Strong ammonia odor

[lazy gardener]

Idle curiosity @chickengeorgeto : What do you have to say about the laying flock that has a rooster, or the laying flock that is going into a molt. Do you use layer, or take them off layer b/c of those issues???

 

[Lisa Munoz]

Lisa, how many birds, what is the size of your coop (the indoor portion where they sleep) L x W x H. And what is the dimension of your run L x W x H? You said your run is wrapped in plastic, are the coop/run a single unit? It sounds like you have a ventilation problem, possibly a crowding problem, and most definitely a drainage/impaction problem in your run.

Minimum size recommendation for back yard flocks: 4 s.f. in coop, 10 s.f. in run per bird. Ventilation: 1 s.f./bird in the coop, even in the winter!

Deep litter management if your run is tall enough will, over time totally eliminate the ammonia issue you are having there. It sounds to me like you have things buttoned up too tight.

Reading everyone's responses, I probably do have a ventilation problem. I hate having the plastic on, but if I don't the entire run becomes a mud pit. Just to update you...we inherited this coop and the chickens when we bought the house five months ago. It is definitely not ideal. And...since I had never owned chickens before...I was sure not ready for winter. We are planning on completely tearing this down this spring and building (or buying) a new, bigger coop and a large run for the girls. But...for now...this is just going to have to do. We just have to get through this winter. I feel very bad for the girls. I have to work all day so they are stuck in this small coop until I get home. I let them out to stretch their legs for about 30 minute in the morning. Albeit it is very dark because its 6am. And then I let them out until sunset...which is about 45 min to an hour at night depending on when I get home. When the weather is nice, I never had the smell problem. So ventilation seems like the problem.

 

[RUNuts]

@Lisa Munoz tiny coop. Yes, they will love a larger area. Lots of great ideas on here. It sounds like you are enjoying your new project. I am mine.

Get some shredded wood. Big chunks. Bark mulch if NOTHING else. Layer the floor to help the mud pit problems. The chickens will throw the stuff around, so don't spread it. They will do that several times over for you.

Another suggesting, open a spot near the bottom to get cross are flow. From the picture with the visqueen, it looks like the air is stagnant at the bottom. Open a window lower down to help freshen the air. 6"x6" for a start. Bigger is better.

If that one is in good enough shape, keep it and add an extension. Even a 10'x10' dog kennel wrapped around the door and wired would be a quick solution to give them more space. Cheers