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You should keep an eye on moisture in there in that case, especially during night.

Yeah, it's not a smell that's easy to ignore. But if you want to utilize the deep litter as compost, I think adding more bedding is a better way to go, so that you don't lose the valuable fertilizer.

At least I haven't heard of issues with mold. It's basically composting, so I would assume that the beneficial bacteria keeps the not wanted strains in check. I don't have experience with the method myself, but many Finns use it without problems. The most usual problem people have, is that they...

Depends a bit. In Finland, wetting a deep litter is a traditional way to heat a chicken coop during winter.

And all we've got is +12C and rain

Wetting the litter is going to make it start decomposing, producing more heat (Unless it's so hot it dries almost instantly)

How does mint survive cold winters, any idea?

I just dump it in there in a pile and throw some feed in there, they scatter it around. Although I have a covered run, and the bottom is well drained so the grass dries up in a few days even in rainy weather. I usually get about 5-10 gallons of the stuff. I do however use one of those silly push...

We've been throwing grass clippings in there, and they love it. Once it's dry or looks a bit iffy, I rake it up and throw it in the compost. Gives a nice balance to the spent bedding, you get a bit more nitrogen from the grass and the composting process is improved. We haven't had any issues...

Is your coop in a low spot compared to it's surroundings? Sounds like underground water is collecting there, so the pine shavings might get too moist. You might consider trying them over the gravel though, if the top stays dry it seems like it would work as drainage under the shavings.

I prefer the pine needles over maple leafs, they take years to break down. But maybe I have to start utilizing them as bedding.

Good idea about the pine needles, might warrant a trial. Here in Finland, many coops are heated by means of peat moss based deep litter, same principal is utilized for large production animals as well.

And that thing is virtually indestructible, just look at what Nick Cage put it through Sure did good for Finnish industry though, trees we've got an overabundance of. Too bad converting to electronic format is cutting down on export... And cheap wood from developing countries is used too, at...

We used the hemp bedding in the brooder, it's super absorbent and a lot nicer than pine shavings, but at 24 euros for a 150 liter bale, it's not exactly cheap. I'd love to use it together with the peat though, if I could find it a bit cheaper somewhere. If I've understood correctly, it was the...

We use a mix of peat moss and pine shavings. Really keeps the odors at bay, but the dust can be an issue. Our girls just use the coop for sleeping though, so they don't stir it up that much. Mainly they just poop on it from the roosts. In the run we have sand and I throw in grass clippings...