Too hot/humid for deep litter method?

Eggsorcism

In the Brooder
Jul 24, 2015
12
0
37
Old Fort, TN
Background: I'm headed to the GA/SC line near Fort Gordon. We're planning our layout for 10-12 layers. We're fairly set on our breeds (even mix of Rhode Island Red, Easter Egger, and White Leghorn) and flock size and have looked into the laws concerning coop/run size (4 square feet per bird in coop, 10 square feet per bird in run). The coop will be 8x6, about 6 feet tall, have a minimum of 10 square feet of ventilation, possibly one side entirely made of hardware cloth (likely the side attached to the run), 4 nesting boxes with a roll away design to prevent egg eating, a good 150 inches of roosting space made of branches, either a tiled floor to allow for easier clean up or a dirt floor (can't do an elevated coop), and an 8x15 attached covered run. There's no guarantee we can free range as I'm not familiar enough with the area to speak to the predator threat. We'll be sticking with fermented feed on a schedule (as in there won't be unlimited access to feed) with kitchen/garden scraps and many frozen/chilled snacks to beat the awful heat (seriously, it hardly ever dips below freezing and is above 90 for about 4 months straight!). No food/water in the coop. We'll be building a bucket waterer with horizontal chicken nipples around the bottom edge and probably tossing some ACV in there.

Issue: The only thing we're unsure on is the litter! I LOVE the idea of the deep litter method and there's obviously great success with it in some areas, but as it stays around 55-80% humidity and bounces to nearly 100% at some times in the year I worry about the moisture with the bedding. I also worry with the heat since the litter itself creates heat (as do the birds) and if it's lingering around 90 degrees with 90% humidity I would think the litter could do more harm than good. I'd prefer passive cooling, but could rig up a fan if necessary. Has anyone the area tried this? What would you recommend?
 
I'm sorry no one has responded
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. I live in hot, dry dry dry California, so I can't help you. Any Southerners or Midwesterners care to respond?
 
We live in SW OH, we have lots of humidity here too. We use pine shavings in the coop, grass clippings, straw and used pine shavings (from coop) in the run. No problems so far.

We have 6 chickens, 8' x 17' coop (half the hens use, half is storage) and a 8' x 16' covered run. The coop has 2 windows and ventilation opening near the roof.
 
Background: I'm headed to the GA/SC line near Fort Gordon. We're planning our layout for 10-12 layers. We're fairly set on our breeds (even mix of Rhode Island Red, Easter Egger, and White Leghorn) and flock size and have looked into the laws concerning coop/run size (4 square feet per bird in coop, 10 square feet per bird in run). The coop will be 8x6, about 6 feet tall, have a minimum of 10 square feet of ventilation, possibly one side entirely made of hardware cloth (likely the side attached to the run), 4 nesting boxes with a roll away design to prevent egg eating, a good 150 inches of roosting space made of branches, either a tiled floor to allow for easier clean up or a dirt floor (can't do an elevated coop), and an 8x15 attached covered run. There's no guarantee we can free range as I'm not familiar enough with the area to speak to the predator threat. We'll be sticking with fermented feed on a schedule (as in there won't be unlimited access to feed) with kitchen/garden scraps and many frozen/chilled snacks to beat the awful heat (seriously, it hardly ever dips below freezing and is above 90 for about 4 months straight!). No food/water in the coop. We'll be building a bucket waterer with horizontal chicken nipples around the bottom edge and probably tossing some ACV in there.

Issue: The only thing we're unsure on is the litter! I LOVE the idea of the deep litter method and there's obviously great success with it in some areas, but as it stays around 55-80% humidity and bounces to nearly 100% at some times in the year I worry about the moisture with the bedding. I also worry with the heat since the litter itself creates heat (as do the birds) and if it's lingering around 90 degrees with 90% humidity I would think the litter could do more harm than good. I'd prefer passive cooling, but could rig up a fan if necessary. Has anyone the area tried this? What would you recommend?


I love your shamelessly bump!!!
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I used deep litter technique, sort of. I got 2" of sand in the coop, and 2-3" of pine shavings on top of it. As long as you keep your coop dry and good ventilation, it works good. Right now it's warm & humid in NE Ohio, but the litter actually is dry and well ventilated so It doesn't generate heat instead it acts like insulation to keep the coop cooler. I just make sure the poop boards (under the roost) are cleaned every day (5-10 minutes max cleaning)
 
We are in Missouri where the humidity has been very high all summer.

I have been using the deep bed method for our flock of 18 and so far it has worked out well. I make sure and turn the bedding daily, which immediately dampens down any odor and add new shavings as the old ones start to look compressed. The birds also do a fair amount of scratching around in the coop so that helps. Every three months I do a complete clean out and start out with fresh pine chips. The biggest problem I have had this summer is with the flies, especially with the humidity staying so high. I rake the run regularly, keep the bedding turned, etc, but nothing keeps them away. Guess I just have to hope for an early fall.
 
Maybe some ducks will help with your fly problem microchick! Thanks so much for the replies thus far. I hope more with similar situations can reply with their experiences :)
 

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