Deep Litter in the Chicken Yard?

[jomoncon]

I've been using deep litter in the chicken coop & it's been great. In looking through various YouTube videos, I ran across this one that discusses deep litter in the chicken yard - outdoors.

. It starts around point 2:31. The lady talks about using deep litter "mulch" in her chicken yard. She uses what she calls "old mulch hay," bedding from the henhouse and leaves.

It's been easy for me to keep the coop & the run pretty clean, but the yard area I have dedicated to the girls is a mess!! Lots oh holes they've dug, old poop, whatever. It's a muddy mess when it rains and absolutely grows. I was wondering if I spread a layer of leaves, maybe the coop litter and some pine needles if that would help keep the yard area in better shape.

What are your opinions?

 

[Fresh Eggs Dail]

That's a great idea. When I clean out the coop in the summer (in the winter I do use the deep litter method), I pile the straw in the run and the girls spend the day spreading it for me. It helps cover and absorb some of the mud in the run.

 

[kjfrogster41]

I also use the deep litter method in the girls' coop. Really makes for easier cleaning and does keep things from getting too mucky. Now that the weather has improved, when they are out foraging I have been able to do a deep cleaning, added fresh straw/hay/dry leaves. They do enjoy making their own arrangements with it. I am impressed with how quickly 3 hens can re-do a 6ft. X 12ft coop. No matter how I arrange it, they must "fix" what I do.

The other day, after they came back in from a long day of scratching/pecking, they dug out a lovely deep hole and all 3 snuggled down in it making little cooing sounds and fluffing up their feathers.

They are soooo cute!

 

[Fresh Eggs Dail]

I love that ! Sometimes I dig huge holes in the run so they can look through the dirt for worms and bugs - and by the end of the day they've smoothed it all out again.