Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[smartrus]

Hi. We have now had our newbies for a week. They are sweet and lovely but boy do they smell!! They have a very different smell from our original girls, a lot stronger and more rancid. They have been on the same food and drink as the others for a week now so anyone know whats up?? They are in an eglu unlike the originals who are in a wooden house.Could that be it?? They also poop loads more? As you can tell, I am still learning about chickens !!

[Redwing]

Is it they that smell or the poo?

 

If its them the smell will fade for sure

 

If its the poo the chances is that that will fade too, it was probably the food they were on. If you are feeding a good quality pellet or mash they should improve lots

 

Poor quality feed has more fillers and the poo is typically mushier, smellier and produced in higher quantities, good quality feed has less fillers so the chicken utilises more of the feed

 

If its still bad then garlic powder added to their feed will help

[auntielizzie]

I posted on this when I got my three new girls three and a half weeks ago. They absolutely stank - or rather their poo did It was a real farmyard smell. However, it had started to improve during the second week and now I would say they are no more smelly than the original girls, so I am sure it will be the same for you. It must be to do with what they were previously fed, or as somebody else mentioned, possibly that they were having a lot of apple cider vinegar....

[smartrus]

Thanks guys, I'm pretty sure it's the poop that smells and yes it's quite sloppy! Hopefully another week and it will improve as you say. I have to say that the original girls are not impressed with them either although I dare say it's not just the smell they are not happy with! By the way, did your new girls mix with the newbies ok?

[auntielizzie]

We are coming up to four weeks into intros. Slowly but surely things are improving, but they are not integrated yet. They are still very much two separate groups. The pecking and chasing is getting less and less, so I am confident we will get there eventually, but taking it really slowly to avoid any set backs.

[BadGardener]

I found my new ones really smelly too. My theory is that I'd got used to my old ones and I notice the new ones because they're just slightly different from the old.

When I got my old ones it was still winter so I suspect I never noticed them when they were new because the cold meant the poo smelt less.

[good_egg]

My newbies had smelly poo and it lasted for longer than I expected! Don't know if the Garvo finally kicked in or they grew up a bit or both. Have read that youngsters poo more til they come into lay so looking forward for a let up in the poo picking! How old are yours?

[smartrus]

Hi, my newbies are about 18weeks now. They are still getting use to each other as they are from a flock of about 70! I haven't seen the behaviour they are displaying at the moment. They put their head down, charge at each other and then stand as tall as they can beak to beak! No pecking though. My old ones are still eyeing them up and think they will give it a go when they are put together! Only been a week so will keep them apart for now until they ignore each other. Does this sound the right approach do you think? Or should I bite the bullet and put them together? I have just bought a large house so the idea is to out them in the new house all together. Sorry for so many questions, I'm still learning!

[KimmyCustard]

I havent yet introduced newbies to old girls but from what I've read, you need to keep them separated for at least 4 weeks. They eye each other through bars but once they meet, if its too soon, you may end up with all sorts of injuries! I would carry on as you are and keep them apart, give them time and they should become a flock by winter! Fingers crossed for you....

 

PS I send mine to a chicken sitter and their poo is very smelly and sloppy when they return. I give them Origo-Stim in their water, hardens poo, good gut flora, helps produce eggs and helps them with stress, its not cheap but I use it occasionally and they seem to benefit!

[smartrus]

Thats really great advice thanks. I was tempted to give them a trail run together but I think I will wait another few weeks.