Deep litter— what should it look like?

[tripletfeb]

I've used the deep bedding method ever since I've had chickens, years and years. I've never had an issue with smell and I change my bedding twice a year. Refill during the winter as needed. Chickens are in their coop only to lay and sleep. Unless we have bitter cold temps, they are out in their covered run which has a dirt floor

 

[Jewelschick]

I'm not a fan of deep litter, or deep bedding. Ideally there should be no need for bedding on the coop floor. The chickens should be roosting on perches so bedding would seem unecessary except in the nest boxes. Currently I have a few that do sleep on the coop floor and I provided a thin layer of bedding for comfort.
The deep bedding idea is reliant on the bedding staying dry. Ime this is almost impossible if the chickens are exposed to the weather. They get wet and this sometimes provides enough moisture in a coop to make the bedding damp.

One of the most helpful indicators of a flocks health is in the poop. I clean daily, mainly so I get to look at the poop daily. With a small coop this isn't really a major chore if one is organized.

The deep bedding idea becomes a major problem in the event of a parasite problem, particularly worms. The chickens dig through the bedding and peck at it and the worm cycle just rolls on. It's also not that great for ensuring that the coop is mite free either.

There is also the matter of population density in the coop. A large coop with the recommended 4 square foot per bird may work better, but for many who have coops as roosting and egg laying only (the chickens are out in a run or free ranging during the day) some judge required coop space by room on the perch rather than room in the coop. I've always been a room on the perch style keeper because the chickens I've looked after leave the coop in the mornings and don't return until dusk, amoung other reasons.

It takes me a few minutes to clean the small roosting only coops I've used over the years. Chickens like clean.

This comment is so helpful! I thought I was doing the deep litter method but couldn’t figure it out. All the poop was just piling up under the roost. My girls free range all day and only go into the coop to lay or roost. I’m going back to a dirt floor and maybe add in some construction sand. The pine shavings are driving me nuts!

 

[Krugerrand]

This comment is so helpful! I thought I was doing the deep litter method but couldn’t figure it out. All the poop was just piling up under the roost. My girls free range all day and only go into the coop to lay or roost. I’m going back to a dirt floor and maybe add in some construction sand. The pine shavings are driving me nuts!

My coop is on the small side to hold up to 4 chickens. I keep the entire coop floor covered with Sweet PDZ and scoop daily or near to it. It works great for me. (nest boxes get wood shavings). I started mixing in some of the coffee grounds bedding to cut down some dust and for the added compost benefit. The run is composting deep litter.

 

[Vickischics]

I also use the Deep Bedding method in my coop. I think it works best for me because I'm lazy and don't want to scoop poop very often. I find the girls keep it stirred up in the mornings before the auto door opens at 0700. (Lazy! Lol).
I spend a lot of time outside as they peck around for bugs and help me keep the garden pests down. Lol
I have feeders for them too but lately, they've been free ranging only going in to Thank me with eggs and to roost.

 

[Shadrach]

I have a couple of friends with fixed coops with dirt floors; outhouses basically with beefed up security and a couple or three branches for perches. They don't have bedding on the floor, well, only what the hens throw out of the nest boxes.
They keep their dirt floors deep raked. By this I mean that the soil on the floor has been dug and is now kept uncompacted. The dryness can turn the floors a bit dusty when it's very hot but in general, by raking the poop into the dirt the system seems to be odour free and reasonably easy to maintain.
A couple of not so obvious advantages to an uncompacted soil/dirt floor. The chickens landing on the floor when leaving their perches have a softer landing than they would on a compacted floor. Once ever few months if a few inches are dug off the top, you've got some powerful compost to mix in to veg plots etc.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

I have an elevated hen house that has the original hemp bedding for a year and a half. I scoop poop every morning for 5 hens. In the spring I will add more hemp. I have never had a smell or issue. If moisture presents, well thats another story.

 

[3KillerBs]

This comment is so helpful! I thought I was doing the deep litter method but couldn’t figure it out. All the poop was just piling up under the roost. My girls free range all day and only go into the coop to lay or roost. I’m going back to a dirt floor and maybe add in some construction sand. The pine shavings are driving me nuts!

Each person has their own individual style, preferences, and situation. If one method isn't working for a given person then that person should definitely try something else.

And if it is working then a person shouldn't fix what isn't broken.

Chickens are tough, adaptable animals who can do very well under many different systems of management.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

x2

Northwoodschic, i love that! I have considered using dried leaves or other materials but have not. I am still new to keeping chickens and my thinking was, i dont want to add anything alive to the henhouse; except hens of course! Even the dried leaves, I cringe at the idea of wild bird poop or scary bugs with eggs or moisture being introduced to the henhouse. Right now the henhouse is clean and dry; all materials identifiable, but i do wonder. The chickens only go henhouse to lay and roost so I may rethink as i gain experience and knowledge. Thank you. Hemp bedding is expensive, but so far, an amazing material because its small pieces fall through the scooper leaving only the poop in the scooper. There are never clumps so i feel there is not much bedding wasted daily when i scoop. And also, its always so dry. I have experienced 2 hot summers with this set up and have lightly misted the hemp with water to keep dust down. Healthy ventilation is an important factor to make this system functional. I do wish i had a live composting system under the roost, but the henhouse is 3ft off the ground, soooo, thats not happening. i treat it like an oversized indoor cage where clean, dry bedding is the goal. At the end of the day, no matter your stye of bedding, ya gotta put your eyes on it and tidy things up as you see fit. Ahh, may your flocks thrive always! Sun is up, off to freerange now

 

[3KillerBs]

Even the dried leaves, I cringe at the idea of wild bird poop or scary bugs with eggs

If your birds ever go out from underneath a solid roof in their run, etc. they are already exposed to wild bird poop. (One of the main concerns with that would be Avian Flu if it's in your area).

Bugs in yard waste are good! Chickens regard bugs as yummy snacks.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

If your birds ever go out from underneath a solid roof in their run, etc. they are already exposed to wild bird poop. (One of the main concerns with that would be Avian Flu if it's in your area).

Bugs in yard waste are good! Chickens regard bugs as yummy snacks.

I love you 3KB's! Thank you! You know I'm nutty when it comes to my chickens, lol