Deep liter.

[LSU2001]

I am just getting into chickens, my coop is almost finished and I want to use DIM.

My question is this:
I have a friend who owns a sawmill right next door, so I have access to all the sawdust/shavings I could possibly want. This is a mixture of pine and hardwood sawdust. Would this work for litter, or do I have to use store bought pine shavings??

I have been using this in my garden as mulch and to help build up the soil with no problems so far
Thanks,
Tim

 

[ozark hen]

I have bought pine shavings that were more like sawdust and I can tell you that I hated it in the coop. I like to purchase the large shavings. Your friend with the sawmill....as far as I know the only danger would be cedar shavings..very toxic to chickens. Try it and see how it works for you if it is sawdust size.
Welcome to the newbies!! So glad to have your input!

 

[cmom]

I use deep litter and I sprinkle FOOD GRADE Diatomaceous Earth (DE) on the shavings. I add shavings until I have approx 4/6in. Periodically, I add DE. I clean my coop once a year. Once in awhile I throw some scratch on the shavings and let the chickens mix it up. They do a very good job. I have no problems with flies, stink and such. My pine shavings stay nice and dry easy to clean out. I put the shavings in my compost pile, which every once in awhile I give a toss to keep it mixed up with the other stuff that goes in, sprinkle with water and let it cook. The poop under the roost goes into the compost. I grow so much produce that what I don't sell, I give it away or my birds get it. My soil is low in acid so I think the pine shavings are good for my soil. I have been buying my pine shavings in the pet department at Wal-Mart.

 

[HennysMom]

Ok, we are just now switching to DLM - and I had the dropping boards underneath the roosts - but I removed them - so do I put them BACK to catch the poop or do I mix all the poop in with all the shavings?? I'm kind of missing (after just 2 days) having my dropping boards - they poop sooooo much and it just seems so unsanitary having them dust themselves in poopie shavings.... oh..and I did mix in DE with it all.

But maybe thats just me...

 

[ChickaD]

Quote:
I'd guess that you could add the dropping boards back on, esp since they worked and you liked them. Don't worry - there WILL still be enough poop to make the world go round!