Looking for Advice: would you move the coop/run?

[Genipher]

Do you have poop boards? Can you dispose of the leavings differently? Maybe throw them in the trash? Maybe clean out the coop once every two weeks as well as dispose of the leavings differently.

I JUST heard about poop boards. Need to look into it more and see how they're made, etc

 

[saysfaa]

I'd move it. Good relationships with neighbors are worth quite a lot of inconvenience.

Can you or any of your kids smell more odor after you clean out the coop than before you clean it out? Like, from the lane between the coop and Grandma-neighbor's house? I'd move the coop and run either way (unless you make a lot of difference quickly by changing things like the others suggest) but it could help with how much else you may be able to do. It is one thing if she has a super sniffer (some people really do) and another if your set up is smellier than most.

 

[Paz]

Honestly, just raked everything out of the coop straight into the run because it was easy and the hens turn it over into compost pretty quickly.

Oh I get it, but then the poop is right next to her, and it probably take at least a few hours before they turn everything, and THAT'S in my opinion at least, probably also the time she smells it.

 

[Genipher]

I'd move it. Good relationships with neighbors are worth quite a lot of inconvenience.

Can you or any of your kids smell more odor after you clean out the coop than before you clean it out? Like, from the lane between the coop and Grandma-neighbor's house? I'd move the coop and run either way (unless you make a lot of difference quickly by changing things like the others suggest) but it could help with how much else you may be able to do. It is one thing if she has a super sniffer (some people really do) and another if your set up is smellier than most.

I can smell it by our driveway, which is in front of the coop. But not when I walk to her side. But I don't doubt she can still smell it as the breeze blows sound and smell to her house.
Even our dogs barking is different in her house. With us, it's just a normal barking sound but in her house it echoes.
I'll be getting some fencing this week and start the process. If anything, it'll be a goat run. Or maybe I can rotate chickens and goats throughout the year...

 

[paintedChix]

Edit # 2 - You might want to get a "cuppa" your favorite as this has, again, become a book... So SAD - icons & other things still grayed out, so couldn't attach any... LOL.

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It sounds like your run has no bedding, which you then cover the coop cleanings w/ dirt. So - can you get wood chips? Delivered? If you do ChipDrop, they have a tendency to drop large loads - which you then need to move. Maybe work w/ an Arborist or check both CraigsList & FB marketplace for anyone who has chips available. @aart has pics of ramial chips, which are better if you can find them. @gtaus uses shredded cardboard & has started adding shredded paper as in junkmail & bills. @DobieLover, I think uses combo of leaves & chips

Other items for the run - hay, straw, pine straw & small limbs/cones, shavings, pellets like used in horse stalls, leaves, grass clippings from mowing. Regular paper, hay & straw can mat up & turn slimey, anaerobic & stinky when wet. One way to prevent that is to spread hay/straw/pine straw in yard when you mow - this will chop it up to different sizes. Paper best to use in conjunction w/ other materials. Different materials provides different sizes - allowing for water flowing through & more aeration. This DLM will then digest the poops pretty quickly... If there is scent, add more materials.

Another way to possibly prevent scent would be to put grazing boxes in along the fence (possibly least $$ of next several things). Your grass, flowers, micro-greens, etc will break up "wind carried" scent. May only work @ ground level...

# 2 idea, put in potted plants or a 1-2' raised garden beds about 2' deep, along the full length of the fence.

$3 idea, plant shrubs & flowers directly in the ground. Along the fence.

Do the area closet to Grandma neighbor's house first (w/ all ideas). If you use raised bed idea, when you next clean out the coop, store dirty bedding & poop in feed bags or covered containers, then when do raised beds, use a layer of cardboard & preferably tree limbs/branches, then the "cleanout", then immediately cover w/ next layer of materials based on how deep your beds are... You could add more "cleanout" later by digging a trench in bed (not too close to plants as still hot) & covering trench back up.

Once you do any planting, the seedlings & even older would need to be protected. At ground level to prevent scratching at roots, upper areas to prevent chickens from eating all fruits, veggies, leaves, stems until you/plants are ready. Goats - prob need a secondary fence?

Good articles -

Trees in run - https://www.facebook.com/share/r/H5YnpdPQwLcjQYqW/?mibextid=oFDknk

Thread 'Plants In The Chicken Run! A Mini Forest For Chickens!' https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...icken-run-a-mini-forest-for-chickens.1540569/

thread 'Plants for in a run' https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/plants-for-in-a-run.1590324/

YouTube -

Sean - Edible Acres. In NY (lots of chicken/compost/garden vids)

Chickens - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLihFHKqj6Jeog3qoYlmhOPt_eElEhNMpH&si=CTRoazLU5bo1CbAu

Chickens & composting- https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLihFHKqj6JerKruLfMcxdNKDRHkGxgwwz&si=2ptMkcl7dJusCohI

Parkrose Permaculture - in OR. Small property in HOA, can't remember actual size

Poultry - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLw-_0LHhyR2eRqkIBs4ER-D7nZJpSERhp&si=oCLMJ_YBdQhR584n

Robbie & Gary - CA. Uses totes & buckets for gardens & shows how to continually build/make your own soil. Also other neat projects.

There are others...

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Due to ongoing life issues since I caught covid June 2022, I haven't done much of these. Currently no chickens. Several of my breeding pens have trees growing or heavy duty weeds (pokeweed) through the CP & 2x4" wire hoops. But I've been gathering supplies & will be doing some refurbishing myself, hopefully soon...

Edited to add -

My DLM - https://photos.app.goo.gl/3Z4ZpfpHr1Nr5DZC8

& add links to YouTube vids