Stinky little things

[Tdubg22]

Hatched out 63 of these little buggers over the weekend, they now are just a few days old. Man all these little things do is poop. They are really stinking up the house. Gotta figure out a way to move them out to the garage tomorrow. How does everyone deal with the stink?

 

[USAmma]

yeah mine got kicked out to the garage early, too, for the same reason. And I only had about 15 of them. They still stink as adults and I am now dealing with flies. I have them on deep litter and change out the litter often but it seems like within minutes they are pooping it all up again. The trade off is they are funny and cute and we have not needed to buy eggs since November, and even selling our extras on Craigslist.

 

[ThaJuicyJuice]

Yes they stink, no it doesn't get better, and flies suck. These are the issues that most people do not warn, or elaborate on. I would argue that the deep litter method is futile with these buggers. The rate at which they defecate quickly produced a layer of waste of the top later of chips. They do not scratch as ferociously as chickens which is essential for the ammonia to be turned within the chips.

As for flies, I've heard so many solutions, Vanilla Air Freshners--- didn't work, DE- doesn't keep flies from congregating around quail. The only conclusions I have been able to find is that keep the waste material far away from the quail if they are outside works best. This means putting them on raised wire. Also part of the problem of them being so messy and stinky is how they throw food every where and then defecate on top of it. Innovative feeders are essential.

I have yet to come up with a brooder set up for newly hatched chicks to 3 weeks of age that doesn't require constant cleaning and that doesn't stink.

 

[Tdubg22]

Yes, i've been changing the paper towel on the floor of the brooder 3 times a day. I'm not worried about it once they move outside to their pens. Really want to move them to the garage, but scared it is still too cold for less than a week old chicks. 40's-50's during day and 20's-30's at night. Do you think they will be ok with heat lamps at both ends of the brooder? Or should I just deal with the smell for a couple weeks?

 

[ThaJuicyJuice]

Those temps seem to be way too cold. Unless you can maintain at least 85 degrees at a minimum for week old, I would keep them inside. I am sure there is a solution though that will cut down on the stench and allow you to keep them where you wish. Not all of us live on a farm and can afford to have our backyards or houses smell like a barnyard.

 

[Tdubg22]

I know I can keep the brooder temp above 95 in the garage, just don't want to kill them if they just are not ready yet. I don't live on a farm, but havd a big yard so once they move to theirs pens out there they will not be an issue. Will clean up the poo that falls to the ground daily and add to the compost. I suppose I will give them a bit more time in the house, will just keep cleaning the brooder and running all the wives scentsy heaters.

 

[ThaJuicyJuice]

Yeah usually the time to move them outside is when the wife has said she's had enough + one more week.

 

[Tdubg22]

Haha. Then I got 6 days. She hates the smell, and they kept her awake lastnight. They are pretty quiet except one who feels it needs to chirp constantly.

 

[Sill]

Haha. Then I got 6 days. She hates the smell, and they kept her awake lastnight. They are pretty quiet except one who feels it needs to chirp constantly.

Like having a cricket in the house!

If you try deep litter with these guys you have to turn it yourself, they don't do it for you like chickens. If I do it a few times a day it's not as bad. I also add sand to the shavings. It helps the poo dry faster so it doesn't stink as bad. Of course outside is better!

 

[USAmma]

Like having a cricket in the house!

If you try deep litter with these guys you have to turn it yourself, they don't do it for you like chickens. If I do it a few times a day it's not as bad. I also add sand to the shavings. It helps the poo dry faster so it doesn't stink as bad. Of course outside is better!

I just started a thread about the flies. I am hoping the box fan I'm going to have on tomorrow will dry out their poo and keep the flies away some. This of course won't work on your little guys-- you want them to stay warm, while mine are too warm in the AZ heat.