deep litter

[Dixiedoodle]

I wanted to share my experience with the deep litter method..I have had my chickens since July and I used the deep litter method w/ pine shavings. I must admit, I was amazed at how clean the shavings were under the top layer. The next few inches were dark but clean, fluffy and in good shape, the bottom two inches had 'broken' down into saw-dust but it wasn't damp, stinky or even soiled! I cleaned it down to the concrete and sprinkled DE and Sevin in the corners, around the edges and on the floor, cleaned out the nest boxes and the dropping board and reapplied fresh, new shavings...

It did take me two hours to get it all done BUT one of my EE decided to wait until 5:30 (my start time) to want to lay her egg! She was making such a fuss about the condition of the nest box (empty of eggs and shavings) and my working in front of them--that I quickly added shavings in her favorite box and went out to sit in my comfy chicken watchin' chair and wait for her to come out---30 min. later...

I will definitely use this method from now on... Great results..

 

[imthedude]

thanks! how much did you start with and how often did you add fresh? did you remove any poop periodically?

 

[Dixiedoodle]

I use a dropping board so I really only did extra pick up when I saw it. I would rake it and smooth it out once a week.

I started w/ two bags of shavings on the floor and would throw a two gal. bucket bucket full on the floor every week and rake it around really well. In Jan. because we were having really sever temps and ice, snow--I threw in a whole bag. From July until now I have used a total of 5 bags of shavings..that was for the floor, nest box and dropping board.

 

[Intheswamp]

Dixiedoodle, that sounds like some positive results! If you don't mind me asking, I have three questions for you.

Size of coop?
Type of flooring?
Number of birds?

Ok, so I've got one more question...

Did you do the same thing the first time and put down sevin dust and DE before adding the shavings?

Thanks,
Ed

 

[Dixiedoodle]

I was very pleased w/ the results... As I stated, I was really amazed at how clean/dry the bottom was.. I was expecting to have really stinky, nasty stuff.. but no.. It had not composed at all.. It was just like sawdust..dry as it could be...

12 birds
coop is 7x10 and has a concrete floor.

Yes, I did add Sevin and DE before I started..

 

[Intheswamp]

Thanks for the answers, Dixiedoodle!

Ok, so your talking a little less than 6sqft per bird and also using a dropping board...sounds good.

I'm curious how the results from a coop under much similar conditions but with a elevated framed floor would compare to your results. It seems with the concrete that you have a large stabilized heatsink (concrete pad in close contact with the earth) whereas with an elevated floor the temperature fluctuations could be more extreme in comparison...being as air can wash over the bottom of the floor and the coop temperature hover over the top of the litter...basically a 4"-12" thick mass of litter suspended a couple of feed above the ground. I'm not sure how the more stable temperature would affect things...

The reason I'm curious is that I'm still in the planning/delay

stage of my coop construction and debating between a concrete or framed floor. I could handle the framed floor construction but the concrete I'm not familiar with working with. I might have to call in the marines (or maybe an oil rig worker (SIL)) for this one

.

Was your concrete floor painted?

Thanks again,
Ed

 

[tdhondt]

Newbie here...... What is DE and it's purpose? I've seen it mentioned in other posts too; but don't know what it is.

 

[enggass]

http://www.earthworkshealth.com/

 

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
food grade Diatomaceous Earth, in this context, help to keep the bedding in the coop dry - and to discourage insects. It's a natural drying agent that also has an unwelcome effect on creepy crawlies.

 

[dumb_cluck]

That's pretty deep shavings! Did any birds sink into it? I've seen the typical bedding accumulate during the winter, but clean up was a pain in the spring. It had set up like concrete.

I wonder if that deep of shavings would work on a suspended wood floor..... anyone?