Using leaves for deep litter bedding?

JacksFlock said:

Is it ok to use pine shavings from my local lumber yard?   They have some hemlock shavings mixed in.


Does anyone use shavings and straw mixed?

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monkcat said:

There's a thread on here that goes into great detail about the deep litter method. I am using it myself. However, I'm a newbie and don't have personal practical experience to speak from. Except that I am using pine straw, oak leaves, grass clippings. Whatever is available. I have 8 chicks in my coop. I have turned it once. Added a fresh layer once. Now, I am barely coating the bottom of the coop when I do this. I may have an inch or two of litter throughout. They stomp, scratch and mix it pretty thoroughly now that they are getting a little bigger. They are effectively shredding it and it is mulching and composting. I know 'cuz I turned some today just to look and see what is going on in there.

Oh, my avatar shows the floor of the coop right after some adding litter to it.

To me, the point of deep litter is to NEVER HAVE to clean it out. I will remove composted soil to add to my garden next year. But that is as much as I want to clean it. And it won't have to be added to compost. It will be composted already. At least that is the goal and looks attainable from what I am reading and seeing.

A long time flock keeper on here, Beekissed, has not changed hers out in three years. And it is beautiful. She has a video on the thread. Will try to find it and link to it.

The different sizes, textures and composting speeds of the various materials keep it from matting. It will be looser to allow air flow and composting to occur. The moisture tends to wick to the bottom. My chickens feet are dry. But below the surface is damp with nice plant/leaf mold going on. Not dangerous to the birds. It is the same as when I rake it off the forest floor. It is composting. The chicken poop adds to this glorious un-stinky decay. My coop doesn't stink. At all. It is very well ventilated. We live in a hot, humid climate which will accelerate the process but has also led us to build a very open air coop. Ventilation is excellent. But I still expected smell. So far, none exists. We have roosts up and their poop will fall directly into the litter. Very little maintenance and cleaning to be done. I want to enjoy this experience, not be a chicken slave.

Click to expand...

monkcat said:

There's a thread on here that goes into great detail about the deep litter method. I am using it myself. However, I'm a newbie and don't have personal practical experience to speak from. Except that I am using pine straw, oak leaves, grass clippings. Whatever is available. I have 8 chicks in my coop. I have turned it once. Added a fresh layer once. Now, I am barely coating the bottom of the coop when I do this. I may have an inch or two of litter throughout. They stomp, scratch and mix it pretty thoroughly now that they are getting a little bigger. They are effectively shredding it and it is mulching and composting. I know 'cuz I turned some today just to look and see what is going on in there.

Oh, my avatar shows the floor of the coop right after some adding litter to it.

To me, the point of deep litter is to NEVER HAVE to clean it out. I will remove composted soil to add to my garden next year. But that is as much as I want to clean it. And it won't have to be added to compost. It will be composted already. At least that is the goal and looks attainable from what I am reading and seeing.

A long time flock keeper on here, Beekissed, has not changed hers out in three years. And it is beautiful. She has a video on the thread. Will try to find it and link to it.

The different sizes, textures and composting speeds of the various materials keep it from matting. It will be looser to allow air flow and composting to occur. The moisture tends to wick to the bottom. My chickens feet are dry. But below the surface is damp with nice plant/leaf mold going on. Not dangerous to the birds. It is the same as when I rake it off the forest floor. It is composting. The chicken poop adds to this glorious un-stinky decay. My coop doesn't stink. At all. It is very well ventilated. We live in a hot, humid climate which will accelerate the process but has also led us to build a very open air coop. Ventilation is excellent. But I still expected smell. So far, none exists. We have roosts up and their poop will fall directly into the litter. Very little maintenance and cleaning to be done. I want to enjoy this experience, not be a chicken slave.

Click to expand...