Sour Smell in Run

[so lucky]

After such a long rainy spell, the run and everything else is finally dry, but I am smelling a sour smell from the ground itself, I think. I have mostly hay down now. It is dry, and I don't leave uneaten food scraps lying around. If there were not chickens there, I would probably put down lime as a deodorant and neutralizer. Is this an occasion to use PDZ? I have seen some mentions of it here, but don't have any yet. Or should I dig up the whole run and turn the soil over?

 

[DobieLover]

The smell is probably coming from the hay.
I'd rake it all out, spread PDZ and then cover the run with 3-4" of wood chips.
Does the municipality you live in collect curbside branches? That is where I get my wood chips. They are free.

 

[so lucky]

I don't live in a town, but we have a few bags of wood chips/mulch that has been sitting around for a while. I have been intending to use it, so this gives me impetus to do so.

 

[DobieLover]

I don't live in a town, but we have a few bags of wood chips/mulch that has been sitting around for a while. I have been intending to use it, so this gives me impetus to do so.

If it's been sitting around for too long, check it for mold. You want the chips dry.
There are also organizations where you can sign up for free delivery of wood chips. But they come from arborists so they are likely going to be green and an awful large load!
I just get mine by the pick up truck load and that does me fine.

 

[aart]

I don't live in a town, but we have a few bags of wood chips/mulch that has been sitting around for a while. I have been intending to use it, so this gives me impetus to do so.

How big is your run, in feet by feet, and how many birds?
Probably going to need more than a few bags, but it would be a good start.
If there is any 'mold' in the bags, spread them on a tarp and let them dry out for a few days.
If you've got space to store a pile, a tree trimmer might be able to dump load for you,
then you can have a supply to use as needed.

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.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

 

[so lucky]

How big is your run, in feet by feet, and how many birds?
Probably going to need more than a few bags, but it would be a good start.
If there is any 'mold' in the bags, spread them on a tarp and let them dry out for a few days.
If you've got space to store a pile, a tree trimmer might be able to dump load for you,
then you can have a supply to use as needed.

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.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

I just googled ramial chipped wood. I'm gonna have to get a wood chipper! That stuff sounds like the bomb! Last summer we had 150 year old oak go down in our yard. It was a double trunked monster. Just thinking of all the possible wood chips my DH burned out of necessity at the time makes my stomach hurt!
I'll check with the nearest town, to see what the wood chip situation is. We had Huge winds a couple of months ago which took out many trees in the park.
My run is 12x12, with an additional 4x8 area under the coop that is the chickens' favorite hanging out spot on hot days. It stays dry under there. Right now I have 8 teenage chickens, bought with the knowledge that a few could turn out to be cockerels. (not straight run, but the odds are still stacked) 6 is a good number for our setup.