Why do these new chickens smell so bad?

[citychicks99]

I have a pullet and a cockerel, and neither of them smells like anything. I would sprinkle the coop with fresh shavings every week and the coop actually didn't smell too bad. My brother's gf recently got 3 new chickens for cooking and she left them in the coop for the time being. I have no idea where she got them from, what they were eating, or how they were treated, but they reeked of chicken poop. The smell is so strong I could smell it from my kitchen. The coop now stinks so badly that I'm considering getting Sweet PDZ. My dog who frequents the coop now also stinks like them. Is it common for meat birds to smell this bad? If they weren't so afraid of me, I would give them a bath!

 

[Aunt Angus]

I have a pullet and a cockerel, and neither of them smells like anything. I would sprinkle the coop with fresh shavings every week and the coop actually didn't smell too bad. My brother's gf recently got 3 new chickens for cooking and she left them in the coop for the time being. I have no idea where she got them from, what they were eating, or how they were treated, but they reeked of chicken poop. The smell is so strong I could smell it from my kitchen. The coop now stinks so bad that I'm considering getting Sweet PDZ. Is it common for meat birds to smell so bad?

Not in my experience. Maybe they were kept in unsanitary conditions prior... How is their poop?

You can always bathe them if it's unbearable. But at least you'll only have to deal with it for a short while.

 

[citychicks99]

Not in my experience. Maybe they were kept in unsanitary conditions prior... How is their poop?

You can always bathe them if it's unbearable. But at least you'll only have to deal with it for a short while.

I don't know... they're hiding most of the time. Yeah, it will only be for a bit. I hope the coop won't hold the smell once they're gone.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I don't know... they're hiding most of the time. Yeah, it will only be for a bit. I hope the coop won't hold the smell once they're gone.

Me, too. Ew.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Maybe you should check them thoroughly after they go to roost. No healthy animal should stink. Check for flystrike , check vents, under wings, etc. I certainly would not eat a stinky animal.

 

[My Bagurks]

Maybe you should check them thoroughly after they go to roost. No healthy animal should stink. Check for flystrike , check vents, under wings, etc. I certainly would not eat a stinky animal.

Definitely agree.
Also keep in mind meat chickens eat and poop a whole lot more than layers. They are bred to pack on pounds quickly. Their physiology is very different from a layer and they process food a little different. I only did one round of meat chickens and their side of the coop reeked. I cleaned it 3 times a week and the smell was still bad. I was happy when I processed them and they were gone.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Definitely agree.
Also keep in mind meat chickens eat and poop a whole lot more than layers. They are bred to pack on pounds quickly. Their physiology is very different from a layer and they process food a little different. I only did one round of meat chickens and their side of the coop reeked. I cleaned it 3 times a week and the smell was still bad. I was happy when I processed them and they were gone.

That is definitely good to know. Makes me more determined than ever to raise my own (dual-purpose) chickens.

 

[aart]

I'd be more concerned about dumping 'strange' birds into your flock without any quarantine....who knows what they brought in with then(pests, disease).

 

[Aunt Angus]

I'd be more concerned about dumping 'strange' birds into your flock without any quarantine....who knows what they brought in with then(pests, disease).

Well, it's a bit late for that....

 

[My Bagurks]

That is definitely good to know. Makes me more determined than ever to raise my own (dual-purpose) chickens.

Careful raising dual purpose. They take longer to get to the optimal size. Leaving more time to get attached to them. If you get the Cornish rock crosses offered at a lot of hatcheries, they only need about 8 weeks.