Smelly run

[akdunn]

I might try putting some herbs and some other things in it, I live in Florida so it rains pretty often so I see what you mena about the tarp and the water pooling on top. Thanks for all of the great and super helpful suggestions!

 

[drinkoj]

Get a few inches of pine shavings, leaves, and grass on that dirt run floor and let nature take care of that smell by cold composting the poop.

Tarp, if you connect the tarp 6 inches higher than the run roof (add a 2x4 to the existing framework) and slant the tarp to the other side of the run, you can control the "pooling" dip point.

 

[Daisycar]

Welcome!
It would help to have your approximate location on your profile, for best advice.
Are there issues with drainage after rains? That has to be fixed.
Then, bedding is necessary in the run, not just dirt. Shavings, wood chips (not black walnut), plant materials, dried leaves, all good.
Roofing is really nice! In snow country, your birds will decline to go out of their coop unless you shovel their run, and this gets old fast! Roofing does need good framing, and snow load is a big issue there.
Mary

I take advantage of this thread to ask a question too.
Bedding is always necessary in the run? I also have only dirt in the run (that isn't covered) and doesn't smell. At the beginning, when I brought my hens home there was a lawn, but they completely destroyed it. I've always thought that straw or leaves will they retain moisture, more than soil. Maybe I'm wrong.....
I have a big English walnut an a big Linden tree that will soon begin to shed. May I will eventually use their leaves? Thank you!

 

[drinkoj]

I take advantage of this thread to ask a question too.
Bedding is always necessary in the run?

I've always thought that straw or leaves will they retain moisture, more than soil. Maybe I'm wrong.....

I have a big English walnut an a big Linden tree that will soon begin to shed. May I will eventually use their leaves? Thank you!

No, but most do use it. Some people have a sand run and have no problems.

No and Yes. Straw does not decompose as quickly as leaves/shavings, thus allowing moisture to be retained that could lead to mold and a smell. That said, most of the time it has to be large amounts of straw, like the majority of the material being straw. Now leaves are not moisture issue, they'll decompose and the chickens will tear them to shreds, making them into compost/dirt.

Walnut leaves are not a problem, it's if the nut husks are in there that it becomes a problem. Black walnuts are the main one I know about and their nuts/husks are very toxic for animals and gardens. So I'd make sure you know what you are introducing to the run. Hopefully someone can speak more on this than I.

 

[Daisycar]

Thank you so much. Precious advice!

 

[Folly's place]

A smelly run is damp and unpleasant, and most of us in the humid and wet parts of the USA will want something besides that plain dirt out there. It also will depend on population density in the run, drainage, and soil type. Also, chickens were jungle animals, designed to dig into the forest duff for bugs and worms, and really want to have that sort of substrate available to them.
Mary

 

[akdunn]

Ok, thanks!

 

[Momof2monsters]

I use pine shavings in my coops. Also fresh or dried herbs help.

 

[aart]

Is there anything that we could do?

Is there any water puddling inside the run or does it drain well?

BIG wood chippings and some other little stuff.

My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.

 

[3KillerBs]

we don’t have any bedding in it,

That's probably the primary problem.

Bedding in the run serves two purposes -- to absorb water and to digest the poop in a composting process.

Does water puddle in the run and stand there? Does groundwater runoff flow through the run?

If yes to either question then you need to address your drainage problem because no amount of bedding and no amount of roofing will suffice if the run doesn't drain properly.