Willow_Warren Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Hi, I had a letter last night complaining amongst other things about the smell from my chicken, which accordingly is "very unpleasant" - now they are just complaining for the sake of complaining as my chickens don't smell as I clean them out all the time. There is an aroma from them which isn't bad, but is worse when the weather is really damp (rather like this weekend). Now I've read somewhere, but can't seem to find it that there is some product that you can put onto the ground to recuce the arome and break everything down. For some backgraound info my run is 16ft x 8ft. 75% of it has a roof and about 25% has wood chippings down in it. Now I will try and get the remainder of the roof covered and put wood chipping down in the whole of the run (I've seen on anther thread that they are back in stock at B&Q). But is there anythign else I can do? Many thanks Hannah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Hmmm Frankly I think there is nothing you can do as this person is obviously a total moaner. My chickens don't smell - at my hen parties I open up a cube that hasn't been cleaned IN A WEEK and everyone is always suprised at how little smell there is. You can (and I do) use garlic powder (the horse stuff not the Tesco stuff!) added to their food at it helps neutralise the odour of their poo. I'm told regluarly at hen parties that people expected it would smell "like rabbits" who aparentely are VERY smelly. Would this moaner have a problem if you had a "normal" pet like pointless caged bunnies??? Invite them over, give them a slice of home made cake and introduce them to your girls. Send them home with some eggs. See if that does the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Poor you!!! Very distressing. But Pengy is right, he's probably just a moaner! Do try adding garlic power to the feed, you can get it from where you get your good I should think, bokashi just makes things more solid and can be bought on line.... Stalosan F is what you can put down you can buy is online....... You can also spray citronella around in their house...... Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Oh heck. A bit of garden lime will sweeten the earth up in no time. Mine pongs a bit now and then, but I find this does the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow_Warren Posted May 19, 2009 Author Share Posted May 19, 2009 Hmmm I'm told regluarly at hen parties that people expected it would smell "like rabbits" who aparentely are VERY smelly. Would this moaner have a problem if you had a "normal" pet like pointless caged bunnies??? Invite them over, give them a slice of home made cake and introduce them to your girls. Send them home with some eggs. See if that does the trick. I have rabbits as well and the smell from opening their shed in the morning is worse than than any aroma from opening the chicken coop! Altough on the rabbits side is that they are litter trained so cleaning out the area they pooh and wee is easlier! Also they are on concrete, so it can be hosed down! I'll get some of the garlic stuff, I've seen it in the horse shop. As for inviting them around, I'm not a very good people person - I'd be a nervous wreck! Hannah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow_Warren Posted May 19, 2009 Author Share Posted May 19, 2009 Oh heck. A bit of garden lime will sweeten the earth up in no time. Mine pongs a bit now and then, but I find this does the trick. Can garden lime be used where the chickens are? What I mean to say, is it ok to put it down where the chickens are constantly roaming, will it do any harm to their feet? Thanks Hannah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow_Warren Posted May 19, 2009 Author Share Posted May 19, 2009 How much garlic powder should I add to their feed? Hannah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Not Good! We use Stalosan F, and it does help when the weather is damp. Every 6 weeks or so, all the old bedding comes out, sprinkle some stalosan down, and then put new bedding on top. After 3 weeks, we have a mini clean out, and sprinkle some further stalosan down. I have noticed a difference. Garlic powder in their food also really helps. A couple of teaspoons in a full grub is about enough. Others also use Garden Lime, dig it into the ground, and it helps neutralise the acid of their poo. Haven't done that yet, but do plan to when do the next big clean out. While I doubt that the neighbour can smell ANYTHING, in the interests of keeping up dialogue with him, might be worth responding back to him (enclosing a few fresh eggs!) saying what you plan to do. Might also be worth doing it in writing, in case he takes it any further and claims you didn't take his conerns seriously.... Neighbours. It's amazing how some people you really don't know very well can effect your life so much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Can't add more than has been said. Does he have a really annoying loud dog that you could complain about ? Its normally the way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Be careful not to add too much garlic powder as you may get garlicy eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow_Warren Posted May 19, 2009 Author Share Posted May 19, 2009 Be careful not to add too much garlic powder as you may get garlicy eggs Yummy... I love garlic!!! H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoice Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 As everyone has said, I'd use Stalson F and lime on the run floor and garlic and bokashi bran in your girls feed. I sprinkle about citronella oil (Or you can soak a cloth and hang that up) it deters flies and smells lovely. And Red Mite powder in their house smell gorgeous too. I Found wood chip got a bit slimy and smelly when it was wet so covering their roof completely could help. Maybe also plant some honeysuckle or jasmine on your garden perimeter with your neighbour, or lavendar, rosemary, curry plants etc... anything thats smells nice to mask any 'whiffs' they say they are getting. In fact I've just googled a scented garden and they suggest for year round scent... Spring - wisteria, clematis armandii, rhododendron. Summer - jasmine, roses, philadelphus. Fall - mytrus communis, itea llecifolia, clematis flammula. Winter - witch hazel, Christmas box, sarcococca Herbal - mint Musk - basil and azaleas Honey/almond - tree basil Vanilla - magnolia. Lemon - lippia Rose - roses and jasmine How frustrating for you. Maybe inviting them round and giving them a chicken to cuddle might help, so could some eggs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 In addition to using Stalosan F, you could try using Hemcore in the covered part of your run - it has a lovely citronella fragrance which helps to disguise any pongs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 I would go with what C&T said. I'd write a nice polite friendly letter in return and if his complaint to you has come via an official channel, copy them in too. Explain that whilst you don't notice any unpleasant aroma from the chickens (and have had no complaints from anyone else) and that you do clean them out regularly, you are taking his complaint very seriously and propose to take the following actions having spoken to various chicken owners for their advice. In that same letter invite him to come round and meet your girls and see the measures you are taking in action. He won't have a leg to stand on then! I recall someone having a similar problem a few years ago on this forum - and they got a visit from someone connected with their local council I believe. He was totally convinced and happy with the level of attention and the lack of smell, the measures taken to discourage rodents (like using metal bins for feed) and dismissed the complaint as having no grounds. I'm sure things will work out fine, but very good luck anyway!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oh Carolina Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Hi there, I am very new at the chicken thing but have been doing a tonne of reading for when my hens arrive, so this may help. Many people add lime to their soil to counteract the acidity in the ground and to neutralise bad odours. You have to dig it in to the soil and turn it over, etc. Sounds like a lot of hard work! But there is this product called Bokashi-Active, which Omlet sell which when added to your hens feed, neutralises their droppings. I therefore assume that the odour will also be significantly reduced. It doesn't cost much, about £4.00, so it may be worth having a go. I think you should also go talk to your neighbour, I wouldn't send a letter - He was being a coward by writing you a letter instead of just having a chat with you. Turn on the charm, and explain that you are working on various solutions. I'm sure he will be totally disarmed by how utterly nice you are being. In other words, 'kill him with kindness', I have used this tactic so many times in the past few years and it really seems to work! So you go girl! Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Make a nice compost heap next to his fence and ask a farmer for some silage to put on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Oh heck. A bit of garden lime will sweeten the earth up in no time. Mine pongs a bit now and then, but I find this does the trick. Can garden lime be used where the chickens are? What I mean to say, is it ok to put it down where the chickens are constantly roaming, will it do any harm to their feet? Thanks Hannah It won't harm them as garden lime is only calcium carbonate. I don't use it on a dry windy day though in case they inhale some of the powder. You can also get it in granule form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 So Egluntine if it is only calcium carbonate is that the same thing as limestone flour which is calcium carbonate? (and I have enough for a herd of horses). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 I use stalosan F and very good it is too. I always find my run gets a little bit whiffy in this horrible wet weather, even if the aubiose is new. I do use my "chicken run flag" in my walk in run which is an old yellow duster hanging from the roof rafters of the run, I make up a solution of water with a few drops of citronella oil, eucalyptus oil and lavender oil in a garden sprayer and spray onto the yellow duster 2-3 times a week. The duster wafts around in the wind and leaves a lovely scent trace & also keeps away flies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 I am going to try the scented flag, , going to put it on that blurry door I stupidly keep banging my head on ALL the time . Then at least my head will smell nice too, and help with the flies which aren't many on the auboise unlike the garden! I KNOW! hang a fli trap on the boundary near where he sits. tell them you are putting it there for him,,, give him a real smell to worry about, your girls will be chanell 5 after that! Seriously though... poor you, it's rotten having a neighbour like that, leaves a nasty taste in your mouth! try not to worry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMWARDFARM Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 I am very fortunate, I only have a 3 bed semi in a cul de sac and have neighbours gardens on 3 sides. surprisingly enough the chap who lives behind me is a persistent moaner about things, and he loves the chickens, the chicken run is the length of his back fence so he gets full blast of any potential smells lol, in my opinion I don't believe my chickens smell, there has certainly been some good tips. Maybe if approached your neighbour and said that you were going to decrease the ammount of hens you have and get a cockerel, you were just wondering what his opinion is? I can guarantee he will say your hens are fine as they are Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
