Some questions about new coop

[Kayla's Lunch]

Thanks for all the ideas. I have been reading some other posts that talked about deep bedding which is dry and deep litter which is moist and will compost. How much moisture is needed? In the post that I read, it was about using poop boards so the poop wasn't mixing in the bedding and that was the deep bedding method. Is that all the moisture that is needed, the moisture from the chicken poop? I want to do deep litter in the run and also in the coop (whenever it gets done), so I want to make sure I have enough moisture in both. Hope my questions makes sense and isn't too rambling.

 

[nminusyplusm]

Thanks for all the ideas. I have been reading some other posts that talked about deep bedding which is dry and deep litter which is moist and will compost. How much moisture is needed? In the post that I read, it was about using poop boards so the poop wasn't mixing in the bedding and that was the deep bedding method. Is that all the moisture that is needed, the moisture from the chicken poop? I want to do deep litter in the run and also in the coop (whenever it gets done), so I want to make sure I have enough moisture in both. Hope my questions makes sense and isn't too rambling.

I do DL in the coop and run. I don't use a poop board because it drops and composts right in the coop. I throw some BOSS in the coop once in a while to get the girls to turn it. Now that it's cooking they like scratching there without the lure of treats so I don't have to do much at all.

I started with almost all straw because that's all I had around. As my garden got going I had more variety with weeds, prunings, etc. I use it as my main compost pile so kitchen waste goes in too, coffee grounds, citrus peels, failed culinary experiments, all the stuff you're not supposed to toss in, lol. It works.

Once you get a sense of the right balance-- from too dusty to too wet you'll be able to dial in the correct moisture level. If it's too dry, add some water. If it smells like ammonia or it's soggy, it's too wet, so just add some dry material. It should ideally be like a damp sponge.

I love DL so much and it's so easy, it entertains the chickens, it's healthy and clean, keeps away flies. I wish everything in life was as perfect as DL! I think you've made a really smart choice and you'll love it too.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I do deep bedding in the coop and deep litter in the run. Coop bedding gets cleaned out into the run and becomes part of the litter there. I don't add any moisture to my deep litter, whatever falls from the sky is the moisture it gets. During the summer it does get dry, but that also makes it easier for the chickens to stir it all up. The rest of the year we get pretty regular rain, so it'll start breaking down fairly well. Once it's broken down you can remove some if you want to use it for gardening.

 

[lazy gardener]

I really don't put much thought process into the matter. I find that things are bone dry, and dusty at the front of the coop, but quite damp under the perches. Several times/year, i remove most of the build up under the perches, and scoop it straight out the clean out door into the back of the run. Then, the dry stuff from the front gets shoved to the back, I cap it all off with some new material, and continue to build from there. The run is where most of the composting action happens for me. Of course, I live in winter wonder land, where things are frozen solid from Nov. to April.