Stinky chicks

[stroud2009]

We just brought home 6 chicks and my husband made them an area to sleep in that's a large plastic bin with a wire top and their heating lamp. They are SO stinky . I'm cleaning it out every two days and it stinks up my laundry room . Is this pretty normal ? When we had our last batch is chicks I was taking care of a a newborn so I wasn't as involved as I am now .

 

[nposluszny]

What bedding are you using? I know that when I had mine, I used wood shavings and anytime they decided to play in their waterer and make a royal mess with wet shavings, the odors kicked up a LOT. I ended up getting a bigger waterer and putting it up on a phone book, got them to stop.

 

[Choco Maran]

We use shavings and really don't have a smell problem. They are in the laundry room as well however there is no door as well as it is still unfinished so no wall to speak of either. So we have air flow. But real do not have a odor problem. Try using a different kind of bedding.

 

[DuckGirl77]

I used shavings as well for my chicks, but it got stinky if they didn't have enough space. If I kept them in a large box, it was fine.

 

[stroud2009]

I am using the wood shavings the fees store picked out for me . Would you all mind describing what you keep your chicks in ? Maybe we need ours in something different .

 

[Blooie]

Sounds like there might be too many chicks in too small a space. If you already have a coop built, why not just brood them outside? Keeps the chicky mess out of the house and makes later integration with the adults much easier. I read that you have raised chicks before so you have some adults out there.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/yes-you-certainly-can-brood-chicks-outdoors

 

[GopherBrokeFarm]

You could try builders sand if they are over a week old. It dries well.in case if spills and dessicates the poop very quickly which cuts down on the odor.

 

[tommosx56]

on a scale of 1 to 10 how stinky are your chicks

1 being small fart



10 being garbage dump

 

[tommosx56]

cos if its 6 or up i don't know

 

[tommosx56]

if you come up with a solution make sure its not toxic to the chicks ( because chicks have sensitive lungs and can be poisoned) and put it up high so it shouldn't be able to reach the chicks.