Deep litter method

[Chicken Myster]

The coop in question is the one on the right w/ the red roof. Yes, it's small. But it worked for the three hens. I'm in California and our winters are very mild so they only went in to sleep and lay eggs. It has three nest boxes and a 3' long roost. And I would go out every morning and use a kitty litter scoop to pull out the larger droppings. So the coop was basically cleaned EVERY day. I did try the deep litter method twice but could only get to about a month before I just couldn't stand it in there. It didn't smell. But there was just too much in the way of droppings for it to really get started composting. I've since upgraded them to the larger 4' by 4' on the left and now use a poop hammock. I can easily dump the contents into the compost bin ever few days and the coop stays clean. I'm just really upset that someone told me I wasn't doing the deep litter method right and that you could do it in ANY coop large or small. And that I didn't have enough ventilation on my coop for my chickens. There's a big vent the length of the coop along the back and the pop door stays open at all times. (Coop sits inside a predator proof run so they are protected that way.) If I add any more ventilation, they'd be sitting in the breeze at night. So I wanted to reach out to a more knowledgeable group of people and ask if you honestly thought that you could deep litter method in that 3' by 3' coop and only clean it out twice a year?

 

[Chicken Myster]

I use a pitch fork once a week and rotate the bark shavings "Fluff and Flip". It keeps the droppings from accumulating on the surface, no smell, well ventilated and dry. We have 36 ladies and we are all happy!

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote: Deep Litter is NOT "composting"

It only works if it's fairly dry, and actual composting only works when it's kept moist

Deep Litter will NOT work as it should if you clean it out instead of just adding more wood shavings

Deep Litter is a biological bedding system
"Composting" is a chemical and biological decomposition process

 

[Arielle]

Quote:

Deep Litter is NOT "composting"

It only works if it's fairly dry, and actual composting only works when it's kept moist

Deep Litter will NOT work as it should if you clean it out instead of just adding more wood shavings

Deep Litter is a biological bedding system
"Composting" is a chemical and biological decomposition process

THis begs for more information . . . now I am confused, but in a good way: need more information. My understand was that it is supposed to compost at the lower levels. But I didn not see that happeneding with my bedding, so I figured I don't have the mix right , but I keep trying: adding more shavings and dried leaves and keep it turned. I'm clearly missing something.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

THis begs for more information . . . now I am confused, but in a good way: need more information. My understand was that it is supposed to compost at the lower levels. But I didn not see that happeneding with my bedding, so I figured I don't have the mix right , but I keep trying: adding more shavings and dried leaves and keep it turned. I'm clearly missing something.

Here's an excellent article on deep litter that I found very informative. http://www.grit.com/animals/chicken-health-deep-litter-zm0z13jazgou.aspx?PageId=1#axzz2jxxtoX1W

While not composting in the respect that you're adding kitchen refuse, etc., deep litter does break down. I push that process a bit by adding leaves that were shredded by our mulching lawnmower and - most importantly - by inoculating my coop litter with dirt obtained from the forest floor. The little critters and microbes that eat leaf litter and woodland debri live in that dirt and really help break down the litter in the coop.

My coop is 8 x 10. To start my litter this fall [it is a newly built coop so this was my first season doing deep litter in it] I added a deep layer of pine shavings combined with mulched leaves. We then added a full wheelbarrow of dirt obtained from our woods, sprinkling it on the top. Oh, my, the girls had a field-day! They mixed it up really well and - six weeks later - you can see that the bottom layer is breaking up nicely. And there's no smell in the coop, even first thing in the morning when first opening it up.

As my DH said, seemed rather odd bringing dirt IN insteading of taking it OUT but - hey - it works for us!

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Sounds like a good method. I have plenty of woods!! Can I use garden soil? Maybe I shoudl just read the article . . .

 

[Mtn Laurel]

Sounds like a good method. I have plenty of woods!! Can I use garden soil? Maybe I shoudl just read the article . . .

Don't think the article references adding dirt. That's something that I personally do. The reason is that people who have dirt floors on their coops seem to be really successful with deep litter. Plus, I'm in the woods so I see this process going on all around me. It just seemed to make sense and it works for me.

I'd think garden dirt would have some of the critters and microbes. I know dirt from the forest floor does as that's what gives the forest floor that nice, fine layer of mulched goodness. Not bagged soil. And I definitely don't use DE as that will kill the good critters that I need.

Everyone does it a bit different. This is just what works for me.

BTW, I have a wood floor in my coop. It is covered in a tarp that has been stapled to the floor to protect it.

 

[Arielle]

Bear in mind that I am just on page one of the link above.

SOme moisture is necessary, but not WET. I mentioned using dirt fromt he garden but perhaps some material from the compost is better??

Looks like I need to get the mower going and shred the leaves up. THen bag them for winter use. I usually bag them and lay them on the compost pile. THe leaves go into the coops periodically and the exposed compost becomes a feast for the birds grabbing worms.

 

[armorfirelady]

I've bagged up a dozen or so bags of leaves and pine needles to use all winter. I also add some peat moss from time,to time. I have a litter box full of wood ash and peat moss for them to dust bath in (mite & lice prevention) and when it's almost empty I just dump it in the litter. I also once a week or so rake everything to the middle if the coop. The edges are always damp and this helps put moisture in the DL as the girls happily scratch thru it.

 

[Arielle]

Thanks for the remider on the wood ashes now that the wood stove is going.

Caught one of the hens dust bathing in the litter-- is that a good sign???