Many questions about dirt floor coop and Deep litter/pests

[Julie Sachse]

Our tiny dinosaurs eat anything that doesn't eat them first.



Likewise. But with the small coop I have to change the bedding once every 8-12 weeks give or take a bit according to the weather and other factors.

So funny and so gross at the same time.

 

[Mellowmalt]

The deep litter method has never really appealed to me, it seems like a lot of waste but that's just me. In the past I'd use a plastic sheet in the coop, let them poo on it and once it would build up a bit remove the whole sheet, roll it up and dump in in the bin.
I find things stay dryier and less dusty like this. No added waste either.

In the run, tbh I've never had to worry too much, usually the rain would just wash it out every once in a while. People like to use bark chips when it gets too wet and smelly ( something on my to get list atm).

I never had more than 4 chickens and they had a lot of space but I have noticed if you confine them more they make a lot more mess so maybe I will have to start a cleaning routine if i confine them more.

 

[Katz222]

Not really.
In order for litter to compost 'hot' and create heat it needs moisture, which is not good for a coop....not to mention that hot compost needs frequent intervention.

The manure itself is moist for a little while. You don't clean it out through the winter. You don't need to intervene other than throw some chicken scratch in. Then the fowl will scratch and turn the shavings and manure helping with decomp. I will also be adding straw to help maintain warmth.

 

[heartofachild]

I have deep litter in coop and dirt in their run, used to have grass. I add to the dirt in 1/3 of the run with wood ash etc...in the middle 1/3 ha've hard ground where their food and water is, the rest of the run is under the coop there is dirt and some grass. If the run is lightly watered on occation, grass will grow in the area of the run not covered. We have 12" of hardware cloth buried around the whole coop and run, but moles still dig their way in. I should add, they only go into their coop to lay eggs, they sleep in the run then they are out running around all day. They're so cute

Did the moles kill your chickens? We have moles so that makes me nervous!

 

[Julie Sachse]

My birds would destroy moles, the same way they destroy mice... I can't imagine a mole big enough to challenge even a small chicken. Average weight on a mole is between 1 and 5 ounces, most around 3 oz. Everything I've ever hatched is at least that big by two weeks of age - At most, they might both compete for earthworms.

I have never seen any evidence of a slaying, will the chickens kill it to eat it?because, that would be gross Or just because its there? I don't need to do anything to get rid of them in there, do I? All food, water and shells are hanging, so nothing touching the floor but overflow.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I'm not a fan of daily manure handling, but I know that it works for a lot of people.

Woot woot I usually go about 2 or 3 days before scooping

 

[Julie Sachse]

Mine would. They either peck them enough to break enough bones to soften it up enough that they can swallow it whole or peck it into bite sized pieces. I've seen them cut a frog to pieces. Mine really love to swallow a mouse whole after they soften it up.


To you, no to the chickens. That's the way nature works.


Not for any of those reasons. A snake big enough to eat eggs may follow their tunnels into the run. That's not likely but it is possible.

That is good to know, I was Definately worried. I have never seen any type of snake ever here so hopefully it stays that way

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I barely do it once a year. DLM on dirt floor. I would not keep chickens if I was a poop slave to them.

I hear ya, but I just can't stand the thought of all that poo, lol. The poop boards make it no different than my cats litter box.

 

[3KillerBs]

Except chickens lay eggs...and they don't live in your house.

Honestly, I don't scoop the catbox either.

Scooping is an idea that only came in within my lifetime -- no one did that when I was a kid. The box is changed weekly and if you use a large enough box there is no significant odor.

 

[Melissa Malone]

I use the deep litter method in my coop (60 sq ft) and absolutely love it so far. My run is attached (192 sq feet) and its dirt and sand. My husband built the whole thing and we modeled it after the Carolina Coop designs with 12 inch plastic sheeting all around and vinyl on the floor. I just sprinkle a little new hemp bedding each week as needed as well as home made herbs/flowers mixture for pest control. My chicks love it!