- Jul 17, 2013
- 17
- 5
- 26
Hi ContessaKris!We will set up our coop this weekend and will use it in a few weeks as the chicks grow older. I'm reading up on this deep litter method. Does it apply to the run as well? Right now the area we have planned to use is covered in ivy type plants. I don't know if we should dig those up, put in sand or rocks as I've seen others do. Or should I leave the Ivy and throw straw and whatever on it periodically? Didn't know if they'd like picking thru the ivy for bugs every day or if straw should be down.
On this deep littering, I understand sort of how to do it in the house part of the coop but in the run it seems to me it might get more moisture than it should. What should I do there?
Please forgive my newbie questions. Just want to get it right the first time.
Oh, and to start this deep little thing do I just go buy a block of hay/straw (which is better) or pine shavings or what?
I use pine shavings inside the coop for the DL method. I like the pine shavings because the composting action of DL breaks it down quickly and I can put it right into my garden. With straw or hay, I'd have to put it in a compost pile first to break it down enough to use in the garden.
You'll find people with very strong opinions on whether to use straw or hay or pine shavings or sand. I use pine shavings because it works for me. No other reason.
As long as the ivy on the run isn't of the "poison" variety, I'd leave it there and let the chickens eat it.
As for the run, I'm assuming you have a dirt floor there. I'd leave it alone and not add any shavings or chips or anything. Leave it natural. If it gets poopy, you could always add another layer of dirt from elsewhere in your yard. I have a dirt-floor run and 26 chickens. All I do is occasionally rake things up in there. Usually, I simply put some grains on the dirt floor and let the chickens do the raking when they scratch. Sometimes, I'll give them a bunch of weeds from the garden or grass clippings and all of that just works its way into the dirt on the floor of the run.
Have fun with your chickens!