How many inches deep should I put my wood shavings bedding?

[ChickGirl4Life]

I'm getting 2 Cochins and my little sis is getting 2 Delawares. I'm renovating a part of a barn at my house for a chicken coop. And I'm wondering how thick to put the bedding. Hope to post some pictures when the roost is finished and when the chicks come but any way...Yeah.

 

[gdplum]

...My henhouse ( which is 8 x 16) has approximately 2 inches of sand on the floor. I use a horse manure fork (plastic...available at feed stores, etc). Be sure to buy the one that has the tines spaced close together....it is a great chicken dropping remover. Sand lasts forever. Add to your compost pile too. Cheap if you have it brought in by dumptruck load....kids love to play in the sandpile too.

 

[Clay Mudd]

Here's one approach worth considering:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1560-DLM

 

[patandchickens]

You'll have to experiment and work out what style works best for you -- everyone's coop, and everyone's conditions, and everyone's management style, is unique.

I would suggest starting with maybe 3" or so and see how it goes (remembering that organic materials like shavings or straw will pack down further) and then figure out what if anything needs adjusting.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[ChickGirl4Life]

Thanks alot!!

 

[2txmedics]

My coop is a nice size....and I have 32 in my flock.....have 6" of litter with DE mixed into it....no stink, no flies, no yuck....I sift it once every few days...and change it out once a year....what I do because I read it somewhere, forgot where. I take it all out except like maybe 2 buckets worth, reason is I read that you want to keep the same Ph in the house that it had, dont want to lose it completely. So thats what I do.

 

[AlienChick]

I, too, plan to do the deep litter method exactly as 2txmedics described.

And, 2txmedics, your Leghorn, Big Daddy, is gorgeous!

 

[ChickGirl4Life]

Ok! I'll see what works out best for me. Thanks so much!

 

[2txmedics]

Thank you on Big Daddy....I have 2 other, different breeds that are also big and beautiful like Big Daddy.....that is Blue for a Blue splash Marans and a Buff Orpington. They are also big boys and gorgeous!

 

[guard278th]

Don't go to deep that they want to nest on the ground ,happened to a friend of mine