Deep litter method

[chickengirl1193]

I was worried about rodents because I think they come into my goat shed but then I realized they will just come in through the door if they wanted to... they can't get into my coop tho and my jack russell takes care of any rodents lol. Could they spread any diseases or only if they poop in the food? My feed is kept rodent free

 

[Beekissed]

I was worried about rodents because I think they come into my goat shed but then I realized they will just come in through the door if they wanted to... they can't get into my coop tho and my jack russell takes care of any rodents lol. Could they spread any diseases or only if they poop in the food? My feed is kept rodent free

Not unless you are infested and they carry parasites of their own. I wouldn't worry about the occasional mouse...every farm has them and where there is grain feed, there are rodents.

I never leave feed in the coop overnight and this seems to keep down rodent numbers and also the cat and dog both like killing mice, as do the chickens.

 

[chickengirl1193]

Not unless you are infested and they carry parasites of their own.  I wouldn't worry about the occasional mouse...every farm has them and where there is grain feed, there are rodents. 

I never leave feed in the coop overnight and this seems to keep down rodent numbers and also the cat and dog both like killing mice, as do the chickens. 

Okay! Thanks

 

[Arielle]

Quote: THe 6 feet infront of our house was back filled iwth sandduring construction, and it drains very well. And makes gardening difficult. I have amended the sand for some 20 years and it has improved but boy it disappears into the sand. THe only time I know I have made progress is to dig below the amended level. THe top layer is getting darker and darker, but still rather sandy.

Keep at it-- clearly you are doing something right to get wonderful tomatos.

 

[lawatt]

so here's a question -- we've had an absolutely drenching rainstorm this weekend (and still raining!), which is much needed for our drought, but has created a complete mess in the deep litter runs of my coops:

the ground water has come up so fast, it's puddling up in the coops (this is NOT from rain falling in, they are well covered) -- is there any chance of drying the litter out (we are forecast to have mostly dry weather again after today), or at least of preventing a big moldy mess?

 

[armorfirelady]

When mine did that last spring I just pulled all the wet stuff out and raked up the ground after it wasn't soupy to get ground to dry. Then put fresh litter down.

 

[lawatt]

When mine did that last spring I just pulled all the wet stuff out and raked up the ground after it wasn't soupy to get ground to dry. Then put fresh litter down.

and did you just pile the stuff you pulled out on your regular compost pile, or...?

thanks!

 

[armorfirelady]

When mine did that last spring I just pulled all the wet stuff out and raked up the ground after it wasn't soupy to get ground to dry. Then put fresh litter down.

and did you just pile the stuff you pulled out on your regular compost pile, or...?

thanks!

Some went in the compost but most of it went in my veggie garden to be turned in when I rototilled.

I wonder if those nuggets they sell as mulch would work to absorb some of that moisture in the ground so they were not walking in mud all the time? Or some of those pine pellets that horse people use? They would expand as they absorbed the water. I have never used either but know of others that have.

When MIPS cop flooded it was warm out so I didn't have to worry much about keeping much DL down on the floor till I got the coop to higher ground.

 

[lawatt]

Some went in the compost but most of it went in my veggie garden to be turned in when I rototilled.

I wonder if those nuggets they sell as mulch would work to absorb some of that moisture in the ground so they were not walking in mud all the time? Or some of those pine pellets that horse people use? They would expand as they absorbed the water. I have never used either but know of others that have.

When MIPS cop flooded it was warm out so I didn't have to worry much about keeping much DL down on the floor till I got the coop to higher ground.

considering how insanely dry we've mostly been this year, i expect the water table will drop back down again pretty quickly, allowing the coops to dry out again -- we've had somewhere between 6 to 10 inches of rain this weekend (and still coming down!), so it's a very unusual flood for us.

pine pellets is a good idea, though -- i use them as cat litter, so perhaps i'll get some more.

 

[momofthehouse]

Slowly reading all the comments on this thread but I have a question. I am in the Pacific Northwest. I am going to put the coop in a place where the rain water doesn't settle and I like the deep litter method sounds like you dont scoop poop you just keep it dry and keep adding items such as straw, dry leaving, pine shavings and household items like old bread, egg shells etc right? Do you do this in your run only and still clean out the coop and nest boxes? What should I do on the floor in the run if I am worried about the soil getting too wet through our lovely rain storms. I am not sure my run would stay dry during our rainy season. Suggestions?