Questions about coop "bedding" and "deep litter method" during the winter

I use the DLM with pine shavings and a liberal sprinkling of diatomaceous earth. If the poop builds up in any one area I throw on some more shavings and DE. I maybe have to do this once a week or less. As far as I know, pine needles would work too, as long as they aren't full of sticky sap. As well as being less work, the DLM is supposed to provide a bit of warmth from the heat of decomposition.

 

I gues depends where you live as some can get messy but in the country i use straw.It is very insulating just add some on top of the poo daily

 

I do deep litter with pine shavings and autumn leaves. Have bags of leaves set aside to add during the winter. I also add a thin layer of dirt from our woods as I want the microbes and such that are living in there to facilitate the litter decomposition. No DE for me as the DE will kill most everything - the good and bad - and I'm wanting to keep the good as they'll often get rid of the bad. Everyone does it a bit different and whatever works for you is what's right.

I would think pine needles would be fine but would add pine shavings in with them as pine needles are rather slow to decompose and aren't very absorbent.

 

I use straw, shredded paper, leaves, any kind of carbon material I can get, over a dirt floor. I have heavy messy ducks too and they tend to pack the litter down tight, so I loosen it up with my digging fork about once a week and toss some more straw on top. If you are getting ammonia fumes then 1) you have too many birds for the space and/or 2) you need more carbon to soak up the manure.