Deep litter method

[cydthekid50]

We use the deep litter method in our chiken coop. It saves quite a bit of work and it is very clean and efficient. First off we Clean our coop out once a year. Usually in the spring so we can use the litter in the garden. We shovel all the litter out, wash down the walls with a weak bleach solution and also spray this solution on the floor lightly.
We let the coop air out all day and in the evening add a 2 or 3 inch layer of wood shavings and paper shreddings. We
We have a droppings board underneath the roosts and we do clean this off every sunday whether it needs it or not. It always needs it. This fresh poo goes into the compost pile as it will burn plants if it is not rotted first. This only takes about 10 minutes or so and is no problem at all. At this time we also stir up the litter in the bottom of the coop, this helps to keep poo from accumulating around the feeder and helps to dry it out. Some people just throw scratch or corn in the coop and the chickens will stir it up for you. We then add a thin layer of shavings, paper shreds or hay. We keep this up every week and we end up with a 12 inch or so layer in the bottom of the coop to clean out next year.
As long as you make sure the poo is drying out there wont be a problem. We never have any issues with smells or ammonia build up.
I'm gonna go down and snap some photo's of the inside of the coop in the a.m. Stay tuned...

Chris

I’ve had chickens before, but moved. Now I have a new flock and new coop/ run combo and trying the deep litter method for first time. Problem is the girls are tracking a huge amount of the hemp bedding into the run. I don’t want it in the run. Help???

 

[Molpet]

I’ve had chickens before, but moved. Now I have a new flock and new coop/ run combo and trying the deep litter method for first time. Problem is the girls are tracking a huge amount of the hemp bedding into the run. I don’t want it in the run. Help???

Board across the door to the run. Mine is about a foot taller than the bedding.

 

[cydthekid50]

Board across the door to the run. Mine is about a foot taller than the bedding.

That won’t work because the coop door is chicken sized-about 15” high.

 

[Molpet]

That won’t work because the coop door is chicken sized-about 15” high.

Yes most coops need to be modified if they aren't built with deep litter in mind

 

[cydthekid50]

Yes most coops need to be modified if they aren't built with deep litter in mind

Okeedokee! After a bit of research I’ve decided I can live with the hemp chips being tracked into the run and here’s why. We are having a very damp spring/summer so far in Pennsylvania and I discovered the hemp is wonderful for preventing mud, AND; I’ve decided to try out composting in my run!

 

[jvls1942]

That won’t work because the coop door is chicken sized-about 15” high.

your chickens do not need 15 inches of head room.
put a 3 or 4 inch board across the bottom of the door .
then taper the bedding from the board up to the depth
that you want it.
that's what I did with mine. it worked fine for over 45 years.

 

[Doodlemom63]

I’m located in NC and my run is a dirt floor and it’s shaded through most of the day until midday late afternoon my concerns are floor staying damp after it rains I haven’t put and thing down yet as I just moved it to this spot, previous spot was full sun all day and very hot especially in the house that’s attached from outside where hens lay and they sleep at night, I’m wondering if I should loosen the dirt a bit, add PDZ and DE and wood ash then layer of pine pellets then shavings? I think the pellets are awesome they absorb moisture very well and then they turn into a very fine shavings layer. They don’t spend a lot of time in the run as the free range all day have dust bath area they created on their own actually under the bottom half of a large dog crate so it stays dry and I add de and wood ash occasionally. The sun warms it up in the mornings until about noon they seem to like is so haven’t bothered to change it… my run is 9x12 with hanging feeder and the water just sits on the ground. I have 9 new 14 wk old chicks that have been integrated and are sleeping in the run at night I made a space for them to get off the ground they seem to enjoy it but still huddled together in a corner at night which is fine except it’s damp from all the rain lately so I’m scrambling to figure it out… do I cover the sides ? Thanks for any advice!

 

[Susan Skylark]

I have the opposite problem, my quail enclosure is in my garage and my nipple waterers don’t leak enough, it has been three months and I couldn’t figure out why nothing was composting, duh! I started adding water and it was like magic, except my 13 year old decided it smelled funny (like compost) and cleaned half of it out without asking first! Definitely a work in progress but the birds and I love it!

 

[Bawkbok]

fine except it’s damp from all the rain lately so I’m scrambling to figure it out… do I cover the sides ?

If they are sleeping outside, I would cover that part of the run corner walls with a tarp so they can stay dry and it would make them feel safe / less exposed and less visible to predators. Place concrete blocks or a large log or something for them to perch on.
How about a small dog house or crate? They are usually well ventilated. Secure the door open so they can escape at will or remove it all together.

 

[saysfaa]

I’m located in NC and my run is a dirt floor and it’s shaded through most of the day until midday late afternoon my concerns are floor staying damp after it rains I haven’t put and thing down yet as I just moved it to this spot, previous spot was full sun all day and very hot especially in the house that’s attached from outside where hens lay and they sleep at night, I’m wondering if I should loosen the dirt a bit, add PDZ and DE and wood ash then layer of pine pellets then shavings? I think the pellets are awesome they absorb moisture very well and then they turn into a very fine shavings layer. They don’t spend a lot of time in the run as the free range all day have dust bath area they created on their own actually under the bottom half of a large dog crate so it stays dry and I add de and wood ash occasionally. The sun warms it up in the mornings until about noon they seem to like is so haven’t bothered to change it… my run is 9x12 with hanging feeder and the water just sits on the ground. I have 9 new 14 wk old chicks that have been integrated and are sleeping in the run at night I made a space for them to get off the ground they seem to enjoy it but still huddled together in a corner at night which is fine except it’s damp from all the rain lately so I’m scrambling to figure it out… do I cover the sides ? Thanks for any advice!

If you don't mind them sleeping there other than the dampness, you could add a roost there. A 2x4 or tree branch on cement blocks on each end would work.