Cleaning out deep litter method

[chrissynemetz]

Welcome to BYC! We're glad you decided to join us!

 

[Callender Girl]

You have zeroed in on one of my least favorite chores ever! Last week, I removed all the nasty, wet, stinking litter from the duck and goose shelters as well as a ton from one of the coop runs that was inundated by the spring rains. I was more disgusted by the wet straw, but the soggy pine shavings were no picnic, either.

Good luck with your pitch fork, and welcome to BYC!

 

[007Sean]

Howdy, and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Happy to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!

Thanks for joining our community!

 

[swampfox440]

Hi, welcome to BYC! pleased to meet you.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
It seems that the litter isn't being mixed well enough and not enough dry material is being added. It should never get like you described.
Have you ever considered poop boards?

 

[Kenneth Zweerink]

Welcome to BackYard Chickens. And a Big Hello from Eastern Nebraska!

 

[NatJ]

It seems that the litter isn't being mixed well enough and not enough dry material is being added. It should never get like you described.

I think it's just the nature of hay. Long strands of hay will tangle together into a mat. There seems to be no avoiding this, unless you chop the hay into short pieces before using it.

More hay (different ratio of poop to hay) might make cleaning easier, but I think long hay is still going to be a tedious job to clean out with a pitchfork, no matter how you manage it.

(This is probably why wood shavings are so popular for chicken bedding: it is much easier to keep them loose so they can be raked and scooped. That does not always make them "better," it just means they get managed with different methods.)

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

 

[Grammy60]

Hello and welcome to BYC So happy you have joined our flock.

 

[Starburst]

Hello, and welcome to BYC! So glad you joined!
I'm so sorry about your bedding - I don't know how to get out all of that without putting a lot of work into it. After you've cleaned out your bedding, if you have the chance, I highly recommend looking into poop boards! Best of luck!