Deep litter question!

[cp2894_]

I have 5 2-3 week old chicks and I'm planning everything for their coop and run. I've been leaning towards the deep litter method for bedding inside the coop using pine shavings and straw. However, I've read that it can get too hot during the summer. So, my question is, if I start the deep litter in June starting with 6 inches and building up to 12 inches, will it get too hot in their coop? I live in the midwest and the weather shouldn't get higher than 90 degrees at the most. If so, what do I do for bedding until it starts cooling off outside? When should I start the deep litter process if I wait?

 

[knobhillfarm]

Can you share some details about your coop? Size, how much ventilation, and photos will help get the best advice.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I don't know what you have been reading, or where you have been reading it, but I deep litter here in FL. No, deep litter doesn't get too hot. It's a cold compost method.

 

[cp2894_]

Can you share some details about your coop? Size, how much ventilation, and photos will help get the best advice.

So the coop is actually a sectioned off large wooden box in a shed. It stills needs quite a bit of work. It came with our house and has a dog house on the outside with a doggy door that leads into the run so it seemed perfect for a coop. I don't remember the exact dimensions and I can't check right now or take a pic because it's too dark outside but I can do that tomorrow. I do however have a sketch of the basic layout that I'll add. For ventilation, we plan to add 1 or 2 windows covered with hardware cloth.

Basic sketch: (ignore the band handwriting. Had to do this on a laptop without a touchscreen)

 

[ChickNanny13]

DLM here in HI and it gets hot as well as humid ... Works great but I'd skip the straw. I use pine shavings & grass clippings now then when I mow (once a week). I've read straw is hallow and mites tend to burrow in them ... I don't care for it cause when I want to rake out some dirt/compost, it tends to "tangle" and harder to move around.

 

[knobhillfarm]

That’s helpful and will make a cool setup for your new chicks. Deep litter works best with a dirt floor mostly due to the moisture needed to work properly. You might want to search the forums for info on deep bedding instead which is similar. It doesn’t really compost without moisture and dirt, so you just periodically throw some fresh shavings in to keep things dry and fresh and clean it out when needed.

 

[NatJ]

I have 5 2-3 week old chicks and I'm planning everything for their coop and run. I've been leaning towards the deep litter method for bedding inside the coop using pine shavings and straw. However, I've read that it can get too hot during the summer. So, my question is, if I start the deep litter in June starting with 6 inches and building up to 12 inches, will it get too hot in their coop? I live in the midwest and the weather shouldn't get higher than 90 degrees at the most. If so, what do I do for bedding until it starts cooling off outside? When should I start the deep litter process if I wait?

If you keep that bedding dry, so it is not composting and making heat, it should be fine at any season.

If you have bedding that is moist, it will start to actually compost and make heat, and that might be too hot in the summer.

It's usually best if the bedding inside the coop stays dry, but the material out in the run can be more moist, and actively composting, and that does not cause problems.

 

[cp2894_]

I don't know what you have been reading, or where you have been reading it, but I deep litter here in FL. No, deep litter doesn't get too hot. It's a cold compost method.

"The Deep Litter Method is generally not appropriate during the warmer months, since it does generate quite a bit of heat in the coop which you only want in the winter." -Fresh Eggs Daily Blog

 

[cp2894_]

DLM here in HI and it gets hot as well as humid ... Works great but I'd skip the straw. I use pine shavings & grass clippings now then when I mow (once a week). I've read straw is hallow and mites tend to burrow in them ... I don't care for it cause when I want to rake out some dirt/compost, it tends to "tangle" and harder to move around.

I read that about straw too but I'm not sure how many grass clippings I could get. We don't cut our grass often and don't really have a huge yard.

 

[cp2894_]

If you keep that bedding dry, so it is not composting and making heat, it should be fine at any season.

If you have bedding that is moist, it will start to actually compost and make heat, and that might be too hot in the summer.

It's usually best if the bedding inside the coop stays dry, but the material out in the run can be more moist, and actively composting, and that does not cause problems.

Is there something else you recommend for bedding inside the coop? At least during warmer months?