How deep to start deep litter method

[WoodlandWoman]

I guess I've always done DLM a little differently than some of you. I only start with enough litter to cover the floor with a reasonable amount. Like a couple of inches. Enough so that you aren't seeing the floor underneath. I don't stir at all. It's the chickens job to mess around in the shavings, not mine.

As time goes on, instead of adding larger amounts of shavings on top all at once, I add smaller amounts of shavings, more frequently. I like to keep an extra feed scoop in the top of a bale of shavings. That way, I can just sprinkle a couple of scoops of clean litter under the roosts or anywhere else that needs it. That would be for a garden shed sized coop. How often depends on how many chickens are in the coop and how much time they're spending in there, due to the weather or lighting. I might do this every couple of days.

I'm not stirring clean litter up from deep on the bottom, to mix with the droppings on top. I'm making lots of thin layers of droppings covered and mixed with clean litter, that add up. The end result is about the same, but how it's created is different. I think this results in a cleaner top layer, more consistently. I hope this made sense!

 

[FisherMOM]

Age old question here... I have a linoleum floor and have been trying this deep litter method with the DE and shavings. Should I put dirt in my coop as well to help with the dust?

it doesn't smell, but is so dusty in there when the girls scratch around or if I turn the shavings. I don't want them getting respiratory issues.

or

Can I just not do this method successfully in this coop.

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
Heck , why NOT just put it a bit thicker and clean it all out and put fresh clean stuff every say 2 months ?

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Sure you could, but that does use more bedding over time and produce more (and more slowly composting) cleanings to be dealt with, and is more work, and more dust inhalation for those whose lungs don't deal so well with such things. If people want to do deep litter, they should, if they don't, they shouldn't, you know? One is not better than the other, they just have different pros and cons.

FisherMOM (hey, I used to live in Brockport and board my horses just a hair's breadth north of Bergen!), it is possible that your shavings are intrinsically too dusty. Or conceivably for some reason your coop is intrinsically too dry, although that seems unlikely in W NY. I would suggest omitting the DE if dust is a problem, since DE is, basically, uh, dust

You could *try* tossing in a few shovelsful of dirt, even (I say this with great hesitation and you'd have to keep a close eye on it) intentionally dampen down the shavings a little... but frankly, I'd say that if it isn't working for you for wahtever reason, maybe just don't do it?

(Unless the problem turns out to be dusty shavings and too much DE, in whcih case there might be a solution there).

Good luck,

Pat, who btw doesn't start out with deep litter, just keep adding more as necessary.

 

[FisherMOM]

Thanks Pat for the insight.

Could be that YES.. the shavings are too dusty to start with. I get them free... I should maybe use the dusty ones on the ducks.. they will tone down the dust in no time with their wet poops! ick.

Did you board your horses on rt. 19?

 

[WoodlandWoman]

What I don't want, is to have a thick layer of clean shavings on the bottom, a layer with lots of poop on top and then have to dig the clean shavings up from the bottom, to deal with the poop on top. What I'm avoiding, is all the stirring and turning others are doing. It eliminates physical strain on my body and doesn't stir up dust that's not good for me or the chickens.

Everybody has their own way of doing things, that they like. Twenty years ago, I did it the traditional way, too. This just works better for me, with the health problems I have now. And it works for the chickens. So, I just thought I'd add how I do it to this thread. Litter management is like quilting, knitting or gardening. There are a lot of different ways to do it, that all work.

 

[cajunlizz]

I read several places about DUST from pine shavings ? I never have dust in my coops ....

I use the pine shavings and no dust , no oder and no flies

I have 2 coops and 3 runs and Coops have the pine shavings and runs have sand over the dirt .

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Shavings vary considerably in quality i.e. dustiness. Also you are in a humid climate. It can be quite different in situations other than yours

Pat, generally quite a big fan of shavings, but not suggesting they are always the perfect solution.

 

[cajunlizz]

YES , I agree certain climates make a difference and of course proper ventilation is a must YEAR ROUND ...

 

[Promiselandfarm]

We go to lumber yard and buy a truck(pick-up)load and fill up the pens. It keeps the smell down and them very clean. We use 8 inches or more and then refresh often because it will get dark and almost look like dirt. We do have dirt floors however so it mixes in nicely. Then about twice a week we put feed down all over so they will scratch and mix. We also clean our out often because I just like it really clean.