Deep litter question

[seattlechicken2019]

We just got 4 chickens this year and they are about 12 weeks old. They have been out in the coop/run for about a month. I wanted to do the deep litter method and so I put down about 4 inches of pine shavings and have been using a pitch fork to turn it over. The bottom of the coop/run is hardware cloth on top of dirt. My questions is, every source I have looked at for deep litter talks about turning the top layer over so the droppings are now underneath. However, when you only have 4 inches, it's hard to split that in half and only turn over the top layer. I find myself just going to the bottom with the pitchfork and turning the whole thing over (basically just mixing it around). Is that going to be ok? So far it seems fine, I'm just not sure I am doing it right.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Pine shavings only is NOT deep litter, it's more like deep bedding which does not behave the same. You need a mix of materials in order for composting to start happening. I don't use wood shavings at all as I don't find them to be ideal for anything in a good deep litter mix.

I don't do deep litter in my coop as it has a wood floor. The deep litter in my run, I don't turn it at all, the chickens will kick it around and do the work for you - once in a while I'll hack at it with a rake to loosen it up, but that's maybe twice a year.

 

[aart]

The term 'deep litter' is often misunderstood and misapplied.
I've always liked this explanation:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-method-with-this-coop.1075545/#post-16440037

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture
-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.
-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.
-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.
- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.
-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).
There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.
That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 5 years.

 

[flyin-lowe]

In my run the "litter/bedding" breaks down a lot. I have a coop with an attached run that is 8 foot wide by 24 foot long. I have had it for three years with 9-16 hens in it at any given time. Once it gets down to mud/dirt I throw in a layer of straw, or leaves, or grass clippings. I leave it alone until it gets down to dirt/mud again. After three years of doing this I have never had to clean out the run and it hasn't gotten deep at all.
Inside my coop I do similar but it builds up and I clean it out twice a year. Every spring I rake the bedding out and put in on my garden, then I till it under before planting the garden. In the fall after garden season is over I till the garden over again and then spread all the bedding from the summer over it to sit all winter. I do this every spring and fall, my run has never been emptied.

 

[aart]

Inside my coop I do similar but it builds up and I clean it out twice a year. Every spring I rake the bedding out and put in on my garden, then I till it under before planting the garden. In the fall after garden season is over I till the garden over again and then spread all the bedding from the summer over it to sit all winter.

Same bedding in coop as in run?

 

[flyin-lowe]

Yes, I just use random things I have. Some time Ill throw some straw in there, next time I might bag up a few bags full of grass clippings, next time I rake leaves, etc. Just try to mix it up. Only difference is I only add to the run once it starts to show signs of mud. I add to the coop more often and it doesn't break down near as quick as the run does being exposed to the elements.

 

[archeryrob]

We use chipped trees in our runs. The free stuff the tree trimmers make and looking for a place to dump them. One truckload easily lasts our two coops a year or two having upto 19 chickens in one coop. Of course, this might not work for a neighborhood.

The chickens free range after I get off work now 4 or so until 7 when I get tired of watching them. They dig that crap up and turn it over themselves if you add a bit of fresh scoops. I have a roost tree and it needs extra scoops and refreshing it more often there. It kind of centralizes poo collection there.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

I have a huge load of wood chips starting to age. I don’t have leaves despite the forest surrounding us (it’s already leaf mold), nor an appreciable amount of pine needles. I have been putting hay, pine shavings, and weeds into the run but it’s a smelly mess.

What should I buy to add to the run while I wait for my wood chips to age? I’ve seen chopped straw, pellet bedding, hemp, and whatnot in the feed store. Sand? I’m wary of buying garden mulch - concerned about additives. Any suggestions?

 

[aart]

I have a huge load of wood chips starting to age.

How old are they?
Just spread a thin layer of them in the run.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

The tree came down about 10 days ago. Not old.