Deep Litter Method - The Easiest Way To Deal With Chicken Litter

This is a great information “getter”.
It has good advice and facts that back her up.

A nice article that is a great conversation stimulator.
Even 20 years using DLM I learn from new comments.

Helpful. Thanks

I did the DLM last winter and I believe it did help with making it warmer. My girls are in an unused, large remodeled horse stall in a barn. The horses are not in the barn much so no heat generated from them and the stall has a wood floor. As such it isn't overly warm and I think this really helped to keep the floor warmer for when they were locked in for a while due to snow. It also made care so much easier. I didn't do the DE but it sounds like a good idea and I think I will do that this year. I did clean it out in the spring and have done weekly cleanings through the summer... lately I've been wondering why I did that. Maybe I won't do that next year, not sure yet.

Testing the rating and review after fix. Ignore.

I use this method... I change the bedding once a year in the spring and add fresh cut pine shavings 3 to 4 times a year. My chickens are healthy. The only thing is where they lay their refs I have to clean out the shaves 4 times a year. Some of them like to sleep and poop ? their for some reason. ?

We've been cleaning it out every week or so.. got a big bag of DE sitting in the Corner collecting dust. Glad I found this article . I will be sturring in the DE tomorrow!

soon I’ll be starting DLM. Good tips!

I recently heard about this method on a YouTube video and decided to try it for the winter. I love the idea of not having to clean out often and it is amazing how little smell there is. It was also suggested to throw a little scratch in so the chickens will break up the poop a little, also.
This is such great information on how to do this and how it worked for you. Thank you.

I think my coops are too small for this but I will give it a try anyway.
I guess you can easily drop all the contents after one year or the time you let it stay in your composting bins?

I have been doing this for years. Works well and I feel there is added benefit in winter months. I swear it keeps my coop warmer.

I go every two months during the winter, being that I have 30 New Jersey Giants. After reading your article I might see about going a little longer. If I could make it through the winter with only 1 change that would make my life easier and warmer. I'm not sure if I understand how the smell is less though? What is counteracting it?

This is a good article, that encouraged me to try this.

I would have liked more information on the pros and cons of DE - I've seen a lot of questions about using it on other threads. I am using PDZ on the poop boards, and am unsure whether adding that to the litter would do as well.

And extra points for naming your bantam coop the Teacup Pterodactyl Townhouse!

this information will help me do it right

I have never hear of this method before! Will be using, come winter!

Using this method as a first time chicken keeper. Less work and makes me love my hens even more!

I will definitely be doing this soon. It will help in the winter and keep the smell and flies down in the summer. Right now I clean out the poop every 2-3 days.

Newbie here. Thanks for the simplified info!

Great step by step explanation !
I love the deep litter ,use hemp and clean out 2x a year . Hemp composts better (in my opinion) for garden use .
I like to use some lime occasionally to sprinkle inside the coop & DE only in nest boxes .

Great article. Very in depth and pictures are great. I currently use this method minus the DE. I don’t use a kick board and add about 10cf of pine shavings every month or two. Can’t believe how much a coop with 38 chickens in it DOESNT smell.