Deep Litter Method

[Cowgirlgrace]

Glad I ran across this. With ten coops I've been putting a thin layer of shavings and cleaning every week. People always say diseases are carried in the poo and animals shouldn't be living in their poo but I think I will try this because the labor savings will be huge. Also the initial investment in the shavings is more but if I only clean 2 times a year I will probably end up using less. One thing to add about nesting material, I purchase the excelsior bedding pads. Sometimes I will put straw or shavings on top but the excelsior on the bottom keeps them from scratching things up so easily. If you use them make sure you get the thicker ones. I bought cheap thin ones once and ended up having to double them up and it ended up costing the same as if I had bought the thick ones to begin with. They usually last quite a while too. I only have to replace them a couple times a year.

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

Quote:
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...?

It sounds to me that you could use it on a floor also but it works best on dirt because of the composting idea. There are microorganisms in soil that aid in decomposition.

 

[darkmatter]

Quote:
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...?

It sounds to me that you could use it on a floor also but it works best on dirt because of the composting idea. There are microorganisms in soil that aid in decomposition.

That is my understanding also

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
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.

I'd stay with the straw. That is what I use--a bale last forever. Once, when I couldn't get it I used shavings but wasn't happy with it, as I said above it compacted and didn't seem to cushion the eggs as well.

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

I use the DLM and use a combination of compacted short-cut straw and pine shavings.
I start with a 4" layer and add bedding about once a week, or if it begins to smell yucky (I cannot tolerate the smell of a dirty coop- I grew up on a hatchery farm- we hatched around 5k at a time and kept hundreds of our own birds- some of my worst childhood memories are of crying and shoveling... It took me 35 years to overcome this, and get my own chickens)
I do have a wooden floor, but am finding it to work beautifully for my needs.
My orchard and garden are both downhill from the coop, and I empty the whole lot onto a big tarp, drag it down the hill and deposit it onto the empty garden bed or under the fruit trees.
In the spring, I will add the used bedding to the compost heap, which is at the same level as the coop, using the tarp method.