Deep litter done right

[aart]

Hi all, just getting through most of the postings here. Thanks for all the info. I have a lot of redwood mulch in my yard from the previous owners and I’m wondering if anyone has used redwood sawdust or mulch in their DL?

Are you sure it's actually redwood...or just red dyed mulch...or cedar mulch???
Not sure if redwood is a good/bad ingredient.
I suppose in small amounts it would be ok,
especially if it is well weathered(like been there for years).
Are you doing DL in coop or run?
Would be safer in run than coop.

 

[EsqChick]

Are you sure it's actually redwood...or just red dyed mulch...or cedar mulch???
Not sure if redwood is a good/bad ingredient.
I suppose in small amounts it would be ok,
especially if it is well weathered(like been there for years).
Are you doing DL in coop or run?
Would be safer in run than coop.

It’s redwod (“gorilla hair”). It’s at least a couple years old at this point and degraded enough it doesn’t even block weeds anymore! I was planning to put it on the base of the DL with other materials on top. I’m getting my coop/run set up today (!) and planning DL for the run. Thanks!

 

[RonP]

Redwood has a natural resistance to decay and insects. As such, if your goal is to create compost, it may take a VERY (decades) long time.

If your goal is to create some mass for the deep litter, it will not hurt the birds outdoors, but will offer little to neutralize their manure.

One caution, Redwood contains a natural toxin that should a chicken get a splinter, it tends to block the immune response and they can become infected quite easily.

Personally, I would avoid it except for structural purposes.

 

[EsqChick]

Redwood has a natural resistance to decay and insects. As such, if your goal is to create compost, it may take a VERY (decades) long time.

If your goal is to create some mass for the deep litter, it will not hurt the birds outdoors, but will offer little to neutralize their manure.

One caution, Redwood contains a natural toxin that should a chicken get a splinter, it tends to block the immune response and they can become infected quite easily.

Personally, I would avoid it except for structural purposes.

Thanks. I suppose I should try to either get it out of my chicken run or bury it deep under other materials!

 

[lazy gardener]

I do DL in coop and run. The only time I purchase shavings is for chicks, and if I run out of my winter stash of leaves. It's been warm the past few days, and the DL in the coop is starting to thaw out. Many of the leaves were frozen when they went in, so more moisture than usual. Thursday night, for the first time in at least several years, I smelled ammonia. So I immediately tossed an other bag of leaves onto the DL under the perches. That cut the odor immediately, but I knew it was a bandaid treatment. So, today, I bought a bag of sweet PDZ. I have not yet used any, but the coop has been sweet since I added the extra leaves. I've been frequently adding a bit of scratch and sprouts, and occasionally a hand full of kitty kibble to the litter under the roosts. Today, they have churned things up nicely, and I used my mulch fork to break up the mats that they have not gotten to. I was very pleased with what I saw in the deeper layers. Not composted yet, but moist, and all of the chicken poo is nicely broken down. Adding more O2 to the mix will help the bacteria to eat up that ammonia. And I hope to get some PDZ churned in by the end of the day. This will be the first time I've used PDZ.

 

[lazy gardener]

As for PP re: use of red wood, I don't think I'd use it.

 

[aart]

And I hope to get some PDZ churned in by the end of the day. This will be the first time I've used PDZ.

Why do you feel you need it?

 

[lazy gardener]

B/C it will sequester the extra nitrogen, and decrease the likelihood of further ammonia events. My coop litter is moister than I want to see it now.