Why Do You Use Deep Bedding/Why Do You NOT Use Deep Bedding?

[Mrs. K]

Absorbs excess moisture. Keeping birds dry, and in dry conditions is best for their health.

 

[3KillerBs]

Absorbs excess moisture. Keeping birds dry, and in dry conditions is best for their health.

*nods* I love how dry my coop is -- even in hurricane conditions.

Part of that is the ventilation design and part of that is the litter, I think.

 

[Sally PB]

My 4x8 coop has deep bedding because I haven't taken any of it out yet. Other than what I pick up as I scoop up the poop, which is daily, it's all still there. It's 4-6" deep, and is plenty soft for gentle landings when the birds (standard sized) jump down from the roost. No bumblefoot!

Unless someone has just dropped a cecal poop, there is no smell at all. Especially now that the poop freezes in short order, but even last summer, it didn't smell. Hubby was impressed.

So far, I've put in two bales of pine shavings and a bale of hemp since I moved the chickens into the coop last May. I will probably take about half of it out in the spring, and add another bale of hemp. The reason I'll take some out is to use it on the garden or in the compost.

 

[WA_RN]

We use industrial hemp and the deep bedding method in our coop. It's convenient, keeps things dry, and zero smell.

 

[aart]

Yep, dry...but I use poop boards, which makes the pine shavings on floor last even longer.

Trying to use the term 'deep bedding' without someone calling it 'deep litter' will be tough.
I like your description on first post, might also define deep litter to show the difference....not that all will register the diff.

 

[Tre3hugger]

Do you also find that it helps keep the bedding from packing and matting?

I have only really found that to be a problem the one time I used regular old straw for bedding. The straw cakes were THICK. I would imagine the irregular shaped additions only help aeration/anti-clumping. For me, it is a non-issue.

 

[MarkJr]

Yep, dry...but I use poop boards, which makes the pine shavings on floor last even longer.

Trying to use the term 'deep bedding' without someone calling it 'deep litter' will be tough.
I like your description on first post, might also define deep litter to show the difference....not that all will register the diff.

I didn't. Hence the edit.

I am imperfect

 

[Acre4Me]

Is there a particular reason that you don't fill up with bedding between cleanings? Something for my "cons" list?

yeah. Young Teen child. Teen is generally responsible for turning bedding and cleaning out coop (teen uses half-face respirator with filters). I help when it is a big clean out/spray insecticide. But, if bedding only requires 1-2 wheelbarrow loads (we have a big wheelbarrow) to get it to the compost bin, there is a higher chance of good clean out. If teen child sees a mountain of poop laden shavings, teen will avoid the work and will be much less likely to turn bedding or to remove it all. We did this once...frozen litter, so added on top a few times...come spring it was an ordeal, teen fibbed about task, etc... Amazing what kids will try to pass off as “completed”. So, by having a manageable amount of shavings, means there is a greater likelihood of task being completed. We still don’t clean out the coop “frequently” but more than 2x per year.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I'm just too OCD to use the deep litter method. I clean the coop out every weekend and give it a super good cleaning every couple months.

 

[Misfits Farm 92]

I only clean out my 12' by 18' chicken barn once a year if even. It has a dirt floor so I only add bedding if the dirt gets muddy. Would this be considered deep litter?