Terribly stinky nest boxes! Help!

[booklover]

I've tried scrubbing and vinegar but it's just a terrible smell... I'm worried it might be coming from the board on the bottom. Is there any tips or tricks y'all use to block smells? There's also a bunch of flies everywhere around the boxes

 

[Mellowmalt]

I use feed bags to line the boxes, bit of wood shavings on top. If you let them poop on to the wood directly the wood will start absorbing the poo over time. It will seep into the wood and eventually you will have a poo board.
Washing it will make the poo seep into the wood even further and it will only stop smelling real bad once the wood has completely dried. Old wood can sometimes take up to a month to dry properly which is why using water in a coop is a bad idea. The water will activate the poo particles, they will start festering and it will all start smelling.
This is why the main emphasis of chicken keeping is to keep them dry.
Dry poo can be scooped up and doesn't smell too much. Wet poo gets smeared around like paint and smells.


Either chuck this poo board and get a new one or let it dry thoroughly, after that you could sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda on there which traps and absorbs smell but I'd be worried the chickens could eat it so only if you can cover it.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Pics of your nest boxes please.

I agree they should not be pooping in them. If eggs get broken and not cleaned up right away that is another possible issue.

I line my nests with dish pans for easy cleaning.

My current set up and my original set up.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Agree with the above. Birds should not be nesting in the roosting boxes, and you should never have a bad odor coming from it. Dry, with clean, dry nesting material should be the only maintenance/care the nesting boxes need. Quickly scoop out any accidents (broken egg, "messy" layer) Refill as needed.

Pictures may help determine what's going wrong with your boxes. Mention of lots of flies also has me concerned. Sounds like there's a source of substantial moisture somewhere in the coop.

 

[3KillerBs]

Are your hens sleeping in the nest boxes?

Mine never get poop in them at all. A broken egg once in a blue moon, but I can't think of a time when I found poop in a nest box.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I use feed bags to line the boxes, bit of wood shavings on top.

x2 on this, makes for easy clean up if you ever get a broken egg (just pick up feed bag and toss). Flies around a nest box would probably be a combination of egg and/or poop + moisture soaking into the wood.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

If your hens are sleeping in the nests, you need to provide roosts ABOVE the nest boxes. Chickens will instinctively roost on the highest point in the coop. But make sure the nest boxes are covered and the birds can't poop into them.

Once you get the nest boxes emptied of dirty nesting material and dried out, spray or dust with permethrin spray to make sure you don't have maggots, lice or mites. Follow directions on the product. Repeat as directed.

Keep nest boxes clean and dry. Replace nesting material as needed. Use straw, hay, pine shavings or shredded paper but not cedar shavings. Clean nests equal clean eggs. Good luck!