Deep Litter - been meaning to do this for a while. Today is the day

[U_Stormcrow]

I should add photos from mine, which is similar but not identical.

I probably won't harvest compost until fall though.

That would be GREAT!
PLEASE do.

 

[3KillerBs]

I use mixed materials including wood chips from some tree trimming work and the occasional bale or two of straw when the yard waste is too wet to gather but the main component of my litter is pine straw and other yard waste.

Today I raked up two lawnsweeper loads to top things off since, being locked in for avian flu in the state and the weather having been wet, I noticed a *hint* of odor the other day.

Here's the existing litter. Not getting shallow, but it has too high a proportion of straw and is a little damper than is optimal. The pine straw will help keep it fluffy and aerated. You also see lots of wood shavings because I'm having trouble with POL pullets kicking them out of the nests and trying to sleep in/poop in the nests.

Here's the new stuff, a good, big pile:

I forked it all up to the top of the slope, where the chickens will do the job of mixing it with the old bedding.