Deep litter method

We use the deep litter method in our chiken coop. It saves quite a bit of work and it is very clean and efficient. First off we Clean our coop out once a year. Usually in the spring so we can use the litter in the garden. We shovel all the litter out, wash down the walls with a weak bleach solution and also spray this solution on the floor lightly.
We let the coop air out all day and in the evening add a 2 or 3 inch layer of wood shavings and paper shreddings. We
We have a droppings board underneath the roosts and we do clean this off every sunday whether it needs it or not. It always needs it. This fresh poo goes into the compost pile as it will burn plants if it is not rotted first. This only takes about 10 minutes or so and is no problem at all. At this time we also stir up the litter in the bottom of the coop, this helps to keep poo from accumulating around the feeder and helps to dry it out. Some people just throw scratch or corn in the coop and the chickens will stir it up for you. We then add a thin layer of shavings, paper shreds or hay. We keep this up every week and we end up with a 12 inch or so layer in the bottom of the coop to clean out next year.
As long as you make sure the poo is drying out there wont be a problem. We never have any issues with smells or ammonia build up.
I'm gonna go down and snap some photo's of the inside of the coop in the a.m. Stay tuned...

Chris
I’ve had chickens before, but moved. Now I have a new flock and new coop/ run combo and trying the deep litter method for first time. Problem is the girls are tracking a huge amount of the hemp bedding into the run. I don’t want it in the run. Help???
 
I’ve had chickens before, but moved. Now I have a new flock and new coop/ run combo and trying the deep litter method for first time. Problem is the girls are tracking a huge amount of the hemp bedding into the run. I don’t want it in the run. Help???
Board across the door to the run. Mine is about a foot taller than the bedding.
 
Yes most coops need to be modified if they aren't built with deep litter in mind
Okeedokee! After a bit of research I’ve decided I can live with the hemp chips being tracked into the run and here’s why. We are having a very damp spring/summer so far in Pennsylvania and I discovered the hemp is wonderful for preventing mud, AND; I’ve decided to try out composting in my run!
 
That won’t work because the coop door is chicken sized-about 15” high.
your chickens do not need 15 inches of head room.
put a 3 or 4 inch board across the bottom of the door .
then taper the bedding from the board up to the depth
that you want it.
that's what I did with mine. it worked fine for over 45 years.
 
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