Deep litter method

[Crax]

There’s probably numerous threads about this method already but I myself have a few questions for if it’s do able in my coop, just so you guys can get an idea my coop is basically a wooden shed that *was* going to be a dog house but as our flock grew we realized we needed more space so we turned the shed into a new coop, we put a plastic tarp on the bottom of the coop floor to prevent the wood from getting stained but each day it’s a pain for me to clean the poop from (I have to use a hose and spray the poop off/sweep the water out each day) <— I don’t even know if that’s a good idea at all really but I am just trying to keep it as clean as possible so I apologize but anyways I heard of this litter method and was wondering if it’d work for me, I read you have to add about 4 inches of litter and turn it etc add more and turn but I just worry that it’ll get too deep and since the shed is too small, basically just make it difficult, I also worry that it won’t decompose properly or my chickens will get sick from ammonia, I have ventilation but I worry that it still won’t be enough, I don’t know the dimensions of the shed but I do have a picture, I should further mention we let the flock run around all day outside and they only come in at bedtime but in that period from night to morning poop does gather. I do actually have a pic of the coop so, there are two windows you can open for ventilation

 

[RainbowHen]

Since your coop has a floor deep litter won't work but you can still do a deep bedding method.

 

[RainbowHen]

You will need more ventilation high up. At the roof peak and in the eaves. Two windows will not be sufficient

 

[aart]

(I have to use a hose and spray the poop off/sweep the water out each day) <— I don’t even know if that’s a good idea at all really

Not a good idea at all......you want coop to be as dry as possible.
Where are the roost, that they would sleep on?
What is that box full of(?) on the left side of coop?

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.

-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.

-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.

- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 7 years.

 

[Crax]

Thanks for all the replies, seems this method won’t work, and for the ones asking where the roost was we are gonna build one so they’ll have one soon.

 

[Crax]

Also one last question though, is there a possibility sand would work?

 

[aart]

That's pretty big area to use sand, it really should be sifted out daily.
..and it can get pretty stinky when damp.

Oh, and... Welcome to BYC! @Crax
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Crax]

That's pretty big area to use sand, it really should be sifted out daily.
..and it can get pretty stinky when damp.

Oh, and... Welcome to BYC! @Crax
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2401861

I plan to sift it daily so don’t worry about that, also I apologize for never putting the location there I wasn’t even aware of this until now! But for short I live in Texas

 

[aart]

I live in Texas

If you live in an arid part of Texas, sand might work ok.

 

[Crax]

If you live in an arid part of Texas, sand might work ok.

Yeah I think it is one of the arid parts actually