Any less, and you lose the mass to absorb normal moisture levels in the coop. It controls odors, keeps bad bacteria at bay (while using the good bacteria), and even heats the chicken coop slightly. I know it may seem counter-intuitive that cleaning your coop less often is actually healthier … It is called the "Deep Litter Method." Why choose the deep ... Read More about Why The Deep Litter Method Is Healthier For You And Your Flock It can become a breeding ground for diseases and mold. Go check it out! Instead of having to scoop out and replace the litter every week, you allow the manure and the bedding material to decompose. It will have time to rot more all winter. Help! Farmers and homesteaders all over the world use the deep litter method on their chicken coop floor because it just makes sense. When I first heard about a way to keep my chicken coop clean that didn't involve taking up my Saturday mornings, I was a little skeptical. In this article, I’ll tell you why the deep litter method is not only great for your birds, but also for you and your garden. Usually in the spring so we can use the litter in the garden. The Deep Litter system is a tradition in poultry management going back decades. This will help deter bugs, and absorb excess moisture and ammonia. Disinfect the roost bars, and if possible, the whole coop, with a very diluted bleach solution. This step is optional, but does help create a barrier for moisture, odor, and pests. I’ve heard about the “deep litter” method for raising chickens. I found your article very interested. Each deep litter bed is made with food safe USDA, FDA, and NFS-approved high density polyethylene (HDPE). Have you ever used the deep litter method? At MOTHER EARTH NEWS for 50 years and counting, we are dedicated to conserving our planet's natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. Deep litter is an animal housing system, based on the repeated spreading of straw or sawdust material in indoor booths. The deep litter method (DLM) is just as it sounds – deep – from about 8 to 12 inches. Microbes will start to develop and live within the compost. Storey's Guide To Raising Turkeys, 3Rd Edition, Chicken Coops - 45 Building Plans For Housing Your Flock, Natural Cold Storage: Fresh Food in Winter, Keeping Crops Cool During Hot Weather: 13 Ways to Beat the Heat, Subscribe Today - Pay Now & Save 64% Off the Cover Price. This not only makes things easier for you, the chicken keeper, but also makes it healthier for your flock. Helpful Tips for a Successful System Start in the Spring. Plus, wet litter is a recipe for mold and disease to multiply. While I personally cannot bring myself to allow waste to accumulate inside my coops, I do not doubt the utility of the deep litter method when executed properly.I personally prefer sand as a coop litter choice and droppings boards to manage manure. I’ve read lots of articles about this method and straw is not recommended. You'll find tips for slashing heating bills, growing fresh, natural produce at home, and more. The Deep Litter Method is a way of caring for one's coop using a deep layer of, for example, wood chips, which cuts down on cleaning while still giving your hens (and roosters, if you have them) a healthy place to live. Old Paths to New Homesteading & Self-Reliant Living. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. How to Use the Litter in Your Garden Mix It With Existing Compost. Will the top few inches need to be set aside as it is “fresher”, unaged? Let’s talk about it more to see if the deep litter method is right for your chickens. Register now to get access to ALL current video workshops and prerecorded webinars plus anything new that we add through the end of 2020. If you have been using deep litter, remove it all and put it in a pile to compost. Your email address will not be published. I often run across this confusion in blogs and facebook posts. As the litter breaks down, it basically composts inside the coop. This means less time and labor for you. hat IS the Deep Litter Method? The deep litter method works best if you have an appropriate amount of chickens for your coop size. The great news is that these beneficial microbes will also … Keep the coop ventilated, even in winter. I think of it as the “lazy” way of raising chickens! I love the deep litter method! If you do, add more litter. Deep litter method is based on allowing the coop and other forms of litter to grow with the passage of time. It’s also great for the chickens because the breaking down of the litter into compost naturally releases heat into the coop, helping to keep the birds warm. Hi Shawna, When I was growing up many years ago we had chickens on our farm but things we done so differently then. Coops using the deep litter method properly don’t stink, at all! Only use straw in a very dry area. The build method is to create layers with dry ingredients. They give a nice fresh scent to the coop as well! By the time you got a deep bed going, the floor of the stall was a step up from the aisle. Of course there are different ways to go about how to do the upkeep on your coop in the winter time, but this is a method I have tried and loved. It means less coop cleaning, a healthier flock, a warmer flock through Winter and a rich garden compost for Spring! This post may be shared on Family Homesteading and Off The Grid Blog Hop, Simple Homestead Blog Hop, Farm Fresh Tuesday, and Old Paths to New Homesteading & Self-Reliant Living. We use the deep litter method in our chiken coop. All while lessening your work load with your chickens. That's why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our earth-friendly automatic renewal savings plan. Once in a while you get a whiff of something, but then I just go and aerate the bedding with a garden trowel and add more pine shavings. The best place to use the deep litter method is in the coop and nesting boxes. Tamara bellsofthenorthhomestead.com. If you’ve had the deep litter in with your chickens for about 6 months (as recommended), you should have about that. Cleaning a chicken coop with deep litter method. Once a week or so, go into the coop and turn over the pine shavings. account? The deep litter method minimizes your expenditure while maximizing the health and w... For years I've mucked out my coop on a monthly basis. This step is optional, but does help create a barrier for moisture, odor, and pests. I start off by adding approximately 3” of shavings to the floor of my coop. Thanks Betty, glad you found it valuable! The deep litter method focuses on using carbon-based material (the pine shavings that is the base for your chicken litter), and nitrogen-based material (the manure and urine from the chickens). DH and I already put bird manure in the garden in the fall. Thanks, Marla! How do I know what I can use now for compost? Deep litter method. I think this information was amazing. This keeps your birds out of their own waste, making a much cleaner and healthier environment. To begin, start with a clean coop. It saves money, time, labor, and gives you compost! Then as the chickens or ducks soil it, add another layer right on top. Being cheep I though that if I turn it ,it will dry out . Fall or early spring is a good time to clean out the coop — but don’t remove all of the litter, advises poultry expert Harvey Ussery in The Small-Scale Poultry Flock. It’s a neat, almost-forgotten way to manage a small flock! We were already overly cautious in everything we did – because we were first time chicken owners. Really deep litter should only be used in the winter time, since the break-down of the materials adds about 10 degrees of heat. This keeps your birds out of their own waste, making a much cleaner and healthier environment. It is a scientifically proven healthy method for chickens and it is a huge labor saving technique. Sort by reaction score Thread starter Crax; Start date Nov 6, 2020; 1; 2; Next. Canadian subscriptions: 1 year (includes postage & GST). After the coop cleanup, I usually rake up the run as well, even though I don’t use shavings there. I’m a newbie! Begin with Dry Bedding. Could it hurt the hens in any way? It has all the information you need to start raising happy, healthy chickens! This system greatly reduces the time and expense of keeping chickens. I hate to refer to it as the lazy way of raising chickens how about the “I don’t want to spend too much time outside in the winter cleaning the coop” method!? Deep Litter Beds. Deep litter Method: I don't know about you, but I like to make the most efficient use of my time. A year ago we became happy chicken owners. Instead of scooping out and replacing chicken coop litter frequently, you allow the manure and bedding material to accumulate and decompose inside the coop. I have been, or can be if you click on a link and make a purchase, compensated via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value for writing this post. What is the deep litter method, you ask? I love it! You only have to clean out the coop once in the spring, and maybe once in the fall. The chickens add manure, which they shred as they scratch around, it eventually disappears into the bedding. Then put a thin layer of straw over the shavings. One of the lost ideas is the deep litter method (deep litter is also called “built-up litter” or “compost litter.” People think they know what the deep-litter system is, but often they don’t. I typically clean out my chicken coop twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. By using a process similar to composting, you create a biome from your coop’s litter. Second, it provides a nice soft bed for your animals. The litter from over the summer goes in the compost so it can be ready for the garden in the spring. International Subscribers - Click Here
Hay can get very dusty and will also get very heavy when wet. The Carbon to Nitrogen ratio must be correct. The deep litter system is a low maintenance method where you only clean out your coop once a year. For the reason that the admin of this website is working, no doubt very shortly it will be well-known, due to its quality contents. How NOT to get started with meat chickens (pt. One of the lost ideas is the deep litter method (deep litter is also called “built-up litter” or “compost litter.” People think they know what the deep-litter system is, but often they don’t. The deep litter method is simply covering the floors and ground in the coop and run with the “litter” of your choice. Pine shavings will get too wet if in an open area to properly start the decomposition process. Thanks!! Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
While most people may think the deep litter method is unsanitary, it’s really not. When the first layer is soiled, a new layer of fresh litter is added on top. Too much pile up and an ammonia smell can develop and the chickens are more susceptible to disease, respiratory issues etc. You’re absolutely right, Sarah. Begin your deep litter system with at least six inches of a dry bedding type, like pine shavings. An initial layer of litter is spread for the animals to use for bedding material and to defecate in, and as the litter is soiled, new layers of litter are continuously added by the farmer. 3)! Only use hay in a dry area. Works great. She has edited or co-authored seven books on gardening, and lives and works from her home in northwestern Montana. Using the deep-litter management method includes some terrific benefits. I talked about using straw because that’s what I tried first, but have since found that pine shavings are definitely the way to go! Similar to composting, all of the manure and organic material will start to compost and breakdown together. I thought straw would work in a pinch, but it just doesn’t. The deep litter system makes it so you only have to clean out your henhouse just once a year! By contrast, in the deep litter method, you start with five or six inches of organic, compostable bedding such as pine shavings, and then simply add new bedding on top to keep the litter deep. Put simply, the Deep Litter Method of managing chicken waste is a technique which creates a sustainable method of managing chicken litter inside the coop for the long term. The deep litter method is a tried and true way to keep your coop clean without any extra work. Then as the chickens or ducks soil it, add another layer right on top. Raising Chickens For a Natural, Self-Sufficient Lifestyle, Family Homesteading and Off The Grid Blog Hop. Already a Member? If you’re just starting on your backyard chicken journey, you might want to check out our e-book, Raising Chickens For a Natural, Self-Sufficient Lifestyle. You can find Vicki on Google+. don't have an online Thanks Lisa! Please let me know in the comments if you have any other labor-saving tricks! Leaves can tend to mat together, and can be difficult to turn. Like to read more content, Join the Mother Earth News Community Today. So easy and no smell. I get more compacted mud and poop with Hay and the chickens but if there s a better method to not having to clean the coop all by myself every two weeks I am down for this. I’ve been doing this method for the last year and it is the best! Each time you aerate the substrate, you help the poop and chicken feed break down. What is that? So how do you begin using the deep litter method? Sort by reaction score Thread starter Crax; Start date Nov 6, 2020; 1; 2; Next. As a gardener, I would add the manure compost in the fall after the garden is done. With the Deep Litter Method, you should use pine shavings as your bottom layer since they are small and compost fairly quickly. The Deep Litter method for poultry bedding is a favorite here at the Best Organic Homestead because it is natural, user friendly, labor saving, and healthy for our birds. Deep Litter Method Advantage #2: A Healthier Flock. Hi! They are easily fluffed up with a pitchfork or a shovel. Best Litter Type. I have straw and it didn’t work out, as you mentioned it doesn’t absorb the moisture. 1 of 2 Go to page. I’m planning on trying sand at some point, since our run gets pretty mucky. The Deep Litter Method. Keep in mind, that a good ratio of browns to greens in compost is 30:1. Hi, thanks for stopping by. There are a few potential options for litter in chicken coops including hay, straw, sand, pine pellets, and pine shavings. If managed properly and kept dry, the deep litter method can actually result in healthier chickens. If you’re using First Saturday Lime, sprinkle a layer of lime on your floor first, whether it be plywood, cement, laminate, or dirt. Also, what about horse manure compost? Deep litter coop maintenance is all about balancing the beneficial microbe levels to allow the manure & litter to decompose in the coop. Setting up a Deep Litter System: For initial set up of Deep Litter fill your roosting area with a layer about 4-6″ deep … This continues as needed to keep the chickens on clean bedding. About once a week, as the manure accumulates (mostly under the roost), toss on another thin layer of litter. One that is not as “hot” as your outdoor compost pile, but does break down biologically. Dry grass clippings or leaves, straw, or wood shavings all work well. The Deep Litter Method. We use the Deep Litter Bedding Method to winterize our coop and run. Do I have to clean out my chicken coop every week? This continues as needed to keep the chickens on clean bedding. The deep litter method is perhaps the most sustainable when it comes to not just cleaning your chicken coop, but also subsequently managing and maintaining it. If you manage the deep litter properly, your chickens will have a dry, fluffy and absorbent floor to enjoy, and you will have a happier, healthier flock with less maintenance. The deep litter method has some very valuable benefits: Chicken manure is too “hot” to use on gardens alone, unless it is aged and composted. This is a great... Add Directly to Your Garden. Thanks for this article! Deep litter coop maintenance is all about balancing the beneficial microbe levels to allow the manure & litter to compost right in the coop. If some of the fresher manure hasn’t thoroughly decomposed, simply add it to another compost pile. It describes the method of actually letting the coop become dirty. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you have a covered run that doesn’t get too wet, you can use it in there too. This will mix the manure into the shavings, which in turn starts the decomposition process. 1 of 2 Go to page. Straw, since it is hollow, harbors lice and mites, and gets extremely heavy when wet. They work great. If your chickens are overcrowded they will quickly create more waste then the litter can handle. Plus, it means you’re scooping a lot less chicken The deep litter method is a chicken coop system based on repeated layering of organic materials on the floor. The Deep Litter method is essentially composting in place. Great way of changing the perspective! As the chickens deposit their waste into it, the litter is stirred up and more litter is added on top. I’m sure things are different now. The gist of it is that you start with a 12-inch layer of clean bedding, and leave it there for up to a year. Such a learning curve! Table of Contents #1 Choose your chicken's deep litter material #2 Find the density of your deep litter #3 Calculate the floor space of your poultry house. Deep Litter Method and Hemp Bedding. This is what we do up here in Alaska. If you don’t even want to take the few minutes once a week to turn the deep litter, you can throw some scratch in the coop and let the chickens go after it. What you can’t see in that pile of chicken poop in the coop is that microscopic organisms are hard at work breaking down the droppings. Sign in with your online account. The finer the high-carbon material, the faster it will begin composting. Thankfully we have a lumber mill here locally we can obtain pine shavings from. It works best with our longer winters. Thank you for bringing this up – I have edited the post accordingly. Subscribe to get access to our Subscribers Only Resource Page! Here’s the deep litter method in an eggshell: Start by spreading a 3- to 4-inch layer of clean litter on the floor of the coop. We had to learn all about chicken food, litter, and cold protection in the winter. You should not notice any odor of ammonia. My run is just dirt. The deep litter method works best if you have an appropriate amount of chickens for your coop size. I can use it with no problem in all of my other coops and it works perfectly. Plus, by fall or early spring, your garden will have a nice supply of nutrient-rich compost. Even though we both grew up having chickens, to be responsible for them is a different story. These are the essential items for regular compost, and the DLM effectively helps break these down into rich compost. Your email address will not be published. The deep litter system is a low maintenance method where you only clean out your coop once a year. They will turn it themselves! The deep litter method works best in non-commercial applications when the depth is between eight inches and eighteen. Note: if you are using the Deep Litter Method, DE should not be used since it will kill the good microbes and also isn't beneficial to have in your composted soil. Will be following. You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $17.95 for 6 issues. This biome actually promotes the health of your chickens. When the first layer is soiled, a new layer of fresh litter is added on top. Thank you, Julie! It should be 8-12 inches deep (you can use less for the summer months).