Stinky run, how do I neutralize the smell?

[nickie]

I thought it was a skin irritant... Now it makes more sense to me. So lock them out of the run, put a layer down (thin?) Put some hay/straw/sand down, keep them out for the better part of a day, and let them back in the next? Keep an eye on feet, do you monitor poop for internal agrivation too?

 

[susanbird]

Quote:
When I picked up feed for my chickens I saw a horse stall product that was supposed to be all natural, it was like little pellets and when it gets wet was supposed to expand in size and absorb moisture. I think that the word Block was in it but can't remember now. Have you seen or heard of that? I was thinking of trying it.
Susan

 

[Two Creeks Farm]

Quote:
Thats pretty much all we have ever done. We always monitor poo...its the compass to a healthy flock LOL! Ive never had any birds, pigs etc respond in a negative way to lime unless someone went nutz and turned them back into their pen/run etc.

Others have mentioned PDZ, ive never used it. I did grow up on a horse farm where we had 35 stalls to tend to. Lime was used there as well but the PDZ works....it just happened to be way to late for me to ever have a need on the family farm. If your run is small then it might be an option. I have 1000+ round bales of hay at my disposale.....so we use what we have haha!

 

[Tambo26]

Maybe I have OCD but I am constantly picking up the poo in the run and the coop. One part of their run is all sand and I use a kitty litter scoop on a daily basis to sift out poo and anything else that ends up in there. Once every week or two I use a fine sifter and sift all of the sand removing all the little bits of poo and food. The other side of the run is just dirt and rocks from which I try hard to pick up all the poo I can. I use diatomaceous earth also in both sides of my run. Its been raining here quite a bit recently too so I've completely covered their entire run. There seems to be less smell when everything is dry. I have very little smell and very few flies.

 

[Tracydr]

Quote:
I was also going to suggest Sweet PDZ. Less caustic. I'm not sure if it changes the pH of your gardens like lime, but here in AZ we have very alkaline soil and I really hesitate to add lime. In the east, lime is a great thing to add.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

The coop addition will be built over the stink pile and will have a floor in it. We are also hoping to keep the rodent population under the coop to a minimum. Ideas would be appreciated!!!!

I'd use a heavy helping of lime on this portion, there won't be any chickens there, right, and it will deter rodents, I use lime to remove hair from hides that I'm going to tan, when it gets wet it burns it right off, it will disolve the hide too if you leave it too long. Very alkaline, and once it starts to burn it keeps on...I wouldn't use it any where the chickens will be walking..I don't have this problem yet, but the best way to get rid of the odor is to eliminate the source, muck it out as best you can, check your drainage, I might try baking soda if it were a big issure, cornsstarch adsorbs as well, if your run is too small, you might want to build another run and rotate them,,oh yeah, chickens will eat the lime and then could kill them and or develop sores on their bodies. You can put down sawdust, or even kitty liter, and rake it out...It's alot of work to keep chickens confined - mine free range all day, rain or shine, we'll see what they want to do when the snow flies, but I can bet they won't want to stay inside,one good thing though (as some people say chickens might eat either sawdust or kitty litter - think of it as bran flakes, ) they won't eat the poop

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

I use Hydrated Lime after I clean the run

Hydrated Lime (Calcium Hydroxide) is caustic when wet

"AG" Lime (Calcium Carbonate) is harmless, and is chemically the same as Oyster shell​

 

[andrea98]

I always feed inside & water out ... Water only goes in in the winter so the heat lamp can help keep it water not ice... My run doesn't smell. I have 9 in a some what small area ( but big enuf for them , bantams & seramas)

 

[binza1979]

Thanks everyone! We went to the local feed store and they recommended sweet pdz. We put a lot down and mixed it in good. There is still a smell, but it did rain last night, so I'm sure that is part of the problem. I will add another layer and then get building.

Thanks again for all the wonderful advice! We will be adding sand around the grass "salad bar" that is already in the small run.

 

[susanbird]

Well, this thread put me on a mission. I have bounced around so much now I can't remember where this stuff was first mentioned, might have been at BYC. Anyway, I am always leery of products that are supposed to be great, so I hunted all over and could not find anything negative about it.

If someone has used Stalosan F please let me know what you think. It is supposed to absorb moisture as well as kill bacteria and is even effective in regard to coccidia organisms. One site says it helps keep flies down too and is a non-irritant to animals.

Many sites come up when you do a web search for it.
Susan