Deep Litter question

[junglebird]

^ Like Darkmatter's, my deep litter is also moist ... not damp, but moist. It's currently about a foot deep. Straw. When I (or the chickens) dig down into it, the bottom stuff is already broken down ... the straw/poop/dirt are well mixed.

I didn't plan well for drainage, so one corner gets a little too wet. After a big rain, I just pull out the wet stuff in that corner and let the soil air dry before adding more straw.

 

[Laurajean]

So far I am amazed at how clean the coop litter (pine shavings) and the run sand has stayed. The run especially, they dig it in and it just disappears like magic. I haven't even had to rake it. The poop in the coop shavings sits on top, but a light turning or tossing in some scratch gets them to mix it up and it too, disappears for the most part. I haven't even had to add a second layer yet, I'm amazed.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

If it's too dusty, the first thing I would do is not put the DE dust in it. I only use DE if I have an active insect problem and that's rare for me.

 

[Chicklette 1]

Thanks for the response darkmatter. I guess I am not using the true deep litter method in that I am not composting in the coop. I have just used a deep amount of shavings and DE. I have tried to keep the coop free from moisture as I was under the impression that the moisture was not good for the chickens in the cold weather. Perhaps I am mis informed in this area also. I haven't had any insect or odor problems so I think I'm OK. The thought of having all that compost in the coop just doesn't sit right for me. I may switch to the sand but I'm not sure. I scoop, clean and turn over the shavings every day and I also leave 2 windows open just a little bit unless it gets very, very cold. I do have a small amount of heat in the coop from a flat panel heater as I have a couple of silkies and a frizzle that may need a little warmth. How am I doin? I welcome all suggestions from seasoned "Chickeneers" Also, like most of the addicts on here I am adding another 8X12 coop in the spring and I would like to settle in on a method for both coops.

 

[Judy]

I don't understand why the floor should be below ground level. My dirt floor coop isn't and I have yet to clean it out in 2 years, I just add pine shavings or sometimes even hay and stir it around if the chickens haven't.

 

[darkmatter]

Quote:
A sub-ground level dirt floor "pit" in the Coop on a rot proof foundation like stone, brick, or concrete prevents the micro-organisms in the compost from eating away the wooden parts of the coop. It also helps maintain the moisture level necessary for composting the deep litter which slowly sinks down over time, then just add another layer. The intimate contact with soil inoculates the deep litter with micro-organisms. Even when I clean it out once a year to add to the Garden, enough inoculate remains to "fire up" the composting quickly with the new additions. I use lawnmower bagger contents, pine needles, cones, leaves and whatever is available at the time.
If your "deep litter" is dry and dusty, it's merely acting as an adsorbent. If your "deep litter" is soggy, matted, and smells like ammonia, then it's gone septic with bad anaerobic organisms rather then the good aerobics. A good performing composting deep litter pit will have a warm earthy dirt smell. I sometimes have to fork it up in the middle of winter if snow/cold has the chickens "cooped up" for prolonged times. Generally just a handful of scratch tossed in will encourage the chickens to do the turning over for you.

 

[Upcycled]

My coop floor is concrete.

No deep litter for me?

What do y'all suggest?

 

[darkmatter]

Quote:
Convert the concrete floored Coop to a Tool/Garden shed and built a "real" deep litter Coop.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Or just use deep litter in your coop that has the concrete floor, if you don't want to build another coop.

 

[Chicklette 1]

I use a deep litter in my coop but I do not compost it as such. I keep it dry and it does not smell or rot wood. I mixed shavings with some food grade DE and the underneath layers have dried up and pulverized so that is is almost like sand. I add more shavings occasionally when I feel it isn't deep enough. They dust bathe in the shavings and seem quite happy. I do pick up what I can on a daily basis and I do have a poop board which I also cover with shavings an DE so I am sure that all helps keep odor down but it is very easy and does not take long.