Plexiglass walls in run?

[3KillerBs]

The poop does not decompose in sand, it just sits there until it gets wet -- at which point instead of odor-free compost you get rotten poop.

Sand is favored by people who can keep it dry and are diligent pooper-scoopers.

I'm too lazy to scoop poop and live in a hot and steamy climate with rainy, wet winters. Sand is my natural dirt here -- the sand that gives the Sandhills it's name is like fine beach sand.

Deep litter is odor-free when properly managed because it's a form of composting that balances the "green" -- high nitrogen -- chicken poop with the "brown" -- high carbon -- litter to create compost. Poop in sand is just green with no brown so it can't compost.

 

[chickity-chick]

The poop does not decompose in sand, it just sits there until it gets wet -- at which point instead of odor-free compost you get rotten poop.

Sand is favored by people who can keep it dry and are diligent pooper-scoopers.

I'm too lazy to scoop poop and live in a hot and steamy climate with rainy, wet winters. Sand is my natural dirt here -- the sand that gives the Sandhills it's name is like fine beach sand.

Deep litter is odor-free when properly managed because it's a form of composting that balances the "green" -- high nitrogen -- chicken poop with the "brown" -- high carbon -- litter to create compost. Poop in sand is just green with no brown so it can't compost.

Thank you for that- is you were to add like a bedding? or some sort of material that is used in compost to the sand so it is a mix- will the poop then be able to break down now that there is half of the other stuff?

 

[khind]

If they're good and dry.

Green grass clippings mat and turn into anaerobic muck.

They'd been sitting in the sun for 2 days after mowing when I swept them up yesterday - dry as hay but softer.

 

[khind]

So far, I've put the very dry grass clippings on the dirt floor with pine shavings on top. Need more material. I'd never tried the deep method before because I know it has to be done right & I wasn't sure of all the right things to do & didn't want to mess it up, so this is still new to me : [
Looking at leaves, but have questions!! I was initially going to this grab some of the chicken yard, but to do it right, should they be dead leaves? Do they have to be dry? Beginning to break down and not dry? Or simply having fallen off? Or even fresh leaves from trimmed branches? It also looks like I'll need to shred or chop up those leaves in some way??

Other issue is, I have mostly oak here, which I see are v. high in lignin, so can take 2 yrs to break down! So should I leave them out of the coop? On the "good" list, I can only find one tree I have, which is willow. It's near a pond, so I'll have to carefully dig around there to look for dropped leaves (you know - snakes, wasps and all!)... but might strike out, or not be able to get very much.
And do you just add a layer to the coop of leaves, or does it have to be a particular %age of the bedding mix, or a certain number of inches?
Finally, the other trees I have (& that are around here) are black walnut (which is apparently toxic in a regular compost) and some pine trees - the fire-hazard type (working bit by bit to remove or greatly reduce those), so no help in this situation...

 

[aart]

should they be dead leaves? Do they have to be dry?

Yes, do not use anything wet or green.
Are the pine needles long and soft?
Raking up some dry ones might be a good addition.
Don't put too much of anything in there until you fix the wet ground problem.
Have you looked at drainage issues around the coop and run?
What about those pics?

 

[3KillerBs]

Thank you for that- is you were to add like a bedding? or some sort of material that is used in compost to the sand so it is a mix- will the poop then be able to break down now that there is half of the other stuff?

Yes, like a bedding -- a sheet of dry, high-carbon materials, aka compost "browns", over the ground. You just keep adding to it and adding to it in layers as needed.

They'd been sitting in the sun for 2 days after mowing when I swept them up yesterday - dry as hay but softer.

That should be good. Dried grass clippings are a quick-decomposing material, but the chickens will love them.

should they be dead leaves? Do they have to be dry? Beginning to break down and not dry?

Dead leaves, that have fallen and dried. Green, wet leaves will pack, mat, and stink.

Oak is fine. I know the trials and tribulations of trying to compost oak leaves and the chicken run is the absolute best place you'll find to be able to convince them to break down. But use a mix of materials along with the leaves.

Also, when you get the leaves, be sure to rake up some of the underlayer that has started to break down so as to seed your deep litter with the good composting bacteria, etc. I would, avoid the black walnut. I don't know how much chicken toxicity there could be in dead leaves, but I wouldn't want walnut compost in my garden.

I agree with @aart about photos so we can help you address the drainage issues.

 

[rosemarythyme]

So far, I've put the very dry grass clippings on the dirt floor with pine shavings on top. Need more material. I'd never tried the deep method before because I know it has to be done right & I wasn't sure of all the right things to do & didn't want to mess it up, so this is still new to me : [
Looking at leaves, but have questions!! I was initially going to this grab some of the chicken yard, but to do it right, should they be dead leaves? Do they have to be dry? Beginning to break down and not dry? Or simply having fallen off? Or even fresh leaves from trimmed branches? It also looks like I'll need to shred or chop up those leaves in some way??

Other issue is, I have mostly oak here, which I see are v. high in lignin, so can take 2 yrs to break down! So should I leave them out of the coop? On the "good" list, I can only find one tree I have, which is willow. It's near a pond, so I'll have to carefully dig around there to look for dropped leaves (you know - snakes, wasps and all!)... but might strike out, or not be able to get very much.

Deep litter is pretty forgiving, I certainly don't measure what I put in or when. If I have stuff to add, I add it. If it looks like it's clumped up unevenly, I break it up with a rake.

For leaves, the ideal leaves are dead fallen leaves from autumn. I use a mix of magnolia, chestnut, maple and willow leaves since that's what I've got. I store up bags of dry leaves to use year round, any that get wet from rain storms go straight into the run (so the run in fall is quite full).

I would avoid black walnut, it's toxic to horses at the very least, so why risk using it.

 

[khind]

That was my gut feeling as well - don't measure. And yes, I plan on leaving the toxic tree off the list.
I have lots of dry, dead oak leaves from last fall all around the chicken yard, & almost all are broken up. Sounds like I should be able to use those until I get new ones in the fall. I also have some dried leaves still attached to limbs I trimmed off a couple weeks ago. I feel like with very dry leaves, it might be good to give them a very light misting before adding them - or maybe mist 1/2 those leaves? Or do the chicken droppings provide enough moisture (with the mix then being: dirt floor, dried grass clippings, pine shavings, & dried leaves)?

Also, let's say I eat cob corn (husk removed before cooking). Could I throw those raw, plain husks right in, maybe torn up a bit first? And maybe silk removed or chopped small in the chick run?

 

[3KillerBs]

Just put the dry leaves in dry -- along with some of the broken down material under them to seed the deep litter with the composting bacteria. Sow bugs and worms are a bonus that the chickens will love.

In fact, you don't even need to spread the leaves. Put in a pile and the chickens will do the spreading -- digging in them like a little kids.

When I worked at a produce stand my chickens got all the corn husks and silk from when I shucked corn for customers. If I had a lot -- like a full paper grocery bag -- I dried them first. If just a little I tossed it in and it dried in the run.

They also got the wormy tips I broke off and the cobs after we were done eating the corn. Too much sweet corn is not a good idea, but they love a little as a treat.

 

[khind]

Awesome! I'd wondered about cobs too! I eat corn plain, so that should be even better.
Thank you!