Deep composting

[analyticalblonde]

I have been tossing and turning my bedding (pine shavings) but I thought it was about time to change it out. I decided to try Standlee Fresh Flock Bedding which people who have used it just rave about the product.

After cleaning out the deep bedding, putting down PDZ Coop Refresher then laying out the Standlee Fresh Flock Bedding, all seemed great.

Fast forward only 2 weeks, with the melting snow and muddy world I'm in and having tossed the bedding, I noticed moisture seeped into the coop and all of the Standlee bedding became completely matted almost overnight!

Freaked out beyond recognition...I hurriedly scraped out this bedding fearing the absolute worst for my girls and their delicate respiratory systems...I do have great ventilation but that's above not at ground level.

So, I let the floor of the coop dry out, put down another layer of PDZ then went back to my favorite pine shavings...all is going well now but I am ever more vigilant now that this happened so quickly.

 

[blackdog043]

I went ahead and just pulled everything out and loosely put a little bit of hay back in as It's really nice and warm today.

What material are you using for your deep composting? You need a good mixture of different stuff for it to compost. Also if the chickens aren't stirring it up, you will need too or through some scratch or treats in the coop so they will.

 

[aart]

So, I let the floor of the coop dry out,

Did you find the leak?

 

[jolenesdad]

Also, if it’s just hay, it will retain moisture and mold unlike most other bedding choices. Hay is not the best unless you want to do very frequent clean outs.

 

[analyticalblonde]

Did you find the leak?

Yes...! Since the backside of the coop faces east and with the snow blowing in from the north, it piles up...sometimes almost 4 feet high. Now, that the warmer weather is coming, the snow is melting and it is trickling in through the lap boards settling towards the bottom of the coop. We are going to build a new coop this spring, elevated off the ground, using materials that are more appropriate to our weather here. We purchased an integrated run/coop which was not of quality as we found out over the months. It lasted through our sweltering summer and frigid winter but in no way is good enough. We had to make many alterations as it was "slapstick" off the line.

Lesson learned but did give us education for sure.

 

[Fluffyflufffluff]

Hey guys!

I was deep composting over the winter but just went to clean out the coop really well and noticed a smell of ammonia. Now I'm concerned about my ladies.

I went ahead and just pulled everything out and loosely put a little bit of hay back in as It's really nice and warm today.

How concerned should I be? Thanks!

I believe that the ammonia smell is quite normal. I've tried it before, But it just doesn't fit in my location since the smell enters the house.

 

[aart]

I believe that the ammonia smell is quite normal.

Normal for a poorly managed compost, but it's not good.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Is this digging and piling into a corner normal or am I doing something wrong.

Normal for mine. I feed in the coop as well as outside. The area around the feeder in the coop is kept scratched clear to the dirt floor. It can pile up pretty high against the walls. To me it's not a big deal. It make it easier for them to find any spilled feed. That's why they are scratching anyway.

I'll occasionally level it back out but since the coop doesn't stink and even the dirt stays dry I don't bother. When it piles up enough under the nests to start blocking that area from my juvenile chicks (that's a favorite place for them to avoid the adults) I clean that area out.

If it is causing you any issues deal with it. If not, well my chickens don't seem to care.

 

[metarachel]

I was actually noticing the same thing today and I'm in SW Pa, a little mountain area southeast of Pittsburgh. I only have 2 girls and they tend to dig and pile everything into a corner. Tomorrow is my cleaning day if snow/rain stay away. Is this digging and piling into a corner normal or am I doing something wrong.

I deep compost in my coops too, and this is totally normal. I actually encourage this behavior by scattering scratch or mealworms in the bedding; the more the chickens toss it, the less I have to!

 

[LoribelleF]

I deep compost in my coops too, and this is totally normal. I actually encourage this behavior by scattering scratch or mealworms in the bedding; the more the chickens toss it, the less I have to!

Thanks for the information. They have recently started looked for gravel and grit so I added some to this area with scratch
Good gracious they went crazy for it. I guess spring fever is everywhere, even the barnyard.