Deep litter method for run area?

[K-Finn]

Hi everyone, I live near Sacramento CA, so the winters are chilly and sometimes very wet, but no snow. I usually rake up poop every week or so when it's dry, but it's not feasible when it's muddy. To avoid getting a muddy poopy mess in the chicken run, I usually throw piles of dried leaves back there, since we get a ton of falling leaves through the winter. Is it likely I can I do this, essentially the deep litter method, successfully in a larger outdoor area? Any tips on when to rake everything up and start fresh vs just keep adding more leaves? I feel like if I'm able to keep enough carbon matter back there I should be OK with not raking or scooping up poop through the winter, but I also don't want to inadvertently create a mess that might be unhealthy for the birds. (adding gravel or sand isn't really an option since I rent and will eventually need to undo whatever I do back there) Thanks!

*photo for sense of size of the run area*

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I just add extra stuff as needed throughout the season. Leaves are the best thing. I don't remove any poop, it gets worked into the litter and disappears.

 

[blackdog043]

Add some untreated wood chips or get some pine bark nuggets and add that to the run. It will work better than just leaves, it would be more like a mulched flower bed. Depending on how long you plan on staying there, you can add yard waste and some straw. Everything will break down nicely. When you leave, someone will have some good soil to use in flower beds or a garden.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I love the coop art!

As far as your plan it sounds pretty good, though I second the recommendation to add wood chips (ideally well aged chips) to the mix as that provide drainage that leaves alone cannot.

I do scoop obvious surface poops daily (and yes it's pretty much futile in the rain) but that's optional. I do it because I don't like risking stepping on poop as my dog will grab my boots and lick them.

I don't have a schedule to clear out my run, I only do it when the materials have broken down enough that it's not providing the drainage I need. Anything that gets taken out gets thrown into the garden.

 

[aart]

I second the recommendation to add wood chips (ideally well aged chips) to the mix as that provide drainage that leaves alone cannot.

X3!!
Leaves alone can mat and get nasty.

I love the coop art!

Dat Chicks got Legs!!

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Add some untreated wood chips or get some pine bark nuggets and add that to the run. It will work better than just leaves, it would be more like a mulched flower bed. Depending on how long you plan on staying there, you can add yard waste and some straw. Everything will break down nicely. When you leave, someone will have some good soil to use in flower beds or a garden.

I thought about leaves, but they aren't very absorbent. I throw wood chips in the run and they have a blast kicking it around and mixing it with the dirt. No reason to rake and poo biodegrades into lovely warm compost. With the heavy plastic the run seems warmer than the coop. Winter is a bit cooler here than in Sacramento - snow, wind, and temperatures in the single digits (thankfully not all the time).

 

[K-Finn]

Thanks everyone, this is very helpful!

 

[LozzyR]

Can I ask if people who do the deep litter method throw grass clippings in there as well? I've seen a cautionary note about not letting chooks eat mouldy grass clippings as that can make them very sick, but if it's spread out and mixed in with the rest of the litter, will that stop it getting mouldy? We've just started trying the deep litter method and it will get a little expensive if I have to chuck a bale of wood shavings on it every week!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Can I ask if people who do the deep litter method throw grass clippings in there as well?

I add grass clippings from late spring through summer and fall. Last week I dumped in 7 cart loads of grass so it's quite grassy in there right now. I've never had an issue with mold, the grass gets mixed up with the wood chips and dried leaves and other components. Ideally you want to keep the clippings short to avoid crop impaction and obviously don't use clippings if you've been fertilizing or otherwise treating your lawn. Drying out the clippings is also a good idea, because it makes them a little less appetizing so the chickens hopefully don't gorge on it, and it prevents matting.