Deep Litter Method Question

[KimberlyJ]

This is my first year with chickens. We finished the coop Labor Day weekend and I covered the floor with pine shavings. I turn them weekly, add DE and/or a little Sweet PDZ and more shavings. I think I have used 3 bags of shavings all winter. (we started with 5 girls and then added 7 more just before it got really cold.) Surprisingly, it doesn't stink at all and it does seem that it "breaks down" on it's own. So here's my question...as soon as the weather breaks I plan on cleaning it all out but what do I do with it ??? Can I put it all in my vegetable garden before we put in the plants? Perhaps clean out the coop in late March and plant in mid May? Or does this stuff need to compost even more?

Thanks for your input, KimberlyJ

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Or does this stuff need to compost even more?

It would probably be best to compost it more​

 

[clairabean]

I dig it right in my garden a month before I plant. Or I sprinkle it around my roses and fruit trees. And give it away to neighbours... or random people.

It is pretty composted alrady, but if you can wait it is even better.

 

[darkmatter]

I put mine straight out into the garden, till it in. I only clean out my Coop Deep Litter Compost once a year------but then it has been composting in place (See my BYC page for Coop pics) right inside the sub-ground level dirt floor pit of the Coop. (a centuries old method used by European farmers for generations)

 

[Judy]

I compost mine. I figure there isn't enough really fresh poop to do any harm, especially if planting is a month or two away, but I'm more concerned with getting the hay or pine shavings fully composted, to prevent their drawing nitrogen from the soil as they break down. I have read this happens, but have no idea how extensive it is, or whether it's enough to really deprive the garden of nitrogen, so I just play it safe.

 

[KimberlyJ]

ddawn, I hadn't thought of that, good point. Thanks for your replies everyone.

KimberlyJ

 

[rcn11thacr]

Quote:
You are correct in wanting to prevent nitrogen depletion, almost anything new or freshly composted will require nitrogen to help in breaking down when placed in the ground.

 

[patandchickens]

It depends on a) when you'd want to start planting in the garden and b) how pooey the litter is.

I would try real hard to give it AT LEAST a month in the garden before planting into it, longer if possible, especially ifyour garden soil is kind of "enh" quality at present.

If the litter is, and has aays been, extremely pooey and perhaps a touch on the damp side, then it is going to be further along the composting process than if it is mostly shavings and bone-dry. If you have used 3 bags of shavings this winter then I am going to guess it is more on the shavings-y than the very-pooey side, but that's just a guess.

If you are concerned that it is too shavings-y then you have two fairly simple options to get around that problem. You could use it only as a *mulch* for the time being, then in the fall till it into the soil. Or, you could simply plan on adding extra N to compensate for its decomposition requirements, again preferably doing this at least a month before planting and ideally more, but you *can* just give the plants extra high-N fertilizer of whatever sort (organic or non-) as the plants are growing on an as-needed basis.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[bluebird]

I use the DL method and clean out my coop in the fall. That way it has fall, winter, and spring to 'cook" in the compost pile.

 

[Moabite]

I suspect

that the litter will be rich enough in nitrogen to break down everything that needs it in the compost and leave enough for the plants

. If not, I will add fish emulsion.

I do pile it up, water it, and let is get hot for about a month before planting, but this is the first year with chicken litter. Last year I mixed up fish emulsion in 5 gallon buckets. Heaped the compost into a "volcano" and poured the buckets into the crater like thin gravy on mashed potatoes. I ended up with the best garden yet.