Is Deep Litter method effective in an open air run?

[ThatTeowonna]

Hello. My run is covered but the sides are open. That's where my chicks sleep (and poop)... not inside the coop. Will the composting process work in an open air run? The run space is small and the floor is dirt; therefore I am shoveling every other day. When it rains, the water drains quickly as it is on a sloop. Can I get the benefits of beneficial microbes outside of an enclosed coop? See pic for reference. Thanks!

 

[3KillerBs]

Out in contact with the ground is where the composting process works best.

 

[Mrs. K]

Yes, I pile my run with deep spots, and leave some spots bare. Sprinkle it with scratch, and they will fluff it up. Mine never really breaks down into compost, but I add it to my garden anyway. If we are getting snow, I make mini haystacks, and later flip it on top of the snow. It keeps the birds cleaner, I think.

 

[ThatTeowonna]

Yes, I pile my run with deep spots, and leave some spots bare. Sprinkle it with scratch, and they will fluff it up. Mine never really breaks down into compost, but I add it to my garden anyway. If we are getting snow, I make mini haystacks, and later flip it on top of the snow. It keeps the birds cleaner, I think.

Awesome! I ordered industrial hemp today. Very excited to move in this direction.

 

[CatsandCrops]

I'm worried about your chickens not sleeping in the coop overnight - do they have enough space? A good roosting bar? Is the run predator proof? I see you're in SC, does it get freezing/snowy in your part?

Our run is fully enclosed, only half is roofed and we do deep liter method in it. We currently have about 6 inches of mulch, leaves, grass clippings and poop on top of what was once grass that they quickly turned to dirt. It has helped a lot with drainage; the river in our backyard rose over 15 feet last month, parts of our city (and our own yard) flooded but our run didn't flood at all. It has broken down and composted since we began in April. I'm excited to shovel half of it out for the garden in the spring and start over.

 

[ThatTeowonna]

I appreciate your concern. Our climate is pretty mild. We rarely get long spells of freezing temps and even less snaw.

The coop portion itself is kinda small. Another member @rosemarythyme suggested I turn the whole thing into a coop by adding a floor and closing in the sides with plywood. I actually love that idea and will move towards that. My whole back yard (7000 sq ft) is fenced in so that is their run... they free range all day. No problems with predators yet... thank God. But I don't take that for granted. Thanks for sharing your deep litter experience. That let's me know I'm moving in the right direction. I'm going to use industrial hemp. Hopefully, I'll have my new project completed by the end of the month. I'll show the before and afters. Take care.

 

[aart]

But I don't take that for granted.

So, will also be building a secure run too?

 

[Sally PB]

Awesome! I ordered industrial hemp today. Very excited to move in this direction

I started with pine shavings in my coop, then added hemp. Really prefer the hemp. I didn't get another bale ordered in time and bought a bale of pine shavings. I'm going to get more hemp.

And I LOVE your typo of "snaw" for that four letter word about white stuff.

 

[ThatTeowonna]

So, will also be building a secure run too?

Good question. I don’t think so... should I consider that inside my yard?

 

[drinkoj]

Good question. I don’t think so... should I consider that inside my yard?

You got the right folks responding to your question, so I just wanted to say "Hi" to a fellow South Carolina chicken lover.