Stop the Smell Before It Starts: Why choose Natural Powders over Sprays for Livestock Odour Control

The Hen’s Pen
Jan 21
4 min read

Odour control is a constant challenge for livestock owners, backyard poultry keepers, and pet owners. From chicken coops to pig pens, ammonia and moisture build-up can make animal spaces unpleasant for both animals and humans. While odour-control sprays are widely marketed and easy to find, they often fail to deliver long-term results. Natural mineral powders, like ChickenKoop Refresh, offer a more efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative.

Back to basics, full effectiveness, and real value—ChickenKoop Refresh keeps your coops fresh without the marketing fluff.

Why Sprays Often Fall Short

Sprays are a familiar solution for odour control, but they have some inherent limitations:

Surface Penetration – Sprays usually sit on the surface and don’t reach deep into porous bedding, carpet, or soil. This means ammonia and moisture can remain underneath, causing the odour to return
Short-Lived Effect – Many sprays mask odours temporarily with fragrances rather than neutralizing them. Once the scent fades, so does the perception of freshness
Chemical Sensitivity – Some sprays contain enzymes or chemicals that can irritate animals or humans, trigger allergies, or damage surfaces
Environmental Concerns – Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or synthetic fragrances can impact air quality and aren’t eco-friendly
Frequent Application Required – To maintain effectiveness, sprays must often be reapplied multiple times a week
Limited Ammonia / Odour Neutralization – Sprays often fail to address the source of odour at a molecular level

How Inefficient Are Sprays?

Real-world studies and practical experience show that sprays are surprisingly wasteful:

Spray Drift & Overspray: 10–30% lost to air or surrounding surfaces
Surface Absorption: 40–60% may not reach odour molecules
Evaporation: 20–50% evaporates before reacting
Overall Effective Use: Only 30–50% of sprayed product is effective

In short, 50–70% of a typical odour spray never works on the problem it’s meant to fix.

Why Companies Still Sell Sprays

Despite their inefficiency, sprays remain popular because:

Convenience: Consumers can “aim and spray” quickly
Marketing Appeal: Fragrance, mist, or foam is visually and emotionally satisfying
Consumer Expectation: People are accustomed to sprays in homes and coops
Cost & Production: Cheaper to manufacture and bottle than powders
Recurring Revenue: Masking odours encourages repeated purchases
Multi-Purpose Perception: Sprays often combine cleaning, disinfecting, and scent

While sprays sell emotion and convenience, they rarely solve the root odour problem sustainably.

Natural Powders: The Superior Solution

This is where ChickenKoop Refresh shines. At $40 for 10 L (~$4/L), this natural mineral powder is far more cost-effective per litre than most sprays, which range from $14 to $80/L depending on size and brand

How ChickenKoop Refresh Works

Composition: A blend of diatomaceous earth and attapulgite clay
Mechanism: Adsorbs moisture, ammonia, and odour compounds directly from bedding, rather than masking odours
Application: Sprinkle evenly over bedding or mix into existing litter
Benefits:
- Reduces ammonia release and odour naturally
- Keeps bedding drier, reducing bacterial and pest issues
- Supports better respiratory health in chickens
- Can improve egg quality and productivity

Unlike sprays, ChickenKoop Refresh targets the source of odour and moisture, making it safer, longer-lasting, and eco-friendly. Spent bedding can even be used as a soil conditioner in gardens.

Product	Type	Volume	Cost (AUD)	Cost per L	Notes
ChickenKoop® Refresh	Mineral powder	10 L	$40	$4/L	Adsorbs ammonia & moisture in bedding
Vm3Zero® Odour Control Spray	Spray	500 ml	$21.95	$43.90/L	Pet/animal odour spray
Oakwood Pet Odour Eliminator	Spray	200 ml	$14.95	$74.75/L	Scented spray for small areas
PISS OFF! Odour Eliminator	Spray	250 ml	$12.26	$49/L	Budget spray for pens/animal areas
ECOTotal Odour Control	Spray	750 ml–20 L	$15+	$2–$15/L*	Bulk packs lower cost per litre

It’s obvious that ChickenKoop Refresh offers the best value for odour control. Unlike sprays, which can lose 20–50% of their product during application due to drift, evaporation, or poor surface penetration, ChickenKoop Refresh goes straight to the source—adsorbing moisture and ammonia directly in the bedding. This means every litre you use is actually working, making it not only more effective but also far more economical over time.

ChickenKoop Refresh — for fresher coops, stronger flocks, and better eggs, naturally. Find out more: www.chickenkoop.com.au

Conclusion: Choose Effectiveness Over Convenience

Sprays dominate the market because they look and feel convenient, but most fail to remove odours sustainably. Natural mineral powders like ChickenKoop Refresh control moisture and ammonia at the source, are safer for animals, reduce pests, and are far more cost-effective per litre

For anyone serious about keeping animal spaces fresh, the natural approach wins every time.

When it comes to odour control, it’s back to basics that wins every time. While sprays may look “superior” thanks to fancy bottles, glossy branding, and big marketing budgets, all that money doesn’t make them more effective—in fact, much of the product is lost in application, with 20–50% wasted to drift, evaporation, or poor penetration. ChickenKoop Refresh, on the other hand, delivers real results where it counts: adsorbing moisture and ammonia directly in the bedding. No gimmicks, no marketing fluff—just straightforward, proven performance that makes it the best value choice for keeping coops and animal spaces fresh.

If you want to try products made from diatomaceous earth and attapulgite clay to smell results of clean, fresh air—and not stinky poo and wee—contact us for more information and stockists for dogs, chickens, or livestock

Available ChickenKoop Refresh 10L tubs:

ChickenKoop Refresh 10L tub – RRP $40 each

Pick Up: Hudson House Car Park

131 Macquarie Street, Sydney 2000

website: http://www.chickenkoop.com.au

Wholesale stockist:

Pallet of 96 x 10L tub

Enquire: hello@chickenkoop.com.au

Ph: 02 9251 7177

website: http://www.chickenkoop.com.au

Bulka bag buys for poultry farms and farmers: 500kg or 1/2 tonne bulka bag of attapulgite clay (unmixed)

500kg or 1/2 tonne bulka bag of diatomaceous earth (unmixed)ex Geraldton, Western Australia