Can I use deep litter method in small coop?

[Coop's Coop]

We are new to chicken keeping and my son has 4 chicks(1 Buff Brahma, 1 Speckled Sussex and 2 Splash Silkies). We bought a wonderful, lovingly designed, used but clean coop from a nice gentleman on Craigslist. We are "pimping" this coop to our aesthetic and adding lots more ventilation than he had in it. We have had so much fun with this family project and think it's turning out spectacular! I gave it fresh chicken safe paint, and added contact paper to the walls for easy cleaning. I want cleaning to be easy to my son so that he keeps it as odor free as possible since we are in the burbs and secret chicken keepers. Almost ready to start on the run. We are in So Cal so it gets HOT here but the coop is in a well shaded area. The coop has a slide out wood tray with a rubber mat on top for the floor. It's about 3.5' X 3.5' plus the double nest box that sticks out on one side. I'm interested in the deep litter method but am wondering if this coop is too small for it? Should I have a wood floor or add linoleum flooring? I'm a bit worried that the deep litter will get into the food box in the corner (see pic). I had planned on making a plastic tray filled with gravel to catch the drips under the waterer in the coop and am wondering if that would be a problem with the deep litter method too? If the deep litter method isn't the easiest for a 12yo boy to take care of then what would you experienced chicken owners suggest? Any other method better for this small custom coop? I'm up for all input! Thanks in advance! The third pic was our inspiration coop. We started with an all mustard yellow color everywhere!

 

[lazy gardener]

I see several issues that make DL a no go. The pop door is not build high enough off floor, nor are nest boxes, and feed bin. Other concern is that I'm wondering if the nipples are hanging too low. You might seek input from other folks who use vertical nipples. IMO, they should be above shoulder height. Other questions: What is on the walls inside the coop? Not wall paper, I hope??? What are the dimensions of each of the nest boxes?

 

[Coop's Coop]

The water nipples do seem low but I have Silkies too who will be smaller. Maybe I can alter it to have a high nipple and a low nipple. Yes the coop guillotine door is low so bedding would get caught in it. Wonder if I can raise it? I can easily raise the food bin. The nest boxes are about 12” x 10” and can’t be moved up but the board for keeping in bedding could be raised higher. Nest box divider can be removed to make the area bigger.It’s washable contact paper on the walls not wallpaper. Saw this idea for keeping the walls clean online and it sure looks cute. Hope it works as well as the lady said! Thanks for helping! Much appreciated! I’m hopi g to have them outside by Thanksgiving! Deadline!

I plan on having a 4’x 7’completely hardware cloth covered run with a roof but outside of that there will be a walled in 10’x10’ area fenced in with aviary netting on top. The chicken area is in a walled dead yard end side yard up against the house so walls on 3 sides. The netted area will surround the enclosed run so when I let them out of the run they will still be safe from crows and hawks.

 

[lazy gardener]

I would be concerned about them eating the contact paper. The moist environment may cause it to peel up a bit at the edges. the birds won't be able to resist it, and will devour it. The nest boxes are too small. I'd remove the divider, and turn it into a single nest. Coop space looks tight for 4 birds. The more crowding you have, the more moisture issues, possible frost bite, and behavioral issues you will have to deal with. If you can predator proof the run, and provide some weather proofing as well, that will help with any behavior problems associated with the crowding. DL in the run would help.

 

[NNYchick]

I agree with lazy gardener, the coop seems too small for 4 chickens and you may have problems with large fowl and silkies together in that tight of a space. My silkies do not roost or jump up on anything higher than 10-12" so in the space you may have silkies pile under the roosting chickens and pooing on them, nor would they ever climb a ramp you will be going out ever night to put them in, nest box are too small also you want 16"x16" and silkies go broody a lot and hog the nest box so you will want enough for the others laying. As far DLM, I would find a way to cover the run and do pine shaving in the coop and DLM in the run. That way you can sweep the litter out in to the run and stir it into your DL. DLM should be turned with a pitch fork, I don't think it would be possible to do it in this coop. I had a similar raised small coop like that and I found it difficult to maintain, is much easier to have something you can walk into. Being in California you weather is pretty mild, I would concentrate my resources on making the run area predator proof and covered then use the coop for sleeping and laying only, it will be easier to maintain if they are not in very much. It is a super cute coop, I think it would make a great home for 2 or 3 silkie bantam hens.

 

[Birdinhand]

wow, what a beautiful set up, congrats on the hard work. I think the DL method is great for the run but for the coop, I'd buy some plastic shower stall liner, like the stuff at home depot and line the floor and maybe up the side a bit, so that you have an easy to clean surface that won't soak up the wet and I'd get so kind of scraper tool that is easy to use in a small space and just scrape out onto the droppings onto the ground regularly. I think you can have a nice kept up look if you are up for a little regular maintenance. if you don't remove the droppings regularly the ammonia will build up and that can stress the birds.

 

[Coop's Coop]

I would be concerned about them eating the contact paper. The moist environment may cause it to peel up a bit at the edges. the birds won't be able to resist it, and will devour it. The nest boxes are too small. I'd remove the divider, and turn it into a single nest. Coop space looks tight for 4 birds. The more crowding you have, the more moisture issues, possible frost bite, and behavioral issues you will have to deal with. If you can predator proof the run, and provide some weather proofing as well, that will help with any behavior problems associated with the crowding. DL in the run would help.

No danger of frost bite in So Cal. And our weather isn't very moist...it would be a desert here if stuff wasn't watered. I've got 3 windows and a smaller window vent close to the roofline...should I add more than this? If they start messing with the contact paper I can remove it.

 

[Coop's Coop]

wow, what a beautiful set up, congrats on the hard work. I think the DL method is great for the run but for the coop, I'd buy some plastic shower stall liner, like the stuff at home depot and line the floor and maybe up the side a bit, so that you have an easy to clean surface that won't soak up the wet and I'd get so kind of scraper tool that is easy to use in a small space and just scrape out onto the droppings onto the ground regularly. I think you can have a nice kept up look if you are up for a little regular maintenance. if you don't remove the droppings regularly the ammonia will build up and that can stress the birds.

Thanks! So it sounds like deep litter may be wrong for our set up. Should I put pine shavings on top of the liner still? My son can totally empty it completely out twice a week if that's what needs to happen. Just looking for the easiest and cleanest solution for him to use that's also safe for his birds. I read that paint scrapers work well for getting the poo off perches etc.

 

[Birdinhand]

how much trouble people are willing to go through various quite a lot, some folks want a super prim and propper, pine smell and others just focus on the toxic aspects, mainly keeping the smell of ammonia from getting to strong. you could do a search for "poop boards", they might do the trick, they can be easily removed and scraped. as for how often you'll need to clean them, you'll have to get a feel for that depending on how good the ventilation is, moisture and how the birds are responding.

 

[TalkALittle]

Honestly, for 4 secret chickens in the SoCal burbs a linoleum floor and 2 inches of a sand/PDZ mixture would probably work really well. It will require more frequent attention than deep bedding, but scooping the poop out with a kitty litter scoop is pretty quick and easy for a 12 year old to maintain. Poop can go straight into a compost bin or tumbler. Two bags of construction sand from the home improvement store should do the trick and will last you a long time. The coop will stay nice and tidy looking and will be dry.

BTW, your coop is so cute. If I may make a suggestion, those nest boxes would look adorable with some cute curtains.