deep litter & throwing scratch in it to get the chickens to mix it..

[saladin]

To answer your question: there is no more a chance of them getting worms this way than any other way.

Chickens are crap eaters: plain and simple. The parasites they pick up though comes from eating the dirt. Chickens eat lots of dirt.

By the way, I hate the deep-litter method. It is an out-dated method that was done away with by farmers and commercial folks years ago because it is a disease habitat. It only came back into vogue with the re-publication of some old 19th century text. It's a crock.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

But will the DE work as well as the lime?

DE might kill a few more insects, but it won't control odor or moisture any better than AG lime, and will cost more

AG lime (Calcium Carbonate) is not caustic

Hydrated Lime (Calcium Hydroxide) is caustic when wet​

 

[gale65]

Quote:
Hm. Just because you hate it doesn't necessarily mean it's a crock or out-dated or wrong.

thanks everyone, for the posts. Does everyone routinely de-worm their chickens? Doesn't that mean you have to throw all eggs away for 2 weeks after de-worming?

 

[frostbite]

Thanks Bear foot, that's helpful.

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:
Actually, scientists determine that a chicken can provide a good bit of their protein needs by living on deep litter and the bacteria developed in the litter is beneficial unless it is too damp, as this promotes mold growth.

Advantages of Deep Litter System:
Birds and eggs are safety as enclosed in deep litter intensive pen, which has strong wire netting or expanded metal.

Built-up deep litter also supplies some of the food requirements of the birds. They obtain "Animal Protein Factor" from deep litter.

The level of coccidiosis and worm infestation is much lower with poultry kept on good deep litter than with birds (or chicken) in bare yards. Well managed deep litter kept in dry condition with no wet spots around waterer has a sterilising action.

With correct conditions observed with well managed litter there is no need to clean a pen out for a whole year; the only attention is the regular stirring and adding of some material as needed.

Generally 35 laying birds can produce in one year about 1 tonne of deep litter fertilizer. The level of nitrogen in fresh manure is about 1%, but on well built-up deep litter it may be around 3% nitrogen (nearly 20% protein). It also contains about 2% phosphorus and 2% potash. Its value is about 3 times that of cattle manure.

It is a valuable insulating agent, the litter maintains its own constant temperature, so birds burrow into it when the air temperature is high and thereby cool themselves. Conversely, they can warm themselves in the same way when the weather is very cool.

Basic Rules for deep litter system:

Do not have too many birds in the pen – one bird for every 3 ½ to 4 and preferably 5 square feet of floor space.

Provide sufficient ventilation to enable the litter to keep in correct condition.

Keep the litter dry. This is probably the master work in a deep litter system. If the litter gets soaked by leaking from roofs or from water vessels, it upsets the whole process and would have to start over again. All probable precautions should be taken to maintain the litters completely dry.

Stir the litter regularly. Turning the litter (just like digging in a garden) at least once weekly is very important in maintaining a correct build-up of deep litter.​

 

[saladin]

The deep litter method is a method that just simply begs for disease.

I'm not a commercial chicken farmer, but I've worked with them all my life. I read their publications. I've taken their classes in school. The deep litter method is outdated. If it was such a great system then why did the farmers discard it so long ago?

If you want to use this outdated method that is your business. You'll probably be fine with it until there is any type of disease outbreak: which there will be if you raise birds long enough. Then tell me how well the system worked.

I'm just simply trying to save you alot of heartache and money. Filth breeds disease.

 

[henney penny]

I have used the deep litter method for two years now(do a total clean out in the spring) it works great for me but you do need very good ventilation for the winter.I just procrssed some old hens and checked them for mites and such and also worms and found none.

 

[fiddlebanshee]

Saladin said:

If it was such a great system then why did the farmers discard it so long ago?

Then Beekissed quoted:

Do not have too many birds in the pen – one bird for every 3 ½ to 4 and preferably 5 square feet of floor space.

This is probably the reason why commercial chicken farmers abandoned the method. It is not commercially viable to have that much floorspace for chickens if you want to make a profit. However, most small flock owners do have that space and therefore it's not a problem for them and has a lot of advantages. There is always more than one viewpoint, depending on where you stand.​

 

[saladin]

Quote:
Then Beekissed quoted:

Do not have too many birds in the pen – one bird for every 3 ½ to 4 and preferably 5 square feet of floor space.

This is probably the reason why commercial chicken farmers abandoned the method. It is not commercially viable to have that much floorspace for chickens if you want to make a profit. However, most small flock owners do have that space and therefore it's not a problem for them and has a lot of advantages. There is always more than one viewpoint, depending on where you stand.​

You are, of course, absolutely correct; 'there is always more than one viewpoint.' Y'all know mine: the deep-litter method is a crock.

 

[gale65]

Quote:
Then Beekissed quoted:

Do not have too many birds in the pen – one bird for every 3 ½ to 4 and preferably 5 square feet of floor space.

This is probably the reason why commercial chicken farmers abandoned the method. It is not commercially viable to have that much floorspace for chickens if you want to make a profit. However, most small flock owners do have that space and therefore it's not a problem for them and has a lot of advantages. There is always more than one viewpoint, depending on where you stand.​

You are, of course, absolutely correct; 'there is always more than one viewpoint.' Y'all know mine: the deep-litter method is a crock.

Can you share what you use on your coop floor?