It's been at least 18 yrs since I raised any chickens and it was on a different farm. We're thinking of getting a tiny flock (about 8 hens). We'll build a coop about 6 x 6 and add a fenced yard around it-size not determined yet. I definitely want to use the deep litter method in the coop but what about the yard? Does the poop just disappear into the dirt? Get washed in? Scratched in? We are planning to use DE in the litter or the feed (we already have food grade DE we use in our rabbits' litter boxes) so would that make a difference?
When I had chickens before (pre-marriage) they had a huge open yard or were allowed to roam around the whole yard-the cats left them alone and the dog wasn't around them. But now we have a cat that is very predatory and a dog that thinks everything that moves is a toy.
thanks! I hope I'm not repeating a question-I did some searching but my head started spinning with all the info here.
When I had chickens before (pre-marriage) they had a huge open yard or were allowed to roam around the whole yard-the cats left them alone and the dog wasn't around them. But now we have a cat that is very predatory and a dog that thinks everything that moves is a toy.

thanks! I hope I'm not repeating a question-I did some searching but my head started spinning with all the info here.