (the pile seems not not be the issue). Seems to work a tiny bit but not for very long. Maybe the smell is embedded deep down in the ground now???

Would love some tips please!

 

[AntiqueB]

I don't use any bedding in the run, but it is covered with a clear tarp year-round. When I only had it half covered, it smelled more. The moisture makes it smell, I think.

 

[DobieLover]

Would love some tips please!

Keep it as dry as possible and don't over populate the space.
How many birds do you keep and what is the square footage of the run?
Do you have a solid roof over the run and is it on high ground?

 

[ChickaBob]

Keep it as dry as possible and don't over populate the space.
How many birds do you keep and what is the square footage of the run?
Do you have a solid roof over the run and is it on high ground?

I only have 5 chickens and it is a big run. Almost like free ranging but with a large fence. 25'x20' plus some side shoots for them to play in.

It is not covered. I just fenced off half the back yard.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Straw might not be your best bet. I believe I’ve read that it can get pretty smelly when it get damp. (Someone help me out, please - I don’t use straw.)

Among the things that get added to our run: wood chips, pine flakes, pine straw (dried pine needles), dead leaves, woody twigs.

- oh, and chicken poop. LOTS of chicken poop.

 

[ChickenChick46]

Straw might not be your best bet. I believe I’ve read that it can get pretty smelly when it get damp. (Someone help me out, please - I don’t use straw.)

Among the things that get added to our run: wood chips, pine flakes, pine straw (dried pine needles), dead leaves, woody twigs.

- oh, and chicken poop. LOTS of chicken poop.

I've not used straw with my birds, but I chicken sat for my neighbor last winter. Her whole family got covid on the trip, and it delayed them coming home by almost a week. Her run is covered over top with netting, so water can get in, and we had a massive storm. She had told me she bought straw bales to toss down in there in case it rained to mitigate the mud. I did, and within 2 days, it smelled bad. Like a musty, damp, mildew smell. I raked it all out and tossed shavings in instead. It wasn't a permanent fix, but it was the only other option, and at least they seemed to dry faster. I could go in every day and just "toss" them around with the rake and they seemed to dry within a day once the rain stopped.

 

[rosemarythyme]

What all is in the mix of litter used in the run? The materials there might've compacted down over time so the litter isn't getting enough aeration and that plus moisture can lead to odor and mud issues.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

What all is in the mix of litter used in the run? The materials there might've compacted down over time so the litter isn't getting enough aeration and that plus moisture can lead to odor and mud issues.

^^^I was wondering about the sawdust…

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Is it a sand base? Sand will smell once it gets saturated with poop and wet.

 

[Bsmac]

We have a covered run that stays pretty dry. I use pine shavings and scoop poop a couple times a day. When it starts to smell funky I change it. Winter time it will last much longer! During the summer time about every month to month and a half. I don`t use the deep litter method here. I tried it but did not care for it. Just easier and healthier for our birds to change it!