robyn8
Songster
For those who use deep litter do you really HAVE to clean it out yearly or bi annually?
I have an 8x8 coop. We have only 3 pullets right due to some losses and accidental cockerels earlier (started with 6 babies). I use a droppings board I clean off daily into our woods and probably 6-8 inches of pine shavings in coop. It's been dry all winter with zero smell. I helped turn it every once in a while but the chickens do a good job mixing it up. The bottom of the bedding is very dry crumbly broken down shavings. It seems really clean to me still, especially with so few birds in there now, so do I really need to clean it out and start over this spring? I started the deep litter in about August and added a lot when it got chillier and then a little more every few weeks.
I have an 8x8 coop. We have only 3 pullets right due to some losses and accidental cockerels earlier (started with 6 babies). I use a droppings board I clean off daily into our woods and probably 6-8 inches of pine shavings in coop. It's been dry all winter with zero smell. I helped turn it every once in a while but the chickens do a good job mixing it up. The bottom of the bedding is very dry crumbly broken down shavings. It seems really clean to me still, especially with so few birds in there now, so do I really need to clean it out and start over this spring? I started the deep litter in about August and added a lot when it got chillier and then a little more every few weeks.