Sophie Bennett
Ammonia is a pungent-smelling gas that is constantly released by bacteria that decompose chicken droppings. Not only does it smell bad, but it is also a health hazard for chickens and humans. High levels of ammonia in the coop can discourage chickens from eating, affecting the growth of young birds and the production of laying hens, and can cause conjunctivitis and respiratory damage. To neutralize ammonia smell in your chicken house, you can use products such as Coop Recuperate, Koop Clean, or natural zeolite, which can be added to the bedding to reduce ammonia fumes and protect chickens from pests. Maintaining a dry litter base by using products like pine shavings and ensuring proper ventilation are also crucial steps to prevent the buildup of ammonia in chicken coops.
Characteristics and Values
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ammonia Neutralizers | Coop Recuperate, Quicklime, Diatomaceous earth, Absorbent clay, Zeolite, Bentonite, PLT, Litter Life by Southland Organics, Poultry Litter Treatment |
| Ammonia Formation | Nitrogen in chicken droppings broken down by bacteria |
| Ammonia Impact | Respiratory damage, conjunctivitis, impaired egg production, decreased intestinal surface area, decreased resistance to oxidative stress, altered intestinal tract's ability to break down nutrients, impacted immune organs |
| Ammonia Prevention | Proper ventilation, dry bedding, regular cleaning, ground walnut shells, deep litter bed of pine shavings, water dispensers set at correct height |
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What You'll Learn
Use products like Coop Recuperate or Koop Clean
Ammonia is a health risk to chickens, as it can stress their upper respiratory airways and place them at risk of pneumonia and other serious illnesses. It is therefore important to know how to reduce ammonia in chicken coops. One way to do this is by using products like Coop Recuperate or Koop Clean.
Coop Recuperate is a safe and natural way to care for your chicken coop. This coop refresher contains organic eucalyptus and lemongrass essential oils, along with diatomaceous earth, to reduce odour and moisture and improve the quality of your compost. Coop Recuperate can be applied liberally on top of the litter one to two times per week or whenever fresh bedding is added. It can also be used to deodorize trash cans. Diatomaceous earth is a natural insect repellent that dries out the exoskeletons of bugs, keeping your chickens happy and healthy.
One user of Coop Recuperate reported that the product has "completely solved the [smell] issue". They apply it to the bedding every few days or whenever they add new bedding. They also noted that the product keeps everything fresh and dry, which is critical for reducing ammonia fumes.
Koop Clean is another product that can be used to neutralize ammonia smell in chicken coops. It is a type of chicken coop bedding that is specially formulated using only ingredients from the earth, including Sweet PDZ, which is made from zeolites and effectively neutralizes ammonia gases. Koop Clean can be applied in the desired amount to indoor chicken coops and nesting areas. It is important to change the hen bedding weekly or as needed. Koop Clean is ideal for small spaces and can be used in mini-coops, backyard coops, and spaces with nearby neighbours.
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Maintain good ventilation
Maintaining good ventilation in your chicken coop is essential to reducing ammonia levels and the associated health risks for both you and your chickens. Ammonia is a pungent-smelling, hazardous gas produced by bacteria that break down nitrogen in chicken excrement. High levels of ammonia can cause respiratory damage, conjunctivitis, and other serious illnesses in chickens, such as pneumonia. It can also discourage chickens from eating, affecting their growth and egg production.
To ensure proper ventilation, keep windows open whenever possible. If additional airflow is needed, install a slow-moving ceiling fan or a fan high on a wall to circulate fresh air effectively. This is especially important during cold weather when chicken keepers tend to keep their flocks indoors, leading to increased ammonia-producing bacteria and litter disturbance.
However, ventilation alone may not be sufficient to address high ammonia levels. Complementary measures include keeping the bedding clean, dry, and well-managed. Avoid unnecessary moisture in the coop, as wet litter accelerates the decomposition of nitrogen and the subsequent release of ammonia gas.
Additionally, consider using products like Coop Recuperate, which contains organic diatomaceous earth to reduce ammonia fumes, control pests, and maintain a dry environment. Natural zeolite is another option; when added to litter, it chemically binds and neutralizes ammonia molecules while being harmless to chickens and the environment.
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Keep bedding clean and dry
Keeping the bedding clean and dry is one of the most important things you can do to neutralize ammonia in your chicken coop. Ammonia is produced when the nitrogen in chicken manure is broken down by bacteria. This process, known as volatilization, occurs when the manure becomes wet. Therefore, maintaining a dry litter base is essential to preventing the formation of ammonia.
To keep the bedding dry, ensure that your chicken coop is well-ventilated. Proper ventilation will not only remove ammonia-filled air from the coop but also help to keep the bedding dry by reducing moisture buildup. During cold weather, it can be tempting to keep the coop closed up to keep your chickens warm. However, the collective body warmth of the chickens, combined with their droppings, will create an ideal environment for ammonia-producing bacteria to thrive. So, even in winter, it's important to provide adequate ventilation to keep the air circulating and prevent moisture buildup.
In addition to ventilation, there are several products you can use to keep your chicken bedding clean and dry. For example, Coop Recuperate is a product that includes organic diatomaceous earth, which helps to absorb moisture and reduce bacteria. You can apply it to the bedding every few days or whenever you add new bedding. Other absorbent materials you can use include bentonite clay, zeolite, and diatomaceous earth (DE). These materials bind and neutralize ammonia molecules while absorbing moisture and reducing bacteria growth.
Another option to keep the bedding dry is to use a deep litter bed of pine shavings. This creates a thick, absorbent base that can help to contain moisture and make cleanup easier. Just be sure to clean out the stalls and nesting boxes regularly and replace the bedding as needed to prevent the buildup of ammonia.
By keeping the bedding clean and dry through proper ventilation, absorbent materials, and regular cleaning, you can effectively neutralize ammonia in your chicken coop, improving the air quality and the health of your chickens.
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Use absorbent clay like bentonite or diatomaceous earth
Ammonia is a pungent-smelling, hazardous gas that is constantly released by bacteria that decompose chicken droppings. Ammonia can cause serious health problems for both chickens and humans. It can cause conjunctivitis and respiratory damage, and in chickens, it can also discourage eating, affecting the growth rate of young birds and the production of laying hens.
To neutralize ammonia, you can use Coop Recuperate, which includes organic essential oils and organic diatomaceous earth. Diatomaceous earth is a type of absorbent clay. It is a mineral powder composed of the fossilized shells of diatoms, a type of algae, and consists primarily of silica, which makes up about 90% of the earth’s crust. Naturally mined diatomaceous earth is highly absorbent and helps keep unwanted bugs, parasites, and bacteria away.
Another option for neutralizing ammonia is bentonite, an absorbent clay that binds both ammonia and urates (the chicken version of urine). Bentonite gets its name from Fort Benton, Wyoming, where it was originally discovered. It absorbs more moisture, meaning litter needs to be replaced less often.
Zeolite is another similar option. While bentonite absorbs more moisture, zeolite is better at controlling ammonia odor. Zeolite is a mineral created when volcanic lava mixes with fresh or saltwater. When added to litter, it chemically binds and neutralizes ammonia molecules. Natural zeolite is harmless to chickens and the environment and is fully compostable.
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Convert ammonia into ammonium using PLT or Litter Life
Ammonia is a common issue for chicken coop owners, and it can be harmful to chickens and humans alike. Ammonia is produced when the nitrogen in chicken droppings is broken down by bacteria. The smell can be stronger in the summer months, but it is just as dangerous in winter. Ammonia can damage the respiratory system, and high levels can lead to serious illnesses such as pneumonia.
To neutralize the ammonia smell in your chicken house, you can use products such as Coop Recuperate or Koop Clean, which help to keep the bedding fresh, dry, and odour-free. Maintaining a dry litter base is essential to preventing ammonia formation. Ensuring proper ventilation in the coop is also crucial in reducing moisture buildup and ammonia concentration.
One effective method to address ammonia in chicken coops is to convert the ammonia into ammonium using PLT (Poultry Litter Treatment) or similar products like Litter Life. PLT is a mineral-based acidifier that lowers the pH of the litter, suppressing odour-causing bacteria. When PLT is applied, it breaks down into sodium, hydrogen, and sulfate. The hydrogen component lowers the pH and facilitates the conversion of ammonia into ammonium. This ammonium binds to the sulfate, ensuring that ammonia remains trapped in the litter for the duration of the flock's life.
PLT offers a reliable, safe, and affordable solution for ammonia control. It can be used in various poultry house programs and applied at any time, even with the birds present. By retaining nitrogen and converting ammonia gas into fertilizer, PLT increases the value of the litter. Additionally, PLT helps reduce fuel costs by allowing ventilation based on relative humidity instead of over-ventilating to remove ammonia.
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Frequently asked questions
If you open the door to your chicken coop and smell ammonia, it is likely that the ammonia level is too high and could be affecting the health of your birds. You can also check by squatting down so your head is about a foot above the litter and breathing normally—if your eyes, nose, or throat burn, the ammonia levels are too high.
Ammonia is a pungent-smelling gas that is released when bacteria break down the nitrogen in chicken droppings. Ammonia levels can be higher due to environmental conditions, such as high temperatures, improper ventilation, and moisture.
There are several ways to neutralize ammonia smells in your chicken coop:
- Keep the coop well-ventilated.
- Use products like Coop Recuperate, Koop Clean, or zeolite to neutralize ammonia gases.
- Maintain a dry litter base to stop ammonia production.
- Use a deep litter bed of pine shavings.
- Sprinkle baking soda on the litter.
- Use a product like Litter Life by Southland Organics to convert ammonia into ammonium.
Ammonia can cause respiratory damage to chickens and can lead to conjunctivitis, pneumonia, and other serious illnesses. High levels of ammonia can also discourage chickens from eating, affecting the growth of young birds and the production of laying hens.
