Stinky run!! Any suggestions?

[ChickenMammX4]

Our run is covered so I'm speaking from my experience, we have had great success with deep litter...grass clippings and straw right now, leaves added in the fall and pine shavings when I clean out the coop. No odor, no muck, no flies, no visible poop. Is it possible to put a roof over your run?

 

[Cacique500]

Cover the run and add some Sweet PDZ!

 

[Sasham]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I'll talk to my husband about putting a roof over the run. I went out yesterday and stirred up the ground with a pitchfork and it is much better today. maybe I just need to do that every so often. I'm hesitant to do deep litter with grass clippings and such. In the past we have thrown grass clippings and leaves from the yard in there, and they got swollen and sour gord from eating to many clippings. Someone else in an old post I found recommended PDZ and said it works great, I haven't heard of it. We raise them for organic eggs so I'm not sure. I'll have to look more into what it is. Thanks for all the help everyone. I always know I can count on my backyardchickens.com companions!

 

[TXchickmum]

I absolutely recommend turning over the ground regularly!!! We leave the run with dirt and keep it scooped daily, and the dirt raked so that they can dust. When we have periods of rain, hay is pitched into the run. This eliminates a muddy mess. Several days after the rain is over, we shovel the hay out (to eliminate mold/mildew). We then turn all of the dirt over again. It is a little time-consuming, but it keeps the run really fresh and free of odor. (We scoop droppings daily. -just don't want there to be a buildup in the run and draw for flies.) -best of luck with your run!

 

[TalkALittle]

That sounds like what I used to do when I had sand. I can't believe I scooped and raked every day, adding straw to help with moisture only to have to remove it again before it matted and became moldy. I've been using the deep litter method for a couple of months now and in that time I haven't removed a single poop from my 7'x12' run that houses 8 birds. I've got no smell and no flies. I don't want impacted crops either so I go easy on the grass clippings. It's probably the thing I add the least of.

 

[RonP]

Your odors are coming from anaerobic conditions and too much nitrogen in the soil.

I would offset the nitrogen with copious amounts of carbon.

In other words, lots of wood chips, especially if sourced free.

I would try to make it at least 4 to 8 inches deep.

FYI,
fresh grass clippings are an excellent source of nitrogen, same as chicken manure. Dried clippings are more carbon like.

Hope this helps.

 

[Sasham]

K