deep litter method?

[birdbrain5]

ive been using the deep litter method with all of my birds and they have way more than enough floor space. i read that people who do this method only have to clean out thier coops twice a year. ive had my birds in thier coops for just a couple months and i already have odor and it just looks kind of dingey. i know its not supposed to look perfect but im suprised at how i have odor and whatnot. i add to them every two weeks to freshen up and fluff because after a bit they get packed looking. id say i have it like 4-5 inches deep, is this just not enough? im also not using poop boards so i know that corner will be bad. my shavings are pine and real big flakes. any suggestions?
and do you also add to it regularly to freshen up?

 

[lorieMN]

I put down fresh shavings like once a week,,and throw BOSS in every evening so they scratch it around,,keeps it fluffed up and not as compacted..mine doesnt smell other then normal chicken smell.

 

[Judy]

What size is the coop? How many birds? What is the floor made of? Where are you?

 

[Mac in Wisco]

It has to be kept fairly dry and the coop fairly well ventilated to keep the odor down. Do you have any leaking waterers or a fairly high humidity in the coop?

A little odor is to be expected as you are storing manure in there, but it shouldn't be too overwhelming.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

I use the deep litter method and dont have any problems unless it is a humid day. I open the vents wider if it is so it can dry out. The key is keeping it dry. I add shavings every week and throw boss in every day so the girls turn it over scratching around. I also dont use poop boards. I also throw in some de to help keep everything dry. You may need more venting or airflow to get rid of the humidity inside the coop.

 

[birdbrain5]

the coop is 10x10 and only 5 birds in there right now, three of which are bantams so they have plenty of room. i do have one corner that leaks when it rains so i know those wet shavings smell a bit so i scoop them out. i plan to put a window in the back, right now theres plenty of ventilation but a window in the back would create a cross-breeze so im sure i will notice a difference once i do that. the smell isnt overwhelming just sometimes a little more than i would have thought. the feathers are hard to clean out too without then going thru my manure rake or throwing out a lot of shavings. i think sand would maybe be easier but i like the dryness and look of the shavings.

 

[birdbrain5]

oh and the floor is rubber mats because it was originally a horse stall

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I bet it's the rain leaking in that's your problem. All that extra water would really make a coop stink. You're doing a good job managing your litter if it's only a small odor problem, with a leak. If you could get that fixed, I think you'd be a lot happier with the results.

 

[Newbie in Screamer Al]

I just started my coop and hen adventure. We have had alot of rain here lately so I went with shavings too. I am going to do the sand instead once it all dries out.I have a load of sand sitting beside the coop that I got for the run, but it is wet. Once it dries, the shavings will be removed. They say in here that sand has worked good for many. It will certainly be alot easier to keep cleen with a kitty litter scooper I thing. Then use it for compost. I also have roost bars and poop boards, so that helps the floor some. Although I just added 2 more birds, and they have not been roosting since I put the new ones in. They stay on the floor for some reason. Hopefully that will change soon and they will go back to roost.