Deep Litter Method Question

[sggmom62]

Very simple question, actually. We have pine shavings and DME. What type of cat litter do you use? I am intrigued by this and am a new backyard chicken momma.

 

[ChickenMammX4]

When people talk deep "litter" they're not talking about cat litter but natural, organic materials like grass clippings, straw, hay, dead leaves, pine needles and other garden or landscape debris. The chicken poo drops to the ground below, out of sight and decomposes. No odor, nothing to attract flies.

We use the Deep Litter Method in our run with the above mentioned materials and has worked out very well. We continue to add materials through out the year as it breaks down, then do a complete clean out in the spring. The result is some beautiful compost for the garden.

 

[Howard E]

Momma:

I'd never made that connection before, but it's easy to see how one would. Kitty litter, deep litter. Both do serve the same purpose, but are simply different materials. Not that much different, as it turns out, as some are using sand as their chicken litter medium and sift through it to filter the droppings, much as cat owners do their litter boxes.

Good question!!!

 

[sggmom62]

Thank you so much!!

 

[BruceAZ]

DO NOT use deep litter method if you live in the desert states though

like for my state (Arizona) where it's currently around 100-110 during day.. do not use deep litter

since with compost it will heat up..

so the last thing you want is a hot floor in the already hot 100-110 heat temperature for your chickens

deep litter is ideal for people in colder states as one of the ways to keep their chickens warm during the cold/freezing days


plus it's not that cold here in phoenix..