Questions on Deep Litter Method

[stavo]

Hello All,

I'm new to chickens and in the process of creating a home for them. The coop and run will be their full-time residence, as our property is not really safe for free-ranging. I'm planning on an 8' x 12' run, plus another 4' x 5' under the coop. I really would like to use the Deep Litter Method (in the run only, not the coop). I know this has been addressed extensively in this forum, but I wasn't able to find answers to my questions. Specifically...

1. I want to keep the option open to move the entire enterprise to another part of the property in the future, if necessary. With that in mind, I prefer not to cement in any foundation or base for the run to sit on. But I know there also needs to be something solid to contain all the bedding. Could this be done with pavers stacked on top of each other. Or are there any other suggestions - maybe railroad ties?

2. I'm assuming that rain water is bad for DLM. So how do others prevent sideways rain during the winter from soaking it all? Along the same lines, should I be concerned with water runoff making it's way through the run?

 

[rosemarythyme]

1) With DLM it's ideal to have the run directly on soil. You don't really need anything under the bedding or to contain it, other than the run walls. My run is chain link with hardware cloth on the bottom few feet and aproned out, and that's enough to keep the bedding in the run.

2) Rain water is fine. My run is covered but not roofed and we get a lot of rain, and the litter allows the water to drain through so the chickens still have dry-ish floor to stand on 99% of the time.

 

[stavo]

1) With DLM it's ideal to have the run directly on soil. You don't really need anything under the bedding or to contain it, other than the run walls. My run is chain link with hardware cloth on the bottom few feet and aproned out, and that's enough to keep the bedding in the run.

2) Rain water is fine. My run is covered but not roofed and we get a lot of rain, and the litter allows the water to drain through so the chickens still have dry-ish floor to stand on 99% of the time.

Thank you, that is very helpful!

 

[jreardon1918]

My setup is similar to what you describe. See my coop article. The run is covered, but rain drips in and blows in from the sides. The DLM generally stays in the run. What doesn't I rake up and add to gardens.

 

[Ridgerunner]

What size mesh wire are you planning to use and what bedding to you plan to use? But basically, if they scratch the bedding out add a smaller mesh wore to the bottom 18" or so. You might bend it ad make an apron to stop digging predators.

Rain is no worse for the DLM than it is for a compost pile. If it si located where it will drain you'll be OK. If you position it where water stands you can have real issues. Just like a compost pile.

It's best for rainwater runoff to not flow through it. You might handle that by positioning it on a high spot or maybe with berms and swales. It can move the bedding around plus leach out some of the better nutrients from the compost.

 

[stavo]

My setup is similar to what you describe. See my coop article. The run is covered, but rain drips in and blows in from the sides. The DLM generally stays in the run. What doesn't I rake up and add to gardens.

That's good to hear, because there's no way I'd be able to keep it completely dry.

 

[stavo]

What size mesh wire are you planning to use and what bedding to you plan to use? But basically, if they scratch the bedding out add a smaller mesh wore to the bottom 18" or so. You might bend it ad make an apron to stop digging predators.

Rain is no worse for the DLM than it is for a compost pile. If it si located where it will drain you'll be OK. If you position it where water stands you can have real issues. Just like a compost pile.

It's best for rainwater runoff to not flow through it. You might handle that by positioning it on a high spot or maybe with berms and swales. It can move the bedding around plus leach out some of the better nutrients from the compost.

I was planning a small mesh - maybe 1/2 inch - but aesthetically I think I'd rather not have the bedding pushing up against the mesh. I think I'd prefer a solid surface for the bottom of the run walls, so that's why I'm thinking pavers, railroad ties, or other treated wood. I'm sure concrete blocks in cement would be ideal, but I'd prefer something less permanent in case I decide to move it later.

Considering an apron as well. Thanks for that suggestion.

 

[nminusyplusm]

My coop and run foundation is concrete blocks. They aren’t cemented. On top of that the footer is 6” pressure treated just sitting on top. Coop and run has 1/2” HC, litter stays in the run.

 

[stavo]

My coop and run foundation is concrete blocks. They aren’t cemented. On top of that the footer is 6” pressure treated just sitting on top. Coop and run has 1/2” HC, litter stays in the run.

Your setup is similar to what I'd like to do. Are your blocks partially buried to help keep them in place or was that not necessary? Also, did you somehow anchor the footer onto the blocks, or is just sitting on top and its weight keeps it in place? Thanks for the info.

 

[nminusyplusm]

Your setup is similar to what I'd like to do. Are your blocks partially buried to help keep them in place or was that not necessary? Also, did you somehow anchor the footer onto the blocks, or is just sitting on top and its weight keeps it in place? Thanks for the info.

I dug down 2' so my foundation is 3 rows of blocks. The reasons I did that were:

1) I live in a desert and my entire run is roofed for shade so I want to capture rain for the DL as much as possible.

2) There are no predators that will dig under this here.

3) High winds are a regular occurrence so I wanted the litter to be at or below ground level to help keep it in.

Even with the winds, my coop/run is overbuilt (3/4" ply, doubled 2xs) and weighs enough that I didn't anchor it.