If You Can Smell This in Your Chicken Coop, Pay Attention!

Have you ever walked into your chicken coop and noticed a strong smell that reminds you of household ammonia?

That smell might be telling you something important.

When chicken droppings accumulate, especially in damp bedding, bacteria can release ammonia gas.

Why does that matter?

• Ammonia can irritate your chickens’ eyes.
• Prolonged exposure can damage their respiratory systems.
• Poor air quality can make chickens more vulnerable to respiratory problems.
• Damp bedding can create additional sanitation challenges.

The solution starts with keeping bedding dry, removing accumulated droppings, and making sure your coop has adequate ventilation.

A coop should have good airflow without directing cold drafts onto roosting chickens.

Cleaning and ventilation work together. Fresh bedding alone won’t solve an ongoing moisture or airflow problem.