The smell of chickens in the morning

[corinnep27]

First off, they are barnyard animals. I know they stink.But I always hear people saying "my coop doesn't smell at all", etc, etc. I mean really? So if so, how do you keep it from smelling?!

I scoop out what poop I can, every day. I put fresh pine shavings down pretty often, and there is lots of ventilation. I try to get the wet shavings out when they spill any water. So I mean..... what else can I do!?

 

[TomGallopavo]

Mine smells like chickens. They free range and only sleep there. I put fresh pine twice a year and clean the poop board every week or so. Coop is 8x8 and we have between 8 and twenty chickens...7 hens, 1 cock, 13 chicks, probably three on the way (as of this morning).

 

[jetdog]

First off, they are barnyard animals. I know they stink.But I always hear people saying "my coop doesn't smell at all", etc, etc. I mean really? So if so, how do you keep it from smelling?! 

I scoop out what poop I can, every day. I put fresh pine shavings down pretty often, and there is lots of ventilation. I try to get the wet shavings out when they spill any water. So I mean..... what else can I do!?

Install poop boards under the roost filled with sweet pdz and sift with a cat litter scoop, I do mine every other day and there is no smell, they do most of the pooping at night. For the water I would recommend horizontal nipples, they don't leak or drip so no wet mess, I have mine installed in a old cat food container works great.

 

[corinnep27]

And also, not one of the chickens sleeps on the roost...... The 12 babies huddle in a corner near the nest boxes. One
Sleeps on the floor and one above the next boxes.... Poop boards are not gonna work!!! Dang it!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

How large is your coop?

 

[corinnep27]

How large is your coop?  

10x10

 

[Folly's place]

My chicks will try the roosts as they start flying, at two+ weeks of age. Without a mother hen or other adults to watch, you may need to start placing them on the roosts in the evening, until they figure it out. Deep bedding, dry conditions with good ventilation, and realize that they will smell like chickens... How many birds do you have? Mary

 

[corinnep27]

My chicks will try the roosts as they start flying, at two+ weeks of age.  Without a mother hen or other adults to watch, you may need to start placing them on the roosts in the evening, until they figure it out.  Deep bedding, dry conditions with good ventilation, and realize that they will smell like chickens...  How many birds do you have?  Mary

12, 7 week old chicks and 2, 1 year old hens. They won't roost either! The babies get on the roost but don't seem to sleep there. I'll try putting them on there at
Night