How does deep litter work?

[Birdlover 13]

I've heard a lot about deep litter And I was just wondering on how it works. I know that deep litter is a composting method and many people use wood shavings. What wood shavings should you use? ( I've heard that pine shavings and cedar shavings are unsafe) and can anybody please just tell me how to carry out the deep litter process. Thanks

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Cedar is unsafe but pine shaving is standard bedding material. You can purchase it in compressed 3 cubic feet bales at your feed store for under $5.


Here's the longest thread I could find on deep liter:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/643302/results-from-first-year-with-deep-litter-method

 

[ChickenMammX4]

I'm relatively new to chicken keeping and not an expert but we've been using the DLM since we moved the chicks to the coop and run. I have 6 chickens. The coop is 8' x 9' and the run is 8' x 16' (covered).

Deep Litter how I explain it is 'compost in the making'. In our coop we use pine shavings (with a little DE mixed in for parasite control). We have PDZ on the poop board which I sift-out every day or so. When the chickens poop on the floor, it disappears into the shavings, dries up and decomposes. I have about 6 inches of shavings in the coop (about 2 large bags worth). The chickens keep it stirred/turned but every so often I rake it around from out of the corners, under the nesting boxes and ramp. Only once have I exchanged any shavings out and added a new bag. I dumped them into the run to mix with the grass clippings, straw, dirt and some wood ash from the dust bath out there. Same thing happens in the run, the poop disappears into the litter and decomposes. In the fall I plan to shovel out part of the run and throw it on the garden to sit for the winter. Going to add leaves then as well. There is no odor, no visible poop, no muck and no flies.

Not sure how this would work if my run wasn't covered, maybe someone with experience with than will chime in.

 

[Birdlover 13]

Thank you so much for the great advice. It really helped!

 

[junebuggena]

I use hay for my coop floor. The chickens naturally turn over the bedding searching for all the grain kernels. Every week or so, I lay down a fresh layer for them to turn under. My coop is about 10 feet from the house, and there is no noticeable smell.