Gem_Seb Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Just been out to put my girls to bed and as soon as i walked out the door i noticed a smell , im sure its coming from the chicks, i checked their house and its not messy at all and they have only been on thier current patch of grass a week. I havent put any stalosen down yet and it has just started raining, could the rain be whats started it off and it will go when its been soaked? I just dont want the neighbours to mention it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolky Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 I personally found that when I had my chooks on grass they got stinky reaaallllyy quickly. I got them swiftly onto slabs and woodchip (although now with hinesight I prob wouldn't have used the slabs just wood chip) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Do you put garlic powder in their feed? I started doing this and the differnce it made to the smell is amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gem_Seb Posted June 5, 2009 Author Share Posted June 5, 2009 No where is the best place to get this? they are only 8 weeks old roughly is it ok to go ahead and add it to their pellets? xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 I got mine from the omlet shop but Im not sure how old the hens have to be, mine were only about 20 weeks. Try it though, it really did make a difference. I always stick my head in the cube on a night to have a stroke and say night and even a few (or 4) days after cleaning its still not too bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Pets shops like Pets at Home have it, as well as proper equine supply shops Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gem_Seb Posted June 5, 2009 Author Share Posted June 5, 2009 Thanks, our pets at home here isnt great to be honest! they do all the common things for cats and dogs and have a few fish and that seems to be it! There is a equine shop near me though so ill pop in there tomorrow! Do the smells tend to be worse in the rain? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gem_Seb Posted June 6, 2009 Author Share Posted June 6, 2009 Got the garlic powder to try, how much do I put in their feed, I have normal feeders not the omlet ones. Ill be so glad when they are a bit bigger and i can let them out to free range!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 I use the sort of feeder you hang up (or stand on bricks) and the feed comes out of the circular bottom therefore no feed gets left to go stale at the bottom. (I use the omlet grub to put grit in.) I usually fill it about half way up and add 1 to 2 of the scoops provided in the tub of garlic powder and give it a good old mix. Not really an exact science but my chickens seemed to love it when I first put it in and now I suppose they are used to it. Let me know what you think in a day or two. Hopefully you will definately notice the difference in the smell or lack of! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmamakeup Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 When I got my chooks I used bark but then heard it wasn't good due to the spores etc. So I opted for woodchips, we have this surrounding the eglu and within the run bordered off with wooden edging. I also sprinkle bokashi in their litter tray and in with the food. The poo doesn't seem to smell at all now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Hi Gem_Seb, my lot don't smell at all but on very, very warm rainy days sometimes you get a whiff of something but it has to be warm rain. Doesn't happen very often. I used to keep my girls on grass and rotate the eglu round the garden. Now I don't bother as I find an inch of Auboise on the run floor (and a cover over the run to keep it dry) soaks up poops so well and reduces smells massively. Yes, the downside is it kills the grass, but then in Autumn I move them to the other side of the garden and reseed the eglu shaped patch, then Spring move them back again. Oh, yes and I'm a big fan of Garlic Powder too. Just chuck in a bit and build it up. If it's too much garlic they will soon tell you and stop eating it. The garlic powder I have comes with a little scoop and I use about half a scoop in one grub full of pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
