When to clean deep litter out?

[IdyllwildAcres]

I will clean out the deep litter this fall so it can cook over the winter in a pile for next spring. It will be the 2nd time in 4 years. I would like more compost, so I am considering doing it yearly but of course then I would need more chickens....

15 chickens, 200SF chicken house on dirt floor.

 

[Lilbitsnpieces]

I have negative teens in winter so i basically compost in my coop. During months when i mow i dry grass and then bag in paper bags..i run my leaves in fall through a chipper. My coop floor is dirt. I lay leaves then some veggies then grass clippins. girls do the rest. i turn it to cover poo. if it needs moisture to compost i sprinkle their water over it when changing...it generates enough heat that the girls stay toasty..even this winter (-23) I had to vent the coop, which is 8x8? I add more clippings/leaves as needed..i clean out and put in garden beds if it is warm sunny day..usually in low 30s..girls get out while i do this..only removing a wheelbarrel or two..so heat is still generated. never use pine /cedar as i find it can burn my girls feet..alfalfa,straw and hay have seeds that pollute my garden. Love this method as my coop is not heated..do the same for my ducks..and it jumo starts my spring gardens

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