The late scorching warmth in the Midwest combined with daylight of constant rain result in dozens of unhappy chickens at our farm . Their antic as they step contumeliously around the puddles , seek their preferent funny floater , keep us in stitches for calendar week .
Not as risible , unfortunately , was what this combination of high temperature and humidity produced . The extreme temperature and the supernumerary wet in the aviation hastened the decomposition reaction of the dung inside our hencoop , creating a most unfortunate odor that all of the ventilation openings could not fully dispel . Frequent remotion of the soiled litter relieved the stinky situation only for a light time . We had to find a more permanent solution before the malodour — and our sons ’ complaint — became intolerable .
The Experiment
Being empirically minded , I comport a tryout using several of our coops as experimental units :
Control Group : NewOrpingtonCoopButters & Co. would serve as my Control Group — er , ControlCoop . utterly nothing other than veritable maintenance would be done to keep this coop clean and jerk .
Treatment Group 1 : Ameraucana CoopJefferson and his ladies would be Treatment Group 1 . I would do by their coop with a homemade deodorizer . This powder sport equal parts broil washing soda , diatomaceous earth and trounce limestone .
Treatment Group 2 : NewAmeraucanaCoopBarack and his young woman would be Treatment Group 2 . Their chicken coop would be treated with a mathematical product I get word at our provender computer storage : Innovation Pet ’s Chicken Coop Treatment Coop Flakes , by Coops & Feathers . Its recording label boldly proclaims “ Eliminates Odor ! So Easy … Just Sprinkle in the Coop ! ”
Treatment Group 3 : Ancona CoopBaci and his tribe would be Treatment Group 3 . I would treat their hencoop withSweet PDZ Coop Refresher , non-poisonous , all - raw silicate granule that refreshen hencoop by draw moisture .
In each of the treatment radical , I applied the odor eliminator the same way : munificently sprinkled over the surface of the cage litter without mixing it in ( the birds would do that on their own ) . I reapplied the mixtures in the same manner every five day for 15 sidereal day , noting when unsporting olfactory property became marked or unbearable . On Day 21 , I cleaned the coops and mention which reeked and which did n’t . My observations and resolution are as follow . Ana Hotaling
Ana Hotaling
The Data
Day 1 : All four coops were rather malodorous , thanks to the weather . I left the Control Coop alone , other than adding an inch of reinvigorated shavings . grouping 1 through 3 also invite an inch of clean shave as well as their single treatments , which were generously strewn on top of the impertinent bedclothes . The chickens were very curious and popped their heads through the pop music doors to investigate . Claude , Butters and Selene in the Control Coop just stare dolefully from their side of the foot race fencing .
daylight 5 : The fresh shave in the Control Coop were soiled and somewhat dampish , but the odor were nothing out of the ordinary for a hencoop . The shavings in Treatment Group 1 , which got the homemade deodorizer , were kicked around but still mostly clean and dry . No smell of any kind was noticeable . Treatment Group 2 , which got the Innovation Pet scrap , was likewise clean , dry and odorless ; unlike their parent in Treatment Group 1 , the younger Ameraucanas of the second group had kept their litter in place . In Treatment Group 3 , which get the Sweet PDZ , the Anconas had slightly soiled their litter , but there was no dampness at all . There was a fragrancy , however , that reminded me of a saucily clean chalkboard . It was odd , but much good than the choice . I reapplied deodorizing treatments to all but the Control Coop .
Day 10 : The Control Coop ’s shavings were now damp and indistinguishable from the older chicken coop litter . The aroma of dung was more rife , but there was no ammoniacal smell . Treatment Group 1 had a wispy dung smell , and the litter was slimly soiled . Groups 2 and 3 had no smell , although the litter was more or less colly . I again reapplied deodorizing treatment to all but the Control Coop .
Ana Hotaling
Day 15 : The Control Coop ’s bedding material was a dirty , decomposing spate . The blue funk was as foul as on Day 1 , with a slight pinch of ammonium hydroxide . Treatment Group 1 ’s bedding continue slightly soiled , but the faint smell of droppings had not compound . Group 2 ’s litter also remained slightly soiled ; no odour were noticeable . Group 3 ’s litter , like that of Groups 1 and 2 , was slightly soiled . The clean - blackboard olfaction was the only noticeable aroma . Again , I reapplied treatment to all but the Control Coop .
Day 21 : I’m trusted Butters and her Orpington buddy were glad to see me make it with my hard rake in hand . Their Control Coop stank to high heaven , although the ammoniac smell remained tenuous . Given that I usually provide an column inch of refreshful grazing each week — a practice I suspended for the duration of the experiment — the Control Coop inhabitants were probably relieved that their home was back to normal .
Group 1 , the Ameraucana coop , was nowhere near as bad as the Control Coop . The stink of droppings was fairly strong but not consuming . There was no ammoniac smell . As for the shavings , they had definitely seen better days and were slightly damp , but they were not yet disintegrating and break up .
The litter in Group 2 , the New Ameraucanas , finally gave off a detectable muck scent , but it was insignificant and not at all out of line of credit from how one expects a wimp coop to smell . The shavings , while not dampish , were just a turn foul than before .
The hencoop of Group 3 , the Anconas , retain its light - blackboard smell ; there was absolutely no smell of decompose muck or shave to be noted . Like Group 2 , the shavings were just a jot unsportsmanlike but were not damp , smutty or begin to decompose .
Conclusion
I had not expected my homemade deodorizing blend to work out as well as it did . I was astounded at how efficaciously it turn . For backyard microflocks — one to four hens , for example — this odor fighter might be your best stake , as baking tonic is readily available at the supermarket while crushed limestone and diatomaceous earth can be found at your local home - improvement centre . For larger sight , continually mix the three ingredient in adequate part might well become windy .
I was also enjoyably surprised that the Coop Flakes perform so well in the New Ameraucanas ’ cage . This commixture of wheat bran , blackstrap molasses , purify water and a proprietary blend of naturally pass probiotic microflora emphatically extended the life of the coop ’s bedding material and helped keep the odor at bay . Coop Flakes are uncommitted at farm - supplying stock ; it is also available at theInnovation Pet websitefor $ 29.99 for a 4.5 - pound bag .
The result led me to pick out the Sweet PDZ Coop Refresher , however . I was impressed with how it control dampness and odor in the Anconas ’ coop , and its cost effectiveness—$16.95 for a 10 - pound bag onAmazon — make my notecase glad . All of our henhouses , including our chief Orpington coop , which sat out this experiment , are now outfitted with refreshed shavings handle with these absorbent granules . The atmospheric condition might still be swelter and the humidity might continue to be high , but our coops will now be fresh as daisies — or at least fair blackboard .
