How to get started with deep litter in my new run - assuming it's the best option?

[TalkALittle]

We literally have 100's of post oaks in our 1 acre yard. So we get a LOT of leaves in the fall. Is there any problem with loading up the run with them?

I am thinking the chickens will enjoy finding the bugs and whatnot and will break them down into fine mulch over time. 

Thoughts?

Oak leaves are really high in tannins and so are supposedly not good for chickens to eat. I have lots of oaks bordering my yard and use the leaves in my chicken run. I'm not worried as I've never seen my chickens eat the dried leaves in any noticable amounts.

As an aside, oak leaves are acidic and can alter the pH of your compost. To balance that, and aid in decomposition, many people recommend adding garden lime to compost that has a lot of oak leaves.

 

[techiebabe]

So just a quick reply and THANK YOU!

First, I meant to reply individually to everyone but fell asleep then got ill. Ah, the perks of disability! I'm sorry not to have replied, I was busy putting my energy into practical stuff and also sleeping!

Here's where I'm at if anyone is interested!

Hens - 5 ex Batts - coming in 2 weeks!

Coop sorted, run being made by lovely builder and he will come to assemble in my garden v soon!

For the litter I've collected, from donations:
* 2 large bags of dust free straw
* 15 50kg bags stuffed full of fresh wood chippings - awesome stuff from my local forest!
* 2-3 bags of wood ash (might be more)
* 2 90l bags of bark - I know that's not ideal, but with all the wood chips etc I'm hoping it will add bulk without issue, bark has previously rotted down nicely in the same area we will be using.

So I guess I'll chuck all that in there, along with some loose dry compost that was in that spot already (it was my late dog's digging pit!) and see how we go?

I've also been donated a tyre which will be filled with sand mixed with ash for a dust bath.

OK, so what am I missing? you guys said I was over thinking, and you're probably right, so - is this a good start? Any other suggestions?

Thanks all, have a great weekend

 

[RonP]

Seems like a great start.

See how it goes.

If the run seems to be muddy, or smells, just add more carbon rich material.

Once you get the hang of it you'll realize just how easy it is.

 

[TalkALittle]

Sounds like a great start. I recommend putting the bark down first, followed by the wood chips, and topped with the other stuff. The hens will mix it up well, but it's good to have chunky stuff in the bottom layers so there is some air pockets down there. Aeration helps the good bacteria thrive.

You may want to get a couple bricks or paving stones to set the feeder and waterer on to help keep them clean and level. Plus, you can periodically flip the pavers over and the hens will go crazy for the bugs that like to hang out under them.

 

[aart]

Sounds like a great start!

Curious about the "fresh wood chippings.....from my local forest.."
How were the 'chippings' created?

 

[DreamsInPink]

I started my run with 12-18 inches of wood chips "browns" very high carbon rich.

How do you keep it from falling out the sides? Do you have any pictures of your run?

 

[aart]

Quote: Ron put boards up at the bottom of run walls, he might have a better pic...
I found this after a quick look at his posted pics....https://www.backyardchickens.com/g/...-help-on-cleaning-the-run/sort/display_order/

 

[DreamsInPink]

Thank you aart! That's what I was wondering.... I'm learning so much.

Also, do you mind if I ask about the compost that will eventually be available from doing the DLM in the run...? I've been reading other boards on the subject and people are exclaiming how wonderful it'll be to have good compost for their gardening needs... but to really benefit from the compost created in a run, wouldn't you have to dig it up and move it?? Thank you again!

 

[RonP]

Ron put boards up at the bottom of run walls, he might have a better pic...
I found this after a quick look at his posted pics....https://www.backyardchickens.com/g/...-help-on-cleaning-the-run/sort/display_order/

Wow, that is an older picture before Hurricane Sandy forced my reinforcements.



Here is a better picture showing the lower 2 feet of the run wrapped in 1/2 hardware cloth, which actually contains the larger pieces.

You can see the depth of the litter.

As it decomposes, the birds scratch it out, where I collect the finished compost.

The boards are necessary to attach the 2 feet of hardware cloth on the bottom sides, and 2x3 fencing on the sides, top, and skirt.

 

[Beekissed]

Hi again! My run is due to be built next week, for my 5 ex-bats due in 4 weeks. Very excited! It'll be 6 x 1.5 metres, 6 foot high walk in, with a sloped clear corrugated plastic roof, against a fence. The coop will be up against it and the hens will be released into it via a ramp.

So, I have a separate wooden coop for overnight, but by day my hens will be in the run, or free ranging in the garden. At first they'll have to stay in the run til they acclimatise, and of course I want it perfect for them.

I tend to over-research and over-plan so you can bet I've read loads about different run floors here and elsewhere. I realise that in no way makes me an expert

but I don't need pointing at basic starter descriptions, but would appreciate the benefit of your practical experiences.

Originally my plan was sand throughout but I'm physically disabled and it looks like deep litter, while maybe harder to establish, would be easier for maintenance in general? I'm not good at bending in particular, picking up my dog's mess sometimes makes me dizzy or causes pain, though I get it done in the end of course. I'm also close to a lot of houses and hoping it will have less of a smell (although if smell ever became an issue I'd just have to clean up more often!)

So I wonder if you can advise? My run will have hardware mesh on ALL sides, and that includes the floor, because we have a lot of urban foxes. The foxes love to play in my garden, say hi to my dog(!), and steal sausages from a nearby shop's shed and bury them in my plant pots. They always leave me surprises... Grr.

The run will be standing on bare earth (that used to be a herb and veggie patch).

The videos and info I've seen on Deep Litter (DL) make it look like a great option. I'm already familiar with composting and the benefit of nematodes too (I use them to kill slugs and deter ants). But... How do I plan for this and get started?

Just start layering in materials, no digging necessary. If you live in an arid climate, gravitate towards materials that have a little natural moisture, if living in a humid climate it's okay to stick with more dry materials. It all works best if you avoid too much of any one kind of material unless it's something that breaks down easily l like leaves but even then it works best if using a variety of things with different particle size and break down times.

Given the mesh floor, I can't just dig down. I know the bacteria and nematodes will come from the soil below into the litter tho; they do with my compost heap.

So, I've read you start with 2 inches but it doesn't count as DL til it's about 6" deep and ideally up to 12! Eek, that deep? really? Can you advise if that depth is necessary?

If you want it to actually compost, you'll want it deep enough that it holds moisture in the lower levels, much like a compost pile, so that the bacteria and fungi have some moisture in which to thrive and metabolize. The deeper the better...2 in. will not do much at all towards that purpose, so I'd go with 4 and work up to and maintain at least 10-12 if you can, otherwise the chickens will just scratch it up too much and disturb those lower layers too often.

I'm thinking the run needs a plank around the bottom of the sides, so it will keep in litter up to 4 or 5 inches, and I'm not majorly bothered if it overflows a bit (I've seen videos where the hardware mesh largely kept it in, at least for an inch or two). Is this sensible / practical? I do have some planks I can use that were formerly enclosing the veggie patch.

In a deep litter system that composts, you don't want drying agents, so it's just not necessary. Think of the DL as a huge compost pile where you layer in the browns and the chickens layer in the greens. The difference in your brown's particle sizes and composition takes care of the aeration, along with the chickens and the materials, the humidity in the air, the rain and the chickens add the moisture. All you have to do is keep a watch on keeping it moist in the lower layers during the dry summer months, adding new material or flipping existing material over the manure if the chicken manure isn't getting turned into the pile by the chickens, and maintaining a good depth for moisture retention.

Final question (phew!) Obviously the point of DL is... It is deep! And gets deeper! How does this work with items placed on the ground? I'm thinking mainly of my dustbath (a tyre that I'll fill with sand and wood ash), the metal bucket style drinker, and the treadle feeder.

Just keep things up on pedestals or legs....don't worry about the DL, as it will compost down if you are doing it well, so it doesn't just get ever and ever deeper...in fact, you'll wonder where in the world all your litter material is disappearing to! Every once in awhile you may have to remove some totally composted material in order to not hit the ceiling when you walk into covered areas, but if it's out in an uncovered run you can just leave it be unless it builds up so much over the years you lose your fence height. Most people will usually remove some of the compost to place on gardens, so it's usually not a problem for most.

So presumably it builds up against the tyre, but that's no biggie, right? But what if the litter gets up around the drinker? And might a build-up of litter stop the treadle from functioning properly? Maybe I should put the treadle on a paving slab or similar and keep it brushed clear? Or am I over thinking, and I simply move the feeder and drinker every time I rake, toss or add to the litter?

Just keep them up on pedestals and you'll be fine. You might even consider using a nipple bucket setup for your water and some folks use hanging feeders as well.

Well, that's all my questions! Thanks so much to everyone who made it this far! *waves* And my phone only crashed once during this epic!

I will value and appreciate any advice you guys can offer. Thanks so much!