Deep Litter Method

[sharol]

Henney, what do you use to support the poop tray (from the floor)? Is it sand in the tray or shavings?

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[woodmort]

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To my way of thinking, yes. They cushion the eggs better--shavings, unless they are fluffed regularly, tend to flatten out--which prevents breakage. Also I think it keeps eggs from freezing better. The only drawback comes from the birds kicking them out of the boxes and then my trying to get them up from the floor. BTW, they kick shavings out too.

 

[Ema]

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thanks woodmort I appreciate you answering my question about Straw. I will definitely take your advice...I have the same question straw for nesting instead of shavings?

 

[Catz1611]

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I am glad you asked that because I was wondering the same thing.

I have a dirt floor in my chicken house. . Would using shavings still be better than hay? ( I am currently using hay)

BTW, what does DE stand for?

 

[linben]

I think the shavings make better compost later. It breaks down easier than hay. The smaller pieces seem to mix up easier with poo. I will also put some but grass from the yard after it has dried.

 

[sharol]

Thanks. That is why I love this forum. After a while you get a sense of who is in the know. It feels good to get advice from someone who really knows what he is doing.

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To my way of thinking, yes. They cushion the eggs better--shavings, unless they are fluffed regularly, tend to flatten out--which prevents breakage. Also I think it keeps eggs from freezing better. The only drawback comes from the birds kicking them out of the boxes and then my trying to get them up from the floor. BTW, they kick shavings out too.

 

[Ema]

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I am glad you asked that because I was wondering the same thing.

I have a dirt floor in my chicken house. . Would using shavings still be better than hay? ( I am currently using hay)

BTW, what does DE stand for?

Diatomaceous earth :-D

I am taking Woodmorts advice he has been at this for many years and I truly believe he knows what he is talking about. I am going to replace my straw with shavings but still wondering if I should keep the straw in the nest boxes or replace that with shavings too.

 

[trilyn]

Well, this is just my opinion. I use the deep litter method also and have now for almost two years. BUT, I also use a nipple waterer which eliminates the spilled water/soaked bedding deal. Spilled water creates that ammonia smell that we all love so much.....lol! I have never ever used a traditional waterer in my coop and will not start now, not when what I have works so well. That being said, using the dlm, I empty the coop out two or three times a year. Takes me a whole 15 minutes a crack, just use a large flat bottomed scoop shovel and a wheelbarrow, dump into the compost pile and repeat. Takes about 4 trips, then I sweep the whole thing out and use the shop vac for what the broom cannot reach. Works just fine and the coop walls are sprayed with permethrin and then dusted with DE. Dump in fresh shavings and more DE and we're good to go! But, there are a million ways to do the dlm method....you gotta find what works for you!!

 

[ParadiseFoundFarm]

I am using DE on shredded newspaper/bills. Any comments from those of you in the know?

 

[Pequena Bandada]

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In the post above, the poster says that you need a dirt floor for deep litter method to work - can anyone explain why? I thought one could do deep litter with any type of floor...?