Have some questions about my new coop

[Chirpy]

DLM (Deep Litter Method): Generally using pine shavings as your bedding, you clean out the coop then add about 3 inches of pine shavings. Most people start this in the spring or early summer. Depending on how many chickens you have and what area of the country you live in (things smell more quickly in wet areas than dry areas) you add a couple inches to that every few weeks or month. Use a rake or shovel and turn over the new bedding into the old bedding. In a few weeks or a month add another few inches and turn it into the now 6" or so deep old bedding. Continue this through the entire year. Your bedding will build up to around 18" deep, maybe even more, through the winter. That helps keep the chickens warm, you do not want the bedding to get wet. If it gets wet you need to shovel out the wet part are put dry back in it's place.

Some people literally only clean out their coop once a year using the DLM, others do it twice a year or 3 or 4 times; it just depends on what works for you.

I'm in a very dry climate and only clean out my coop once a year (in May) and have had no excess flies or smells at all. I also will throw out some scratch into the bedding once in a while and that gives the chickens something to scratch around for and they help turn the bedding.

 

[s6bee]

The DLM is what I would recommend. Pine needles are trouble, and you don't want them in the coop. The chickens sometimes eat these and can pose a problem with their crop later on.

 

[JennsPeeps]

Food grade diatomaceous earth is useful with the DLM to prevent parasites. You can purchase it online or from BYC use "spatcher". Don't let anyone tell you that you can use pool or horticultural grade - both are harmful to chickens. Just sprinkle it around on the shavings when you clean the coop.

We've got lino tiles & are starting up the DLM. Once a week or so I go in with a latex glove and pick up any obvious poo piles and feathers. So far so good: no smells!