Deep Litter method questions~

[gjoyner]

Ok..Im a bit confused. in order to do the deep litter method does the bottom of the coop have to have open earth as the floor? I mean...does having the coop raised off the ground and having a linoleum on wood floor matter? I want to do the deep litter method but im a bit confused as to how it will work if the shavings arent touching the ground..and how exactly do I do the deep litter method. Bout to start moving the chikcs outside..getting the coop built now.
nervous and confused!
Thanks!

 

[mediazeal]

Most folks do deep litter on a solid floor of your choice. I have concrete pad. Some have linoleum on wood floor. Dirt floor means predators can dig in, so not recommended.

Deep litter works on solid floor. I am just finishing my coop, but will put down a thin layer of soil, then several inches of shavings and a dusting of DE. The soil will help with the composting even if it is not an open dirt floor.

Here is a thread/page on DLM
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1560-DLM

 

[phishinchicken]

we have an elevated coop with linoleum covered wood floors. the chickens seemed a little sketched out about the linoleum so we added litter. they seem to like that much better plus it is easier to cleanup once a week rather than everyday.

 

[Judy]

The term is used to describe a whole range of approaches. It really just means adding litter for a while instead of cleaning it out and replacing it frequently. I believe it originally meant having a dirt floor coop and piling the stuff up for many months, causing composting on the bottom.

 

[joebryant]

My floors and walls are all slick, white bathroom 4x8 panels. I spread diatomaceous earth on floor, put in about 4-6 inches of wood shavings, spread more diatomaceous earth over that and occasionally add more. I throw in a couple handsful of bird seed on the floor, and the chickens keep everything scratched under and the de keeps it dry with no smell. I would/will clean it out at least once a year.
I catch the night poo uner the roosts in 2'x3'x9" black plastic concrete-mixing boxes that cost $10 from Home Depot, Lowes, etc. and add de to that, no smell and no flies. Empty occasionally.
See My BYC Page.

 

[patandchickens]

I wish people would just stop using the term "the deep litter method" as if it is a particular thing. It isn't. It is a whole constellation of things, some related, some not particularly, and each with its own pros and cons.

You can do what you want

If you are not doing it on a dirt floor, you will get slow and minimal composting of the used litter (you can add soil to the litter and keep it damper, on a wood floor, if you WANT, but I sure wouldn't because of rot; works better on concrete, provided you have enough ventilation)

Really, just figure out what way of doing things (out of the nearly infinite assortment of possibilities) works best for you -- probably by trying it different ways -- and then just do it, it'll be fine

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[CityChook]

from MN!

True "deep litter" is for composting and creating heat in the coop.

What you are looking for is what Patandchickens calls the "Lazy Butt" method of deep litter. It's wonderful as you won't have to clean out your coop more than once or twice A YEAR.

I do Lazy Butt deep litter on a painted plywood floor. The litter doesn't decompose, like it probably would on a dirt floor, but that's not why I do it. I like that the poo dries out quickly in the deep shavings and they are fluffy and easy to keep clean. I have 4 chickens and zero smell. I put the shavings in the coop last September, cleaned it out in April (the chooks were inside the coop for 90% of the winter) and plan to clean it again in Sept. or October to prep for winter. The shavings were dry to the floor and I simply swept them out and added them to my compost pile. Super easy.

If you'd like more info, go to the blue bar above and do a search on deep litter. There is a ton of info on this forum.

Good luck!

 

[CityChook]

haa haa, Pat. We were posting at the same time.

 

[hen-thusiast]

Quote:
That's a great idea! Thanks - I can't believe how much I learn from this forum.

 

[Bluemoon420]

I use a dirt floor with DLM. To keep things from digging in you can line the walls and floor with hardware cloth. You can also sprinkle some quikcrete or something similar in a thin layer and wet it down. You will still have a dirt floor, but it will be harder for anything to dig through. DH will also be putting an electric fence around the outside of the chicken house to keep anything else from trying to break in, but we haven't had an issue.
You can use DLM on any type of floor, but it will compost faster on a dirt floor. If you don't have a dirt floor, and are using the litter for compost, it just adds an extra step, and you just put the litter into a seperate compost bin until it's ready.

Bluemoon