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He's right, this is your problem.
He's right, this is your problem.
Using deep litter method.. But it still stinks!
- Thread starter Gonzo
- Start date
I had the same problem. I have 12 chickens in an 8x8 coop and the smell of amonia was so strong is choked me right tight. I took all the deep litter (pine shavings) out and it still stunk. I then put down about a cup of lime and just a layer of shavings and it smells wonderful in there. No odor (except pine) in there at all. I would rather clean the coop out every couple of weeks as it is easier to take out a little, than a layer that is 8 inches deep. I figured if it was choking me, the poor chickens.....my egg count went way up after 2 days. Don't know if that was a coincidence or if it really helped.
- Thread starter
- #23
am I figurin' the sq footage wrong? isn't it 12x10=120/4=30? Math was never my strong subject. please help without making me feel dumb...
No, I think you are fine on the square footage, especially with a larger size coop. 27 times 4 is 108, and you have 120 sq. ft. Make sure you have ventilation, near the top, ALL the time. What is the square footage of your ventilation? (or just dimensions of vents). I noticed a huge difference in the smell (bad) when I added some hay, so I screened it all out and that solved the problem immediately. But I also use poop boards and that cuts down immensely on the amount of poo in their litter.
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- Thread starter
- #25
wow... you math is so much easier! I'm going to make the ventilation area bigger hopefully tomorrow. My goal is to break out the power tools, let my Hubby see me with them, and he'll take over. Unfortunatly, thats what I have to do to get things done around here...
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gonzo&hispeeps :
If I open the windows, do I keep them open when it gets below freezing? I have them closed now, and even have them a heater in there. (I've been keeping it around 50 degrees) They have our whole back yard to run in. This spring I'm putting up 5 more smaller coops to house 5 ~ 6 birds in each.
50*F???
you are paying a lot of energy to keep them on a balmy beach vacation all winter long!
Mine got a 75 watt heat lamp when it was down to 6*F for several nights. Most of the year when it only gets down to about 20*F they don't get any heat at all and my coop has welded wire fence for the south and east "walls" too. While egg production was down some, it never stopped. They went out in the wind with 0*F windchill by their own choice. Chickens are very cold hardy, IF they get enough ventilation.
People in more-northern climates than mine say that their chickens will go outside down to -20*F! Mere freezing is NOTHING to them!
Besides, I can't imagine that it can be good for them to go out in the cold outside temp, then come into a warm coop every night. Us humans can take off a layer, but the birds keep their winter down coat on all day long.
If I open the windows, do I keep them open when it gets below freezing? I have them closed now, and even have them a heater in there. (I've been keeping it around 50 degrees) They have our whole back yard to run in. This spring I'm putting up 5 more smaller coops to house 5 ~ 6 birds in each.
50*F???
Mine got a 75 watt heat lamp when it was down to 6*F for several nights. Most of the year when it only gets down to about 20*F they don't get any heat at all and my coop has welded wire fence for the south and east "walls" too. While egg production was down some, it never stopped. They went out in the wind with 0*F windchill by their own choice. Chickens are very cold hardy, IF they get enough ventilation.
People in more-northern climates than mine say that their chickens will go outside down to -20*F! Mere freezing is NOTHING to them!
Besides, I can't imagine that it can be good for them to go out in the cold outside temp, then come into a warm coop every night. Us humans can take off a layer, but the birds keep their winter down coat on all day long.
Where I live right now, 50 deg is a heat wave
My chickens haven't seen that since September
My chickens haven't seen that since September
- Thread starter
- #28
In my defense... My DH has been the driving force of the heater and the temp in the coop... and yes, Oh My! My electric bill was through the roof! Funny thing is, My hubby wanted NO part of the chickens BEFORE I got them, now.. forbid his "babies" get cold! He goes out there sometimes in the evening to "see if they're sleeping!" Even funnier, when we had that bad cold snap a few weeks ago, he went out there at night to make sure they were warm, and can in smiling and said.. and I quote.. "Wow! It's warmer in the coop than it is in the house!" And I suggested he go out and sleep with his "babies" since it's so warm out there.... Do you remember Woody from Cheers? That describes my hubby to a tee!
See what I live with?
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If I open the windows, do I keep them open when it gets below freezing? I have them closed now, and even have them a heater in there. (I've been keeping it around 50 degrees) They have our whole back yard to run in. This spring I'm putting up 5 more smaller coops to house 5 ~ 6 birds in each.
Yes, yes, yes. Open the windows. The chickens don't mind cold fresh air. They do mind damp, toxic air. Keeping wet litter warm will also encourage the growth of cocci. In fact, the only thing probably saving your chickens from parasites is the very high levels of ammonia. Try and remove as much wet litter as possible. Replace with new litter. And open all the windows possible. Your chickens can easily take temps down to 0 F.
Looking at your list of chickens in your signature, they are almost all dual-purpose breeds that have been kept in much colder conditions for centuries. The only ones I'm not familiar with are the bantams. If they are sparsely feathered, you might want to post specifically about them. Most likely, they are roosting with the other birds and when it is cold, they roost closer together. I have modern games, which are about as sparsely feathered as any breed, and keep the windows open all winter here. It has been 15-35 F for the past two months and they are doing well. In fact, one or two of the four are laying eggs.
Yes, yes, yes. Open the windows. The chickens don't mind cold fresh air. They do mind damp, toxic air. Keeping wet litter warm will also encourage the growth of cocci. In fact, the only thing probably saving your chickens from parasites is the very high levels of ammonia. Try and remove as much wet litter as possible. Replace with new litter. And open all the windows possible. Your chickens can easily take temps down to 0 F.
Looking at your list of chickens in your signature, they are almost all dual-purpose breeds that have been kept in much colder conditions for centuries. The only ones I'm not familiar with are the bantams. If they are sparsely feathered, you might want to post specifically about them. Most likely, they are roosting with the other birds and when it is cold, they roost closer together. I have modern games, which are about as sparsely feathered as any breed, and keep the windows open all winter here. It has been 15-35 F for the past two months and they are doing well. In fact, one or two of the four are laying eggs.
If hubby is worried about the cold, it's probably better to create insulation rather than adding artificial heat.
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