Can someone tell me how to manage the smell in our brooding area. At the moment we have a makeshift area under one of our kitchen worktops. We have moved our broody hen and her day old chicks inside due to the current cold spell we are having. The area is lined with cut strew. And the have been in there overnight so far. But already there is an unpleasant smell. Any tips?
Switch to pine shavings. Make sure there is plenty of ventilation. Area should be dry and draft-free.
I have cardboard under straw in the nestbox, and sand everywhere else. The cardboard is like insulation for when my broody snuggles down through the straw. The straw is basically because that's what she prefers to lay in etc. Makes for easy clean up if she happens to soil the nest, just move the eggs, throw it all away and replace it quickly. The sand lets you just use a pooper scooper to remove any poop outside the nest, which is quick so again, you don't disturb her too much. Works well for me.
Welcome to BYC I would change out the straw with sand or wood chips and add DE (diatomaceous earth) A light soil consisting of siliceous diatom remains and often used as a filtering material but it also acts as a odor reducing product. You want to go and get Food Quality and its available at you local farm supply.
