the smell

[Papa Bear 316]

We clean our chicken coop regularly so that doesn't smell, but their 600 sq feet pen does smell. I till it regularly. That helps some. What else can I do to reduce the smell of the outdoor pen?

 

[rosemarythyme]

What type of litter and poop management do you use, if any?

What's your climate like?

How many birds in this space? All chickens or any other fowl?

 

[McChooky]

My chickens spend a lot of time scratching for bugs so they seldom go in their run during the day except to lay eggs. It stays clean year round by scattering a layer of pine shavings down on top of whats already there ( the run has a dirt floor) I clean the raised coop weekly (linoleum flooring )

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC.

In addition to the questions above,

What is the drainage in that area like? Is standing or running water present there during or soon after a storm? Is the water table close to the surface?

 

[gimmie birdies]

I live in E. WA it is very dry here. I only get mucky pens in mud season when the snow melts in March.

I do use dresser drawers to catch droppings.

 

[Sally PB]

Poop is high in nitrogen, and when it gets wet, it smells. If you can't make it drier, can you add lots of carbon to balance it out? Wood chips and dried leaves are great sources of carbon.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

I wonder if First Saturday Lime might help. And, as others have suggested, using some type of wood shavings or chips if you're not already.

 

[ChickNanny13]

May want to consider "deep litter" ... To help with the muck, pellet bedding helps absorb moister, breaks down to sawdust which chickens work into the ground. Keep adding shavings & PDZ helps too. Poop board under their roost with PDZ in helps alot, scoop out the poop daily ... They poop alot at night on the roost.

You may also want to try fermenting their feed ... Personally aside from the "healthy" aspect, I notice their poop is firmer and not so stinky but nothing helps the cecal poop. Have been doing it for few years, some say "it's work" but I like the no flies, no stink and easy poop pick up when needed. You can do grain and/or feed

fermenting chicken feed