/ Register

  1. If this is your first time on BYC, we suggest you start with one of these three options:
    Raising Chickens Chicken Coops Join BYC
    If you're already a member of our community, click here to login & click here to learn what's new!

Quick question about DLM

Discussion in 'Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance' started by Cajunrose, Apr 21, 2011.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Apr 21, 2011 #1
    Cajunrose

    Cajunrose Out Of The Brooder

    47
    0
    32
    Apr 3, 2011
    I think I want to try the Deep litter method for our coop/run. The problem I'm having problem to wrap my mind around is when you remove it in a year or so...is it completely broken down so that I can use it as 'dirt' compost? I was planning on using pine shavings for this method. It seems like there would be very wood chippy still. I know that I would probably have to let it sit for a bit after we pull it out because there is still 'green' poop in there.

    I've researched this until I'm blue in the face..I just can't figure this out.

    Thanks
    Stephenie
     
  3. Apr 22, 2011 #2
    nivtup

    nivtup Chillin' With My Peeps

    1,690
    5
    181
    Apr 24, 2008
    Shelton Washington
    As is all things it depends [​IMG]

    If left for a long enough period, it does break down to the point that the chips are pretty much gone.

    I would not use it straight in the garden without further composting, it is not really compost at that point, but well started.


    I hope that helped.
     
  5. Apr 22, 2011 #3
    KimberlyJ

    KimberlyJ Chillin' With My Peeps

    749
    2
    121
    Jun 13, 2010
    I asked this same question a few months ago and got mixed answers. I started with pine shavings in September. I stirred, DE'd and added throughout the winter. Now it looks very broken down and not like shavings at all. But there is green poo in there. Some people say put it in the garden, some say compost for 6 months more. The one point I didn't think about is, as it composts the rest of the way it will pull nutrients out of your soil. So I am going out in a few minutes to do my spring cleaning and I have decided to compost until fall, them add to my garden. Besides I have an asparagus bed in the garden--I don't really want chicken poo on/in it!

    If I had a great way of tilling it all into the garden soil I think I would add it in there now AND add some lime too, but I don't have a tiller.
     
  7. Apr 22, 2011 #4
    Judy

    Judy Moderator Staff Member

    34,028
    449
    448
    Feb 5, 2009
    South Georgia
    It's true, as I understand it, that pine shavings which are not yet broken down will leach nitrogen from the soil as they break down. So we compost further, as what we remove from the coop of course varies in age and freshness of both shavings and poop. One good way around all this without a tiller is to spread it on the garden in the fall. Hopefully by spring it will be broken down enough.

    I've read the poop itself must be composted, and I've read of people who have been putting it on their garden fresh for years with out a problem. I compromise, dump fresh poop in a bucket with water, set in the sun a few days, then feed plants with the mix. I've side dressed many tomatoes, etc. with fresh chicken or quail poop, then watered in.

    The asparagus bed is one of the first places I'd put good compost, or manure tea. It needs lots of fertilizer. It's not like it's absorbed into the plant as poop.
     
  9. Apr 22, 2011 #5
    Cajunrose

    Cajunrose Out Of The Brooder

    47
    0
    32
    Apr 3, 2011
    Thanks for the help. One problem I'm having is that I turned my compost 'bed' into a flower garden right before I got chickens. The flower garden is for my daughter. Now I have nothing to put compost in..lol I'm a little lost as to what to do now. I thought about the chicken manure tea too...I might do that but I would think it would be nasty here in South Louisiana by the end of several days..lol What to do what to do..hmmm

    Stephenie
     

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by