Deep litter method in chicken run??

[4luvofchickens]

I wait until there hasn't been rain for a few days and only use the crispy dry leaves. As soon as they dry out again I will be collecting a couple bags full

 

[dldolan]

I am so glad to have found this thread! I am trying to figure out how to do a litter-type run here in Northern California. I like the leaf idea, but maybe you all can comment on my thoughts, as I am wanting to implement this idea this weekend. I have completely enclosed an old pony shelter (enclosed on three sides & covered 10x12x 8ft high) for my hens plus another 10 ft by 8 ft, making their run pretty big if they have to stay in (usually they are out in my orchard). The henhouse is inside this big space, but built up four feet so they go up the ladder to sleep and lay, so have the whole open "down" space to roam around in. 1/2 gets wet--open to the rain.

Issues: -run has shale gravel in the bottom as this is what they had for the drainage for the pony
sloping downhill away from the run/coop towards the garden--muddy corner
Just started our rainy season. Usually will rain off and on through April, then NO rain for 6 months. Temp won't go much below freezing and if so, only for and hour or two.

OK, so if I put down a layer of sand, then DE sprinkled, then garden grade mulch...then toss in my sycamore and pear tree leaves as they fall...should I be able to make the hens happy, have compost every year (or I can take off half the mix the girls make every Dry? season and put it in one of my compost bins for further action before turning it into the garden).

Thoughts? Any would be greatly appreciated. Here are photos so you have a better idea...

Here is the corner that gets muddy--where the red chair is...


Here is the shelter on left and run on right



Here is the inside of the coop (back cleaning door view)--raised 4 ft up, with wire mesh on the botton so if the girls poop from the roosts it falls through or cleans easily... (Roosts are above this door height, so you are just looking in to the nexting boxes. Chicken door on the terrace on the left.)

 

[fldiver97]

Quote:
I would skip the mulch (wood chips, right??) and use lots of leaves and maybe just some plain topsoil under the leaves. Could you add lots of sand to the area that gets muddy??? Then put some leaves on top that as well. My girls did really well with dirt, a couple of inches of sand and then lots of leaves. By the second spring I have a thick layer of compost that can go in the garden....

 

[dldolan]

Hi! (My hometown is Madison, so you caught my attention!!)
Nope, garden grade mulch is much finer than wood chips, but I went ahead and put in sand and mulch and leaves, with a layer of DE on top of the sand as wet season here brings out the itchy critters...
Hens seem to love it, so I'll hope for garden compost after awhile.
Thanks!!

 

[mickey nuget]

Hi yall .I just built a new
coop with outside covered run 7ft x12ft . I collected my neighbours xmas trees an schredded all the branches and by god itmade the best mulch for deep litter . Iv only got 3 chickens so far but no smell and looks like a real forest floor .so far so good .