Deep litter method

[pinkmartin73]

see, you panicked for nothing! if you can't smell it, neither can the neighbors! 

Tbh, my smeller isn't what it used to be. Lol I have just been noticing there are no flies to speak of and we all know poop draws flies.

 

[yellowchicks]

Slept late this Sunday morning, haven't clean my coop. Got some unexpected visitors (friend's friends) wandered into our backyard themselves to see the chickens (it happens often because we have no perimeter fence). First they didn't see the chicken coop under the trees because the chickens were quiet. Then they look inside the coop and run and commented that it doesn't smell. DLM works!

 

[Latestarter]

... Got some unexpected visitors (friend's friends) wandered into our backyard themselves to see the chickens (it happens often because we have no perimeter fence)...Then they look inside the coop and run and commented that it doesn't smell. DLM works!

First, time to put up a fence! A pet peeve of mine is folks wandering around on my property uninvited and unaccompanied! That doesn't happen much and will happen a lot less when my LGD is mature and on duty.

Second, good job w/the deep litter! It is a fantastic way to handle the waste/smell issue, much less labor intensive and healthier for the birds (and you!) and gets you a good start to composting for garden and lawn use down the road!

 

[yellowchicks]

First, time to put up a fence! A pet peeve of mine is folks wandering around on my property uninvited and unaccompanied! That doesn't happen much and will happen a lot less when my LGD is mature and on duty.

Second, good job w/the deep litter! It is a fantastic way to handle the waste/smell issue, much less labor intensive and healthier for the birds (and you!) and gets you a good start to composting for garden and lawn use down the road!

Our town has an unofficial open-yard policy, therefore, very few residents erect perimeter fences except if they have a swimming pool, tennis court, or a dog in the back yard. Little kids live on our block in particular can run across the entire block traversing through people's front or backyard if they want. All of our neighbors are very courteous and friendly with each other because the property lines are kind of blurry. Everyone just go past their property lines a bit when mowing lawn, shoveling snow, or raking leaves. We have to be a lot more diligent with our chickens so they don't wander onto other people's properties, but when they do in rare occasions, our neighbors don't mind either. Likewise, our backyard kind of turned into a neighborhood petting zoo, people come "visit the chickens" from time to time.

With our DLM chicken compost, we even have a neighborhood compost pile. I supply the aged chicken poop, my next door neighbor supplies the wood compost from their dead tree. We mixed the batches together and made a large pile of compost soil on my neighbor's lot. It doesn't smell, just continue to decompose through age and occasionally mixing.

 

[PapaChaz]

Our town has an unofficial open-yard policy, therefore, very few residents erect perimeter fences except if they have a swimming pool, tennis court, or a dog in the back yard. Little kids live on our block in particular can run across the entire block traversing through people's front or backyard if they want. All of our neighbors are very courteous and friendly with each other because the property lines are kind of blurry. Everyone just go past their property lines a bit when mowing lawn, shoveling snow, or raking leaves. We have to be a lot more diligent with our chickens so they don't wander onto other people's properties, but when they do in rare occasions, our neighbors don't mind either. Likewise, our backyard kind of turned into a neighborhood petting zoo, people come "visit the chickens" from time to time.

With our DLM chicken compost, we even have a neighborhood compost pile. I supply the aged chicken poop, my next door neighbor supplies the wood compost from their dead tree. We mixed the batches together and made a large pile of compost soil on my neighbor's lot. It doesn't smell, just continue to decompose through age and occasionally mixing.

this would never work for me. I've turned into Mr "You kids get outta my yard!!!!!!" Wilson in my old age...............

in all seriousness, I have nothing against kids. The last place we lived the kids in the subdivision did what you're talking about. Just don't come up next to the house around the windows.

Where we are NOW though, I don't want people from up and down the road just wandering through my yard whenever they feel like it. I don't go through theirs, don't want em in mine. One of the neighbors did just that while we were remodeling before we moved in. Kind of gave me the feeling he was scoping out what was availble for taking. Being that I am usually packing something on my side, that day I went out and introduced myself as the new owner kind of made the impression maybe he shouldn't be out wandering around the yard eyeballing.....snooping........errrrrr, looking around

 

[16 paws]

Update!
In case anyone is still unsure about using DLM...
I was out doing some improvements in my coop today. My next door neighbor was working in her yard, and motioned me over to her. As i approached, she asked "How often do you clean your coop?" At first I panicked! Was this the moment people start complaining and I have to rehome our birds? I decided it was best to be honest. I told her that the short answer is "I don't." Then I waited while she looked at me all squinty-eyed.

Turns out her son mows yards for some folks down the road. One of the clients has chickens. Apparently said chickens smell really bad.

She was trying to figure out why our birds don't stink! She's constantly outside. Mows like every other day. We've had ridiculous amounts of rain. Even with all the moisture, she can't smell our coop!

I did a lil happy dance as I returned to my coop

Right-on

 

[Beekissed]

I think that is my most favorite thing about DL, as I have a very, very sensitive nose. Being able to keep chickens and not smell their less attractive attributes is simply lovely!

Fermented feed put the final nail in the coffin of chicken poo stink and both methods are things I would not give up for love or money. What a blessing to not have to smell poop.

 

[pinkmartin73]

I think that is my most favorite thing about DL, as I have a very, very sensitive nose.  Being able to keep chickens and not smell their less attractive attributes is simply lovely!    Fermented feed put the final nail in the coffin of chicken poo stink and both methods are things I would not give up for love or money.  What a blessing to not have to smell poop. 

I wish I could get a handle on FF. I've tried several times. After a week or two it turns into a moldy mess and draws gnats. My girls love it til that happens. In fact they won't eat dry feed at all now. Even without fermenting I have to moisten their feed every day. Spoiled brats!

 

[Beekissed]

You could try making smaller batches so you can refresh it more often, especially in the summer time. Most likely what you are seeing is yeast growth rather than mold, which is just fine and won't harm the birds. Those flies are likely what folks call fruit flies or vinegar gnats, which won't harm anything and if they lay eggs, that's just all the more protein for the chooks.

I see all of those things in my feed but the birds eat it like it's caviar anyway and they thrive on it, so maybe you should give it another shot...you may just love it once you get past all the weirdness and difference of it all.

 

[pinkmartin73]

You could try making smaller batches so you can refresh it more often, especially in the summer time.  Most likely what you are seeing is yeast growth rather than mold, which is just fine and won't harm the birds.  Those flies are likely what folks call fruit flies or vinegar gnats, which won't harm anything and if they lay eggs, that's just all the more protein for the chooks.     I see all of those things in my feed but the birds eat it like it's caviar anyway and they thrive on it, so maybe you should give it another shot...you may just love it once you get past all the weirdness and difference of it all. 

I've been seriously considering it. The fluffy white stuff that grows doesn't cause me concern. But when things turn green.... Uck!
Maybe I'll mix some tomorrow and give it another go. I had been keeping it in the house. Can it be kept in the coop? I wasn't sure with the heat.