Smelly chicken run, need help!

[meggers38]

Hey there, because it's hotter than the face of the sun over here where we are, the chicken run is exploding with rancid smell. It wafts through the house and probably to the neighbors. We had the misters on because it's been over 107 degrees here, and the mister was left on too long and created a massive mess in the chicken run. It now smells like sewage and it's wafting everywhere period any ideas on how we can limit the smell and help the chickens and not live in Such a swampy, smelly mess?? TIA!

 

[Azhtann]

I've been using wood shavings and lime to help combat the smell in mine. It helps some.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Go to tractor supply and get some “sweet pdz” in the horse section. It usually has a picture of horse on it and comes in 25lb bags. It will absorb the excess moisture and help get the ammonium smell under control. I use it for everything from horse stalls to paddocks to my chicken and duck areas.

 

[Tonyroo]

You can cut the smell by adding lime and turning the soil.

Or let there poop dry out and harden, then rake it out and compost it. The smell will dissipate when poop is buried in dirt.

 

[nuthatched]

Dont mist them, it's not going to cool them.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

temporarily move them and give the area a break, add wood chips and stall fresh.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

Dont mist them, it's not going to cool them.

I use a misting system in my chicken yard when temps are above 90F. It decreases the ambient temps in the shaded, misted area by about 15°-20° and cools the ground a bit. My chickens do not get wet. It DOES make a difference - my chickens aren't panting or holding their wings out in distress, they are moving about, foraging, drinking, and dustbathing as if it's 75° instead of 95°.

Perhaps this is a regional thing, wherein misters may not help too much if there is already high humidity, but I don't think one can definitively say "don't mist them" - it probably depends on many factors (specifically, that the chickens are not being directly misted or getting damp). Many, many, chicken keepers use misters and there are even poultry extensions that recommend the use of misters in extreme heat - the key is to use them *properly*.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

As for the smell, what is the floor of your run composed of? Dirt? Shavings? Sand? How big is the run and how many chickens are in it?

I agree with the other commenters:

Add wood chips, some Sweet PDZ, or First Saturday Lime, rake through the run to mix up wetness.

 

[paintedChix]

As for the smell, what is the floor of your run composed of? Dirt? Shavings? Sand? How big is the run and how many chickens are in it?

I agree with the other commenters:

Add wood chips, some Sweet PDZ, or First Saturday Lime, rake through the run to mix up wetness.

To this, I would also add - what part of country/state? Is run covered?

Even w/ the humidity here, my open air coops are open to the ground. So we use DLM. I've not always been able to get wood chips, but use chips, shavings, sawdust, hay, straw, leaves, yard & garden debri, pine straw, PDZ & Dry stall (horse stall products), shredded paper/cardboard. The main thing is to either vary the materials or utilize materials of different sizes. This allows for aeration which works to dissipate the scent as well as to allow poop to disintegrate or decompose - aerobically. All same size (especially hay, pinestraw & fresh mowed grass clippings) material can make stink worse as can pack down & become anaerobic- no oxygen & slimey.


If it's wet & stinky, it needs more material. Usually I will just dump materials & allow the chickens to spread it. But in your situation, I would spread it - at least a couple

Another thing - since you know the run itself can be an issue. Hose off/spray the chicken coop & if part or all of the run is covered, do the covered portion as well. You will notice a huge temp difference - even standing next to them.

Here are some of the applications of DLM I've used.

For some reason, I'm not able to use any of the ... items. You can copy/paste, I'm sorry!!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/3Z4ZpfpHr1Nr5DZC8

 

[newtochixx]

Hey there, because it's hotter than the face of the sun over here where we are, the chicken run is exploding with rancid smell. It wafts through the house and probably to the neighbors. We had the misters on because it's been over 107 degrees here, and the mister was left on too long and created a massive mess in the chicken run. It now smells like sewage and it's wafting everywhere period any ideas on how we can limit the smell and help the chickens and not live in Such a swampy, smelly mess?? TIA!

We clean ours like twice a week (pretty easy because it’s on the smaller side), but we use a blend of dried herbs to sprinkle on ours! You can buy different brands on Amazon. The one we have has mint, Calendula, chamomile, lavender, etc. As soon as we sprinkle them in their coop and run, it smells amazing. Almost completely masks the smell. I’m not sure how well it would work in a super moist environment though!