KnowYourChickens.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. From spring to fall, my chickens free range in … This means you’ll need a well-ventilated coop to prevent issues like frostbite and respiratory disease. This can be grass clippings, leaves, pine shavings, shredded paper, or another bedding type of choice. There needs to be a base layer left in place to help inoculate the new material with all of the microbes necessary to get the composting process started. I have architected it to allow a 12 inch deep litter bed. Dry grass clippings or leaves, straw, or wood shavings all work well. I use the deep litter method inside the coop, using wood shavings from my neighbor’s sawmill. My coop has a floor area of about 18 sq. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Your chickens will do most of this for you, turning it as they go about their daily business, looking for bugs and microorganisms. You're all ready for your new flock of laying hens. Every day I throw a handful of scratch into the coop litter when I … Finally, a deep litter system needs to stay damp beneath the top layer. You’ll only need to clean the coop once or twice per year. The benefits of the deep litter method are: For the deep litter method, pine shavings seem to work well and are inexpensively purchased at your local feed store in bales. To begin, start with a clean coop. Therefore, it should be entering its warmest phase of decomposition in the fall. Turning your litter can help distribute moisture evenly around the coop. When you use the deep litter method, you will use carbon-based … The Deep Litter Method. If deep litter is not done correctly, it can harbor Capillaria worms, bacteria, and of course, ammonia gases. There are a few potential options for litter in chicken coops including hay, straw, sand, pine pellets, and pine shavings. Instead, they keep stirring the shavings. Many of the struggles you might encounter with the deep litter method can be easily mitigated with a bit of good management. 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. You should avoid using hay or straw for the initial litter. It will dry out the litter in your coop and can kill off the beneficial microorganisms you are trying so hard to promote. We publish weekly guides and articles written by experienced chicken enthusiasts! It works well in wet climates as long as you monitor moisture levels. Before beginning deep litter, make absolutely sure that your coop has adequate ventilation. Best Litter Type. When you use the deep litter method, you will use carbon-based bedding like pine shavings, paper, or straw. They free range all day. It may not even be necessary if you choose to utilize the deep litter method. They also aren’t as absorbent as some of the other materials. Deep litter should only be used with chickens and not with other types of poultry, in particular, ducks. Imagine this – you only clean the chicken coop once, maybe twice, a year. In fact, it will be just as beneficial as compost! Deep litter Method: I don't know about you, but I like to make the most efficient use of my time. The deep litter method is this: In the coop you start by laying down about 6 inches of pine shavings on the floor. Consider giving it a try with your chickens this year for less work, less stress, and most importantly – free compost! Some small farmers prefer using hay or straw in the coop for litter. But if your run gets wet and muddy during the rainy months, you really shouldn’t use the deep litter method there. This continues as needed to keep the chickens on clean bedding. You don’t need to remove deep litter on a regular basis. In a deep litter system, the chickens do the turning for you. Please seek advice from a certified veterinarian in a case of emergency. These phases are influenced and triggered by various microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, along with macroorganisms like beetles and flies. The deep litter method is simply covering the floors and ground in the coop and run with the “litter” of your choice. With the deep litter method of bedding chickens, that concept is not only a reality, but it’s beneficial. Pine shavings, on the other hand, are quite fine in texture and so will break down fast. The customized deep litter method can be adapted to work for your coop and your flock. A wood floor would slow down the microbes migration from the dirt to the litter. If you are managing a typical compost pile, you will do this yourself, allowing rain to water the compost and turning your compost with a pitchfork every so often. The best place to use the deep litter method is in the coop and nesting boxes. Simply add enough shavings to keep the floor composting nicely, and the chickens do the aeration for you with their scratching behavior. • Start your deep litter method in the spring, right after doing a good deep clean of the coop. To prevent ammonia odors, make sure you have good ventilation and adequate moisture levels. The deep litter method is a chicken coop system based on repeated layering of organic materials on the floor. Be sure not to get cedar shavings, which can be toxic to chickens. Lauren Arcuri is a freelance writer and an experienced small farmer. ! If you want to switch to the deep litter method in your coop, Find a bedding that suits your needs (If you need help, read how to choose bedding for your farm). My flock enjoys the entertainment they get from the straw and I appreciate the low maintenance litter system during the winter! It can be used in any size coop with any size flock. These can all be harmful to a chicken’s health. If you have a wood or other floor, you can still do a variation of the deep litter method, but you'll have to compost the litter when you clean it out before using it because the earth supplies the moisture and culture to start the composting process. If you don’t want to spend too much time on chicken coop maintenance, the deep litter method is an effort-free choice that yields plenty of composted manure for your spring garden. Farmers have been utilizing the deep litter method in all sorts of situations, including small livestock pens like goats, pigs and sheep for years. if you pick up the litter and squeeze it, it should not release any water. Deep Litter Method . The reason for this is that diatomaceous earth is naturally drying. To get the deep-litter method working in your coop, start with a 6-inch layer of a high-carbon litter material—such as pine shavings or dry, mulched leaves—on the coop floor. For organic matter to be effectively turned into usable compost, it must be fed, watered, and oxygenated properly. What Are the Best Animals to Keep With Chickens. Also, with this method it creates natural heat to help keep your chickens warm. 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. You will want to avoid materials with a higher moisture content, like grass or straw. This is a good rule of thumb regardless of what bedding style you use, but it’s especially important for deep litter. This keeps your birds out of their own waste, making a much cleaner and healthier environment. Once the litter reaches a foot or so in height, it’s time to start removing it, bit by bit. The resulting material can mostly be used directly as compost, though if you notice a few spots that are fresher than others, you might throw it into the compost bin for a while. But, let me tell you, this is one of the greatest time saving ideas in raising chickens. Since you aren’t removing and replacing all of the bedding each week, you can add smaller amounts of new litter to the coop – this means less expense when it comes to buying shavings or straw. I'm trying to start the deep litter method in my coop but tonight I cleaned it out because the odor is too strong. The birds get to scratch through the microbes and beneficial culture of the living compost litter material, which is good for them. If your chickens stay outside most of the day and only return to the coop at night, you may find that your litter does not get turned as often as is ideal. Prevent the bedding from staying wet, as this will not only promote ammonia build-up but can also harbor mold, bacteria, coccidiosis, and even lead to bumblefoot. With the deep litter method what you do is each week you just add new bedding on top of the bedding currently in the coop. Spring coop cleaning day is a big day when we have used the deep litter method of coop maintenance. Despite all of the potential struggles associated with a deep litter method of bedding, there are plenty of advantages to bedding your chickens in this fashion, too. Prevent ammonia smells from building up inside the coop. Actually, you should avoid doing this. It can be tempting to keep scraping away at the top layer of your deep litter system, but try your best to avoid this. Each deep litter bed is made with food safe USDA, FDA, and NFS-approved high density polyethylene (HDPE). I love using the deep litter method in both the chicken coop and in the chicken coop enclosures. In the deep litter method, you're basically forming a compost pile of your chicken's poop right on the floor of the coop. It’s time to clean it out, sanitize your coop, and start all over. The same rules apply with the deep litter method of chicken manure management. The Deep Litter Method has been around for many years and is used by some small farmers as well as industrial ones. Leave a few inches on the bottom of the coop floor. That being said, when managed properly, the deep litter system can actually decrease parasite and pest loads. The parasites in the droppings/bedding assists with the decomposition and makes the whole process work. This keeps the coop clean but also allows the hens to scratch around (which they need to do!) You read that right – you can improve the health of your chickens while only having to clean the coop on an annual or semi-annual basis. Starting a deep litter system in your coop is one of the simplest way to get the most out of your chicken bedding. The finer the high-carbon material, the faster it will begin composting. Oh – and let’s not forget all the free compost you’ll get for your garden! It should hold its shape and then crumble. As with a compost pile, litter requires a lot of heat to start decomposing. Cleaning out the coop can be a lot of work. Some of your younger birds might have a harder time scratching around in the litter and can easily become stuck in all the bedding. Sometimes, doors won’t shut properly once the litter starts to accumulate. All of our chicken coops come with a deep litter bed allowing you to use the deep litter method with your chickens. The biggest benefit is it makes you work less. Not only can it damage the lungs and eyes of your chickens, but it can also make them more vulnerable to disease. Instead, you should remove litter only when it is fully composted and has reached a foot or more in height. The deep litter method is a sustainable, easy-to-maintain system that works well for flocks with an earthen floor. It’s best to do deep litter on a coop that has a dirt floor, but it can be successfully done on concrete or wood as well. It is ideal in the winter, when it releases heat into the coop and helps make it a more welcoming environment for your chickens. There are some easy tips you can follow to make sure your chickens thrive in a deep litter system. This material will absorb the nitrogen from the chicken droppings, and the two will work together to create nutrient-rich, odor-free humus that can then be used in your garden. However, you will need to keep an eye out for leaks and spills so that the bedding doesn’t become overly sodden. However, this will disturb that balance and can render the deep litter method ineffective. ft with 8 hens in there only for sleeping. As the litter breaks down, it naturally releases heat and keeps the birds warm. The litter has beneficial microbes, think of it as probiotics for your hens. Similarly, concrete does not allow for proper drainage, nor does it encourage the growth of microbes. It gives them something to do when they are locked up inside the coop. The chicken coop floor. So what is the deep litter method for chickens, and more importantly, can it work for you? It also has insecticidal properties. Depending on your individual conditions, hay or straw can be too moist in the coop. It also works well in more arid conditions. Doing the Deep. If you remove litter too soon, it will never have the opportunity to get to the high heat composting phase. They can both harbor mold, which not only will slow down your decomposition but can also be damaging to the lungs of your chickens. If you can, invest some time in making sure your coop has open eaves and good cross-ventilation. As the chicken manure and bedding litter compost, it helps to heat the coop, keeping your chickens warmer. In this guide, we will tell you everything you need to know. For a deep litter system to be effective, it needs the utmost attention of your birds. If you have chickens, that shouldn’t be a problem! The content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary advice. Make sure you break these up and turn them as soon as possible. Easy Chicken Care Tasks to Make Part of Your Routine, Top 10 Tips for Keeping Chickens in Winter, Keep Your Laying Hens Happy Through the Winter, You Can Design and Build Your Own Portable Chicken Coop, How to Raise and Keep Broody Hens for Eggs. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. I put down a sprinkling of DE first. These materials also tend to be too large to break down quickly. How do you keep it from getting stinky? The deep litter method is a tried and true way to keep your coop clean without any extra work. The descriptions floating around these days … It also has anticoccidial properties. Take a few inches off the top until you’re back to the four- to six-inch height. Pine shavings, hay, straw, or what? Begin your deep litter system with at least six inches of a dry bedding type, like pine shavings. The deep litter method is great for us in winter because it means we have to spend less time freezing our buns off while cleaning the coop. Instead, let the wood shavings work together with the manure to build a healthy population of microorganisms (and heat) before you add alternative bedding material. Try not to overcrowd your coop. Have you been considering the deep litter method as a means to promote health in your chicken coop? About 4-6". For starters, deep litter does not work as well for a small flock of mixed-age birds. 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. The high-nitrogen chicken poop is the "green.". Some people who use the deep litter method never empty their coop. You will also need to properly aerate the system. Even their laying can shut off. Stop being a neat freak! You won’t want to use something like sand for the deep litter system, although this works well in other bedding set-ups. Even if you only plan on housing your chickens in a deep litter system during the winter, winter is not the ideal time to start building up the litter. Wood floors can absorb moisture and ammonia, hastening the time it takes for them to rot. Hay or straw may work in the nest boxes, but on the floor, it seems to attract and hold too much moisture. You will also need chicken droppings. I must be doing something wrong. Not only is it maintenance -free (well, mostly maintenance free) but it also works year-round. In the deep litter method, you're basically forming a compost pile of your chicken's poop right on the floor of the coop. Final Thoughts. My first layer shows the floor underneath. Because deep litter introduces beneficial microbes to the coop, it helps keep harmful microbes at bay. The beneficial microbes harbored in the deepest layers of the bedding system often eat mosquito and fly larvae before they ever develop. If you have a very small coop and limited storage, you can buy smaller bags at pet stores. As a result, there can be lots of moisture in the air. It has very few disadvantages and many advantages. When the first layer is soiled, a new layer of fresh litter is added on top. Usually as I said we will clean the coop often. Because of this height and build-up, you may need to adjust the doorway or other entrances to your coop. Who wants to clean the coop out in the dead of winter? This will make the pile more manageable for your chickens and the microbes. 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. The deep litter method is one sustainable method of managing chicken litter in the chicken coop that many small farmers use. It’s time for a complete cleaning. Since chicken droppings are more than 80% water, you won’t need to add any extra moisture to your litter – the chickens will take care of that for you. In my experiences, the best litter for deep litter method coops is pine shavings by far, but let’s talk some pros and cons of the other options. It’s a big job. This is a sure sign that your deep litter method is failing. How often do you have to clean it out? Everything You Should Know. As you likely know, chicken waste is rich in nitrogen and is the perfect complement to your carbon-based bedding source. You will want to make sure your chickens haven’t missed any spots. There are also studies that suggest that chickens raised on deep litter have more access to vitamin B-12, helping them grow larger and healthier than those raised on other types of bedding. Although they are very similar, there are a couple of differences. When it comes to moisture, this factor cannot be overlooked. It will be easier for predators to get inside and it may be more difficult for you to shut your doors once bedding begins to pack together. An extensive explanation about the deep litter method and how to do it and why it works so well. Keep doing this week after week while in … The best time to clean out your deep litter method coop is either early spring or fall, but you shouldn’t remove ALL of the litter. The Deep Litter Method is a process of layering bedding on top of bedding essentially creating a compost-like setting inside your coop. The deep litter method allows your coop litter to build up over a period of time. Remember to maintain a ratio of four square feet per bird inside the coop – more if you can afford it! You can add the litter and poop to your compost bin. This step is optional, but does help create a barrier for moisture, odor, and pests. Composting moves through three distinct phases. Scattering corn on the coop floor encourages them. But what do you use for litter on the floor of the chicken coop? Once or twice a year or less, you clean the coop out. The deep litter method for chickens involves allowing chicken waste and bedding material to decompose on the floor of the chicken coop instead of being scraped out and replaced on a weekly basis. If you have a covered run that doesn’t get too wet, you can use it in there too. Go ahead and use the litter in your garden! Not only can it be a serious time-saver, but it can be a healthy waste management system when done correctly. Contrary to common sense, it’s actually better NOT to clean your chicken coop every day. The first layer of litter is spread on the floor of the coop. How to use the deep litter method To start the deep litter method you need to put a nice think layer of pine shavings on the coop floor. 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