Is anybody in my area successfully doing this? Also, my run is dirt. Should I put sand on top of it? Worrying about sanitation...
Can I use the deep litter method with Southeast Texas humidity?
- Thread starter bionic_chicken
- Start date
Wanted to show my soil. I have been doing deep litter for a few years now. This is what my soil on the outside of the pen looks like. My lawn mower has been torn up so I haven't been able to sweep them up any litter so it's really needing it now. It's all gone inside their pen but it's still not a muddy mess when it rains. As you can see our soil is very sandy. But look at how pretty the soil is inside their pen. We're using it in our garden and it's awesome.
BEAUTIFUL Run! Where I live the 'soil' is clay, hard as a rock in my Run but using DLM, chickens are "loosening" it all up plus now that the area has a roof over it, stays dry. Just wondering, how do you keep rain out? I'm trying shower curtains on EMT rods, works well for our rains/winds. I'm in-between chickens now, keep only 4 since they're more Pets with Benefits (entertainment, bug control, stress relief & eggs), love your Run!
Is your coop floor dirt or wood, wire, etc?
We use the DLM in our coops, which have wooden floors...the main coop's wood floor is covered with a linoleum remnant for ease of cleaning.
With using the DLM with wood floors, as opposed to dirt floors, I have noticed that there isn't any real composting happening. The pooh is dried out by the food grade DE, which we mix with the pine shavings litter.
We haven't had a problem with excessive moisture in our small coops and I suspect it's because of the wood floors as opposed to dirt floors.
Our runs are a wreck at this time, because our "spring rains" this year are making up for not happening the last few years. We'll eventually get in a load of sand for the runs...whenever the yard dries enough to have a load dumped here.
Hope this makes sense and is some help!
Dawn
We use the DLM in our coops, which have wooden floors...the main coop's wood floor is covered with a linoleum remnant for ease of cleaning.
With using the DLM with wood floors, as opposed to dirt floors, I have noticed that there isn't any real composting happening. The pooh is dried out by the food grade DE, which we mix with the pine shavings litter.
We haven't had a problem with excessive moisture in our small coops and I suspect it's because of the wood floors as opposed to dirt floors.
Our runs are a wreck at this time, because our "spring rains" this year are making up for not happening the last few years. We'll eventually get in a load of sand for the runs...whenever the yard dries enough to have a load dumped here.
Hope this makes sense and is some help!
Dawn
- Thread starter
- #7
Got it, Twigg, crispy crunchy deep litter!
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In hot humid Mississippi here and doing it. Wont do anything else. I tried the sand and it was a job. Hubby didn't like me spending hours in the chicken pen scooping the poop and it got to stinking bad in just 2-3 weeks! even with me scooping. DL for me from here on out as long as I can hold up to keep it in there. The chickens LOVE shifting through all the leaves and straw. VERY happy chickens indeed.
Wanted to show my soil. I have been doing deep litter for a few years now. This is what my soil on the outside of the pen looks like. My lawn mower has been torn up so I haven't been able to sweep them up any litter so it's really needing it now. It's all gone inside their pen but it's still not a muddy mess when it
rains. As you can see our soil is very sandy. But look at how pretty the soil is inside their pen. We're using it in our garden and it's awesome.
rains. As you can see our soil is very sandy. But look at how pretty the soil is inside their pen. We're using it in our garden and it's awesome.
- Thread starter
- #5
Dawn, thanks so much! My coop floor is just like yours - wood covered in linoleum. I am planning on getting the food grade DE. Hoping I can find it locally. I've seen the link to the website that carries it. I may have to order it and have it shipped, I guess. And I guess I should get some sand in here! I'm picking up my babies in 16 days! The brooder is almost ready and we're getting so excited. The coop still needs exterior trim and interior finish out, i.e., roosts, droppings pit, nest boxes. My goal is to not lose any of my seven peeps. Wish me luck!
- Jan 4, 2015
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no matter where you live, if you get some "bacterial digester" or "liquid Alive" enzyme producing bateria with instan odorr control from your local janitorial supply company, you can spray it in the poop diluted, and it will "digest" the poop and there will be no odor. it is also completely harmless to people and pets. we spray it on the cat litter and there is no smell. spray it in your garbage pan, no smell. mop the floor - no smell, no dirt! you can read about it here from the manufacturer.. http://itwprofessionalbrands.com/12...ontrol/liquid-alive-enzyme-producing-bacteria I live in FL and you cant get more hot and humid than it is here!
Hopefully you will get input from people in your region but I just wanted to comment that deep litter does get somewhat humid (it is NOT for an underventilated coop!). AND if you are doing genuine deep-litter method where the stuff starts to compost, it also produces some heat in the coop. Neither of which sound to me like what you'd be looking for in SE TX
Good luck,
Pat
Good luck,
Pat
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