Deep litter method using straw, zone 5B-6

[lazy gardener]

I do the same thing with some oats, toss it on the straw so they dig (and they do!).
If I smell ammonia, how would I add carbon? In what form? thanks

I Found out that straw is working much better than the wood shavings. I don't have to clean weekly. In fact, I don't think I will have to clean all winter.

The only time I ever have had ammonia issues was when I was using shavings. Using leaves, hay, grass clippings, and mixed garden debris eliminates any ammonia issues IME. I do agree with Aart that it's best to use a mixture of materials, both shape and texture/size. I only use shavings if I run out of leaves.

 

[Minky]

I use only straw and havent found any Clumps or big masses at all. Certainly no mold. Its not damp in there at all. Nothing looks frozen or clumpy. Theres no smell- I mean, it smells like a barn. I have no interest in using wood shavings. I wanna keep it simple. Soon I hope to have goats in there and maybe a pig or two... ;-)


I will try and use leaves next year. I dumped maybe 4 piles that were shoulder height and 10 feet across into the forest, i guess I couldve dumped them into a corner of the barn? How do you store your leaves @aart? Clear plastic bags? Can you send me a pic of what that looks like? Leaves mixed with straw in your coop? a photo says so much- Thanks!

 

[aart]

How do you store your leaves @aart? Clear plastic bags? Can you send me a pic of what that looks like? Leaves mixed with straw in your coop?

I don't do deep litter in coop...use a poop board and shavings on floor.
Do a semi-deep litter out in run(where shavings go once a year) along with a myriad of other carbonaceous ingredients. I have stored dry leaves in open topped old feed bags in a shed over the winter, didn't do that this year as leaves weren't dry enough to store.

 

[Minky]

So is the poop board just a board that sits below the roost? Do you clean it or just burn it every 6 months?

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I use leaves that have been stock piled. Same idea. Just toss in a new bag full now and then, kick them around a bit. When I open their bag of sprouting grains, I'll toss some grains down now and then to make them work their litter. The only concern you should have is if you notice any ammonia smell. If you do, you will need to add more carbon to the mix.

What are sprouting grains?

 

[lazy gardener]

Grains that I will sprout for the birds. Any whole grain will sprout if it's not heat treated. I have a 50# bag of barley, a bag of BOSS, and a bag of millet. Hope to start sprouting them next week.

I could toss scratch into the DL, but don't have any.

 

[aart]

So is the poop board just a board that sits below the roost? Do you clean it or just burn it every 6 months?

Sift out poops daily into a bucket then they go to a friends compost.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...s-poop-pictures.621363/page-178#post-18966048