the smell!?! Any tips? Give them a bath?

[mcjessen]

Wow! Never would have guessed that one. Thanks for the info. I google everything. LOL!

 

[Gypsy07]

Well, maybe you ARE giving them too many treats. I don't give mine anything but chick crumbs form the first 4-6 weeks, then grower pellets from 4-6 weeks onwards. Once they are outside free ranging they can help themselves to all the treats they can find. Until then, they don't get anything. I don't think they smell too bad at all, and I only change their wood shavings every couple of weeks. I also never have any health problems with my chicks...

 

[greytmommy]

I guess I am loving them too much!! Haha! I will holdback on the treats for a few wks and see if that helps to. Whoops....

 

[montanasandy]

Quote:
DE = Diatomaceous earth

Google it, its pretty amazing - many uses.

Just make sure you get food grade.

 

[oldchickenlady]

Mine only get chick crumbles until big enough to go outside. They do have an odor, but not a stinky poopy odor. You can also use Stall Dri to help dry up poop and eliminate odors. You can find it at feed stores, Tractor Supply, and farmer's co-ops.

 

[secuono]

Give them a pan of clay dirt and DE, soon they will smell eath-y and not poo-y

 

[SilkieChickenLover336]

Use paper towels as the litter it is sooo easy to clean and replace!!!! i tried pine shavings and they just got everywhere!! i use to clean out my brooder 5 times a day with paper towels with pine shavings i was cleaning it out like 7 times a day (it was winter and they were to young to go outside they were 5 weeks but not that strong because they got sick)

 

[pixiedouglas]

on advice from this very forum I have always mixed DE in with the shavings for odor control, and now that they get occasional outside visits it's good for any mites they might pick up, I also rub it all over the roost after I scrap off the poo and I think it really does help with the smell

 

[pioro]

that's the downside with this business/hobby
cheers

 

[Huskeriowa]

I like the paper towels when still in the house It takes a couple of minutes to roll the poop stained ones up, throw them away and then add new. Its an easy process when they are young at least.