TIME IS FINALLY HERE- LITTER METHOD

[lazy gardener]

I would recommend a walk in. If you are using pallets, you could easily expand to 4 x 8, and just tie 2 pallets together. If I were building a pallet coop, I think I'd try to build it with a soil floor. That shouldn't be too difficult if you use T posts to anchor the pallets to the ground for your framing. Then you could attach your skirt to the outside of the building before putting on your sheathing, or what ever you use for your walls.

 

[mpoland33]

Ok so I think I've been convinced to go with a 4x8 out of pallets for the walls but am looking for something similar to this. http://www.thereadystore.com/media/mktg/blog/large-chicken-coop-design.pdf

My big question is how high to make the coop if I'm doing the deep litter method on a coop that is off the ground like this. I WAS thinking of 4'...but after someone pointed out making it deeper I was thinking doing 5'. I think 6 would be too tall if it's already 2' in the air.

What do you think?

 

[Chickassan]

Yes pine shavings, in a pinch i also use yard leaves.

What do you use in your deep litter? pine shavings?

 

[Blooie]

Dried leaves primarily, bolstered with anything else I could find..... pine needles, pulled weeds, garden trimmings and refuse, ocassionlly small amounts of chopped straw, small amounts of grass clippings, and whatever got buried and missed from the kitchen scraps I took out. At first when I got my chickens, I just used pine shavings, but a clean out a year later revealed gray, still very recognizable pine shavings, even down against the ground. That’s when I learned the difference between deep litter and deep bedding. After changing to mostly leaves with other stuff added once in awhile, the next time I looked deep into the litter I had beautiful dark, rich compost.

 

[Chickassan]

Your coop must sit on the ground Blooie. I can't do all that wonderful stuff because mine is elevated, I did blow the girls minds today with the introduction of alfalfa hay.

Dried leaves primarily, bolstered with anything else I could find..... pine needles, pulled weeds, garden trimmings and refuse, ocassionlly small amounts of chopped straw, small amounts of grass clippings, and whatever got buried and missed from the kitchen scraps I took out. At first when I got my chickens, I just used pine shavings, but a clean out a year later revealed gray, still very recognizable pine shavings, even down against the ground. That’s when I learned the difference between deep litter and deep bedding. After changing to mostly leaves with other stuff added once in awhile, the next time I looked deep into the litter I had beautiful dark, rich compost.

 

[mpoland33]

Dried leaves primarily, bolstered with anything else I could find..... pine needles, pulled weeds, garden trimmings and refuse, ocassionlly small amounts of chopped straw, small amounts of grass clippings, and whatever got buried and missed from the kitchen scraps I took out. At first when I got my chickens, I just used pine shavings, but a clean out a year later revealed gray, still very recognizable pine shavings, even down against the ground. That’s when I learned the difference between deep litter and deep bedding. After changing to mostly leaves with other stuff added once in awhile, the next time I looked deep into the litter I had beautiful dark, rich compost.

How often did you need to replace your leaves? How do you make sure they are dry? How tall did you pile them considering they aren't flat? Am I thinking too much into it? haha

 

[mpoland33]

Your coop must sit on the ground Blooie. I can't do all that wonderful stuff because mine is elevated, I did blow the girls minds today with the introduction of alfalfa hay.

do you to the deep litter? If so, how tall is your coop. I'm trying to figure how high to make it since the litter would take a bit of space.

 

[lazy gardener]

Ok so I think I've been convinced to go with a 4x8 out of pallets for the walls but am looking for something similar to this. http://www.thereadystore.com/media/mktg/blog/large-chicken-coop-design.pdf

My big question is how high to make the coop if I'm doing the deep litter method on a coop that is off the ground like this. I WAS thinking of 4'...but after someone pointed out making it deeper I was thinking doing 5'. I think 6 would be too tall if it's already 2' in the air.

What do you think?

I think you're going to have to make a choice. Either make your coop a walk in style and put it at or very near ground level. Or have a raised coop and give up the notion of doing deep litter. While that coop looks nice with the raised portion, and the extra run space under neath it, that is not practical for deep litter. Cleaning it is going to be a pain in the heiney (IMO) and it does not allow enough height for "stacked space". Chickens like to roost as high as possible, and a short floor to ceiling height does not give enough room for next boxes under perch height, and perch height under ventilation.

 

[Blooie]

I agree with my good pal @lazy gardener completely. As for how often I replaced the leaves, I never did. I kept that same litter going strong for about 3 years straight, just flipping it once in awhile and dumping new leaves and debris right on top, then letting the chickens stir it up and disburse it, occasionally stripping off a layer to use in my flower beds but never getting as far down as my “starter” layers. Think of deep litter as good sourdough starter - just take out what you need and replenish! I raked dry leaves and collected them in the fall - mine and anyone else’s leaves that needed a new home. I bagged them, tied them loosely, then stockpiled them in an area behind the coop that stayed relatively dry year round.

I forgot to mention that I also left the little twigs and such in with the leaves because they provided much needed air spaces in the litter, and would also throw in wood chips for aeration as well. Yep, my coop was directly on the ground, a walk-in coop so that I could get inside and walk around to work comfortably. I used the same litter in my coop and in my run. No, I didn’t have odor issues. The only time that happened was when I was using pine shavings and my daughter-in-law left the sprinkler going up against the run for a full day while we were out of town, (remember that fiasco, LG?)

 

[Chickassan]

My coop inside from floor to ceiling is 4 1/2 feet, the coop itself sits on 3 foot legs. I wish i would have been able to go 5 feet but mine is a pallet coop so i had restrictions.

do you to the deep litter? If so, how tall is your coop. I'm trying to figure how high to make it since the litter would take a bit of space.