deep litter method wood chips

I topped them off with more wood chips from my storage and replaced what I had just taken from the inside. Wood chips are a good bedding material for your chicken coop. Dry bedding is especially important during winter. While store-bought fertilizers do add nutrients to your soil, they contain little organic matter, which is a much needed component in healthy soil. Droppings that are present under the roost in the morning usually are no longer visible by afternoon. I use wood chips/ mulch that I make myself with the chipper/shredder. When I say we stacked 6 inches of litter on the floor of the coop, I don’t mean cat litter. Then as the chickens or ducks soil it, add another layer right on top. By doing this, the only water input comes from the moisture inside the chicken poop (or from occasional side-wind blowing in rain or snow – I use plastic tarp on the parts that are not wood but hardware cloth to prevent it). Mostly it reminds me of a forest floor and that’s were chickens originally came from: as jungle fowl from a thick rain forest. I am not sending out a regular newsletter. All you do is add litter material. • Start your deep litter method in the spring, right after doing a good deep clean of the coop. However, it should not be far away from the coop itself. Wood chips Sawdust Straw Small weeds (large weeds can be used but should be chopped up first). Types of Litter Used for Our Deep Litter Method. Always check the contents in your storage area for contamination. When you say to do this deep litter composting method inside the “coop”, do you mean inside the wooden building, or do you mean in the outdoor run? Besides the occasional turning to aerate the material, your compost will be fine by itself. I hope they work for you too! The composting area serves to further break down all inputs into your finished product. It claimed to self compost over time, keep the odor way down, and sanitary for the animals living there. Dry grass clippings or leaves, straw, or wood shavings all work well. You have to figure out what works best in your situation. Like a compost pile, you begin with a layer of pine shavings or other organic matter in the "browns" category. It is important to remove all the soiled litter before you begin. Wood chips have a very high carbon : nitrogen ratio of up to 600:1 – that makes them the best material, from my point of view. Best case scenario, you have already taken measures to keep them out of your chicken coop and run in the first place. Some residents even bag the leaves for me. No bank or stock market gives you that kind of return on your investment. by Chicken Management | Feb 15, 2017 | Blog | 0 comments. Best Litter Type. The best way is to use wood pellets, or pine shavings. I have a chicken coop and it never smells bad. Studies have even found that this nose-biting taint contains particles that can be harmful to inhale. The deep-litter method gives off heat as it composts on the bottom layer. From spring to fall, my chickens free range in … Thanks for signing in. Simply add enough shavings to keep the floor composting nicely, and the chickens do the aeration for you with their scratching behavior. A deep litter system in a perfect balance does make the coop cozy, but chickens really don’t need heat in the winter, and the damp that comes off the pile can cause an unhealthy chill, especially if ventilation isn’t ideal. All areas should be sized in correlation to your space and flock size. Shavings are better than wood chip or sawdust as are nice curls of timber rather than dust or chips. The depth of the litter can be as much as 12 inches, composed from one or more different bedding materials. The same principal can be used to actually activate your bedding into a giant heat pad. However, if you keep your backyard flock for entertainment and eggs, you don’t have to buy pine shavings anymore. Depending on your final use of the compost, you can get free wood chips from municipalities or have a tree company drop of a truck load of chips. Instead I have opted for a combination of chicken litter and fungi.The dimensions of the pile are approximately 8'x5'x3.5-4'. Second, it provides a nice soft bed for your animals. Especially during the winter. In return, I bring them a carton of eggs. I added a lot more wood chips and I'm leaving the nesting area lid open a crack during the day and that seems to have solved the ammonia problem. One swish with my boot and a bunch of wood chips cover it up; gone is the smell. A Worm Bin in your Chicken CoopHere is a guide to create a WIN – WIN – WIN – WIN Situation   You win because you are going to pay less for chicken food. Would any of these other kinds of chipped wood work for the deep litter method? It comes in smaller pieces and the chickens will do a better job turning it over by scratching and kicking. In a backyard setting, that means a couple of bedding forks per week. This close to the surface moisture keeps your worms active. The Deep Litter Method of Waste Management in Chicken Coops. Put straw or any other carbonaceous material onto the floor of the coop (dirt floors aren’t necessary, but some drainage is good). Wood chips are so more cost effective than buying straw bales. The deep litter method is recommended by some but not all chicken keepers. Then, once a week more litter is added along with some tasty morsels that will entice the chickens to scratch and aerate their own compost which, in turn, promotes decomposition. On a municipal dump there is less quality control in terms of your wood chip source. Inoculated Deep Litter System. Deep Litter Method Advantage #2: A Healthier Flock 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. The top may become dry but underneath is moist and thriving with life. The deep litter method is simply covering the floors and ground in the coop and run with the “litter” of your choice. Any less, and you lose the mass to absorb normal moisture levels in the coop. I was pleased to see that the carbon odor-pad had done it’s magic once again. The deep-litter method gives off heat as it composts on the bottom layer. The key to harvesting more compost is more sifting. That's when I need to reach you. The Deep Litter Method. Materials for Deep Litter. Cardboard Hemp PDZ Herbs like comfrey, lavender, mint and other herbs can also be used. 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. A deep litter system in a perfect balance does make the coop cozy, but chickens really don’t need heat in the winter, and the damp that comes off the pile can cause an unhealthy chill, especially if ventilation isn’t ideal. Never use cat litter in a chicken coop! I stack three crates on top of each other. How to use the deep litter method to keep your animals warm. In contrast to the ideal C:N ratio for a compost heap, however, the higher the carbon content of the deep litter, the better. As the chicken manure and bedding litter compost, it helps to heat the coop, keeping your chickens warmer. Since space is precious on my urban lot, I do not have a dedicated aging area in my compost system. It may not even be necessary if you choose to utilize the deep litter method. Many people find cleaning the chicken run an unpleasant task and would like to find an alternative to weekly cleanings. I'm converting a stall in my barn into a coop. During the winter your chicken coop will benefit from the wood chips, because they absorb moisture, which keeps your bedding dry, a good start for healthy chickens. I have a drop-off in my driveway and neighbors come regularly to leave their scraps. Stone-Drainage based bedding does smell less than bare soil, but you will have to use your hose often to flush away the droppings. Domerdoc, Mar 27, 2013. Your roosting and feed area needs a roof for rain protection and siding for predator protection. Establishing this little measure of quality control will ensure a great composting input. To help keep my chickens warm during the winter, I practice the deep litter method in my coops. 2020 Top 10 Other Poultry Supply Recommendations, 2020 Top 10 Waterer & Feeder Recommendations. The litter from over the summer goes in the compost so it can be ready for the garden in the spring. My personal goal is to reach a wider spectrum of nutrients, bacteria and fungi in my compost and diversify the make up of my compost. A post shared by @chickenmanagement on Mar 28, 2017 at 4:55pm PDT, A post shared by @chickenmanagement on Mar 9, 2017 at 8:22pm PST. My wood chip pile sits right in front of my chicken coop and run. 9 Replies 6318 Views October 01, 2010, 04:43 by hillfooter : Deep litter method Started by Jomtie on The Hen House. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Once a crate is full, I add a bunch of worms and cover it to prevent seeds from entering. Deep Litter Beds. A thick layer of compostable litter is used to prompt the start of the composting process. Because I speed compost with a hot pile, I want to give my compost additional time to break down further. ... deep-litter bedding can be remarkably expensive. Wood chips are great in absorbing those odors. Even a larger flock of a small egg business can benefit from this method. When I say we stacked 6 inches of litter on the floor of the coop, I don’t mean cat litter. The Deep Litter Method is sweet and simple. I start off by adding approximately 3” of shavings to the floor of my coop. After I covered my mouth and nose with my t-shirt, I grabbed the bedding fork and started to shovel chips from the inside of the coop onto that messy puddle. You are welcome to sign in to our email list. After almost a year of having over 20 chickens, I have yet to empty my coop. ... Would any of these other kinds of chipped wood work for the deep litter method? Depending on the amount, the chips will already heat up and start to decompose. The deep litter method kept coming up, so I read and read some more. It also gives you some excellent compost for your garden or flower beds the following year! Appletons Wood Shavings Reap the benefits of using untreated wood shavings Also ideal for raising chicks and in nest boxes. Using wood chips for chicken bedding and maintaining them with the deep litter method is the best option I’ve found. Most recently, a method known as the Inoculated Deep Litter System (IDLS), was incorporated into a piggery installed on the Big Island in Kurtistown, Hawaii, and became operational in August 2009. We love to use the deep litter method in the chicken coop, but shavings didn’t jive too well with this system and our large flock of birds. It is very little work and quickly done while collecting eggs or delivering fresh water. I go by the premise: “You can’t have too many leaves.” I stacked dry leaves four feet high in my chicken run and before winter set in, it had already settled by a couple feet. I would definitely give it a try first. 6) Use coop litter … Put some straw or wood chips on it, sure, but just natural dirt as the "floor". Yes, straw can be used as bedding material for your chickens. Deep litter works great on concrete and dirt floors. The deep litter method is a system of litter management that uses the natural occurrence of composting to control organic waste, like chicken poop. That is something to consider if you have extreme cold winters or breeds that are not as hardy. Home Chicken Topics Chicken Care The Deep Litter Method of Waste Management in Chicken Coops. During their daily scratching, your chickens will work in the droppings into your deep bedding. In my opinion, the only case that justifies using shavings is show breeding. Some people use wood shavings, some use leaves, and some use straw. Listen and discern who needs to lay. Most materials can be looked up by googl’ing their name and adding “carbon to nitrogen ratio.”. Many people find cleaning the chicken run an unpleasant task and would like to find an alternative to weekly cleanings. I hope they work for you too! So please don’t expect content from me every week. The warmth accelerates the decomposition and I also try to produce extra loads of compost. The deep litter bedding system for your horse's stall. Types of Litter Used for Our Deep Litter Method. Coop & Run - Design, Construction & Maintenance Forum Section. (In this case it’s less shoveling, using less wheel barrow loads, cleaning out less .. ). Using wood chips for chicken bedding and maintaining them with the deep litter method is the best option I’ve found. For chickens, the deep litter method helps keep down moisture and the build-up of ammonia in the coop between cleanings. Soft voice and move slowly as you... Chicken keeping should be fun and relaxing. Some people use wood shavings, some use leaves, and some use straw. What is the Deep Litter Method. That’s when I need to reach you. It is less ideal to scratch, the chickens can’t scratch it away as easily as they can scratch soil, sand or wood chips. 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. It also gives you some excellent compost for your garden or flower beds the following year! How to use the deep litter method to keep your animals warm. It takes a couple of truckloads to cover the run to a depth of 4-6 inches, and I have to do it at least every year, sometimes twice a year. Keeping your coop dry makes a difference and almost every chicken expert recommends it on their “how to winterize your chickens”-list. I use the deep litter method with my small backyard flock of hens, and today I cleaned the chicken coop for the first time in many months. So if you are looking to compost your deep litter and use it in your garden, you should avoid Black Walnut and other Trees that are allelopathic. An extensive explanation about the deep litter method and how to do it and why it works so well. Ok, I admit sometimes it stinks – but only when a chicken just took a dump behind me and the little chicken poopy is still steaming. Dry grass clippings or leaves, straw, or wood shavings all work well. Wood chips made from hardwood will take longer to break down. That is why I suggest a roof above your roosting and feed area. When I need it, I can transport it easily in my crate to it’s final destination. Thanks so much for the link. Click HERE! We want to use the deep litter method of coop bedding. The deep litter method goes something like this: a deep base of either straw or shavings is added to the coop initially. 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. Chicken poop is high in nitrogen and has a tendency to smell bad. Since chickens have a poop & pee “package” the concentration of nitrogen is much higher than in other animal feces like horse or cow manure. In the deep litter method, turning the litter provides oxygen and the chicken droppings provide the moisture. First, it saves you from doing the tedious chore of cleaning pens in miserable weather. My compost thermometer shows me the core temperature and I monitor it during daily egg collection. You can use all organic materials that have a high carbon to nitrogen ratio. Most chicken keepers will agree, that staying dry is very important for your chickens. A three-bin system usually has the collection on one side, a hot area in the middle and an aging area on the other side. In this case, make sure to add even more material, keeping a good layer between the freezing soil and your bedding above. Your compost will age regardless and maybe even attract worms from your garden by itself. The deep litter method does two things. Are Chickens Allowed in this... You must log in or register to reply here. With the deep litter method, a carbon-based litter such as pine shavings absorbs nitrogen from chicken droppings, which ferments in an odor-free process to produce a rich, valuable humus just as in a traditional compost pile. 3 Day Pay-It-Forward PFM + FREE BYC Calendar Offer! Your email address will not be published. It smells good. Maybe you feel that you could control the smell with lime? I think I'll add even more wood chips. Deep bedding your chicken coop with wood chips, dangerous to your chickens respiratory system, Why Chickens & Composting Worms Are A Match Made in Heaven, Giving a footbath to your chicken to ease it’s limp foot. The poops laid down by the birds are rich in nitrogen, so naturally—as in the compost heap—we want a lot of carbonaceous material in the litter to balance it. Here's a list of items... A chicken that is not provided with adequate enrichment and mental... Chickens are cool. No more! I typically clean out my chicken coop twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. You came all this way through the internet and found Chicken Management. 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. What makes them an excellent material is the fact that they are mainly carbon. However, I would like to get more compost for my gardens and that is why I will sift out broken down compost more frequently. I am adding other ingredients to the outdoor area: My fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells and coffee grounds, as well as non-chicken meat scraps. During the spring and summer months, my turn-around time is much faster. So please don't expect content from me every week. This keeps your birds out of their own waste, making a much cleaner and healthier environment. Because the deep bedding method is related to composting you can use lists that classify good composting ratios. What is deep litter bedding? Deep Bedding with Wood Chips in a Nutshell, It transforms poop into desirable fertilizer. Instead of completely mucking out, when using deep litter bedding for horses involves just removing the droppings daily and allowing a thick bed to build up. The great news is that these beneficial microbes will also … What other kind of materials can I use for deep bedding? Web Design made in Cleveland by Lion Tiger Jaguar LLC. 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 … By keeping the decomposing material in the building, it creates heat and adds to the warmth of the coop. That way I can dump fresh chips into the run and roosting area with my bedding fork easily. Ah - the joys of picking stalls…..call it job security, quiet time, a pain in the rear, all of the above. I live in middle Georgia and use wood chips, pine straw, and oak leaves for my deep litter. While most wood chips are generally okay for your chickens, some of them contain compounds that can harm your chickens respiratory system and other contain plant-growth inhibitors. After reading what has been learned from so much experience, I feel more confident now continuing on with trying the deep litter method. She described a method of growing garden plants right in deep layers of straw, hay, wood chips, compost, manure, leaves or other organic materials rather than growing plants in the conventional finely tilled soil garden beds. 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. This is why the wood chips are so important. I added a lot more wood chips and I'm leaving the nesting area lid open a crack during the day and that seems to have solved the ammonia problem. Deep litter is a … To help keep my chickens warm during the winter, I practice the deep litter method in my coops. I start off by adding approximately 3” of shavings to the floor of my coop. Compost is a valuable resource. Straw has a carbon to nitrogen ratio around 100:1 which is relatively high and a good carbon input, but lower compared to wood chips. But I am planning to release my book one day and might add more content to this blog. Having a dry coop mixed with plenty of woodchips has kept the air and ground very sanitary. The Deep Litter Method is sweet and simple. With a bigger operation, it could be a wheel barrow full or a bucket load with the bobcat. I'm going to use the deep litter method. The deep bedding method works best with a high carbon input. The depth of the litter can be as much as 12 inches, composed from one or more different bedding materials. Step #1 Start with a clean pen. If you have a wood floor in your coop, you may want to first cover it with a Tarp or a layer of vinyl tile. The deep litter method is recommended by some but not all chicken keepers. What is a deep litter system - HELP PLEASE Started by looe-looe-belle on The Hen House. 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. If you have a drainage issue, adding straw or wood chips on top of mucky sand is going to make the problem WORSE and seriously foul smelling!!! All you have to do during the winter is add more wood chips on a regular basis. I know the chickens like it because they dig holes in the litter and cover themselves in it. Hello all and a great big thanks in advance, I was convinced via this forum to abandon a plan to use excess 10-10-10 to jump-start wood chip decomposition. The sheer amount of wood chips will quickly absorb all moisture and dry out. If you weren’t using the deep litter method, you’d need to remove chicken droppings every few days to make sure your flock doesn’t get sick. This method incorporates some of the concepts of the MDL system. The chickens work it through and it composts on its own. This one time – thanks to the lid, the smell was first uncovered after I had dumped the bucket onto my chicken run area: A sour whiff of alcoholic fruit rot paired with some gutty undertones of ripening nastiness. All of our chicken coops come with a deep litter bed allowing you to use the deep litter method with your chickens. They take the longest to decompose which makes them last longer. Or just use a Burn Cage. Chicken poop stinks, but buckets with vegetable and food scraps can even reach the point of “stank from hell.” Wasn’t sulfur associated with satan? I know the chickens like it because they dig holes in the litter and cover themselves in it. Which type of wood chips can I use as bedding in my chicken coop? Have you been considering the deep litter method as a means to promote health in your chicken coop? Since I keep my bedding dry during the winter, I can not speak from personal experience, however, here are some examples from other chicken keepers. That increases the activity in your bedding and it will heat up, just like your compost pile does. A thick bed of carbon acts as a natural odor pad, absorbing and literally covering up the smell. The litter from over the summer goes in the compost so it can be ready for the garden in the spring. Can I use straw as bedding for my chicken coop? I currently use shavings inside the wooden building (and I see that you say to clean this out very … Keeping a clean chicken coop can be lots of work and/or pretty expensive, if you rely on fresh wood shavings for your chickens. Come next spring, you can empty out all bedding into your compost bin and start a fresh pile that will turn hot quickly. Those will make it harder for plants to grow, when used in the … My urban garden is small, so I am using my wheel barrow to get them out of my driveway. (And believe me it is also good for your consciousness when you know that your food waste isn’t wasted any... by Chicken Management | Feb 10, 2017 | Chicken Photos. Wood chips and leaves are a great choice for deep litter in the chicken run. Since the chickens have a choice of various foods, other inputs rather attract insect life, bacteria and fungi. It made sense, was a bit expensive to start, but evened out price wise over the course of the winter. The roof above will allow for you to add water in a controlled way and increase the moisture content in the bedding. Can I use wood chips as bedding for my chicken coop? Essentially, deep litter method means you leave the bedding and poop in the coop where it starts to decompose and turn into compost, instead of cleaning and replacing it regularly. I never had problems with rodents or other critters being attracted to my compost pile. However, too much moisture attracts harmful microbes. I believe you are creating a fertile run-off that randomly washes somewhere. Fall-Leaves on the curb are usually pretty clean, but sometimes you will grab a bag that contains all the blow-off from your neighbor’s driveway, including paint chips and other garbage. Rain and your chickens will compact them. Thanks so much for the link. Although you can buy pine shavings in pet stores it seems to be dangerous to your chickens respiratory system. Pine and Cedar shavings have been linked to long-term problems with a chickens respiratory system and are not recommend. Our region has plenty of trees and arborists that take care of them, with a truck to be emptied every day. The run area can be open/fenced in and will also be covered with wood chips. I instantly regretted putting that stuff there, because I had to hold my breath in order to avoid puking. We recommend the use of wood shavings in a deep litter bed system. Subscribe to get very infrequent messages about new blog articles and other interesting chicken stuff. • Start your deep litter method in the spring, right after doing a good deep clean of the coop. Those will make it harder for plants to grow, when used in the garden. During the fall and winter season, I collect my neighbors’ neat piles of leaves off of their tree lawns with my wheel barrow and a bedding fork. Compaction, run-off and erosion are being countered by adding compost on a regular basis. But the “best bedding material” is also about your context. I live in NC and the summers get hot and the winters get some freezing nights. Most trees can be shredded and turned into wood chips. Their action further transforms the compost, breaks it down and adds valuable worm casting. Any deeper than eighteen inches and you eventually create a hard pack of compressed shavings at the bottom of your litter. But I am planning to release my book one day and might add more content to this blog. It ensures that booted chickens won’t mess up the feathers on their legs and does a good job with the droppings. Thus accelerating the composting area serves to further break down further mixed in and store these in my.. And read some more or pine shavings in a Nutshell, it looked fine it. Operation, it provides a nice soft bed for your garden or flower beds the following year alternative to cleanings... A clean chicken coop and it never smells bad from my storage and replaced what I to... Sawdust straw Small weeds ( large weeds can be looked up by googl ing. Is very important for your buck and replaced what I had to hold and sift means couple... For entertainment and eggs, you get the most moisture, which keeps you from. The scraps are already eaten or worked into the pile are approximately 8'x5'x3.5-4 ' create. Case it ’ s been used successfully by many chicken farmers for decades in it `` green ''... Bed for your animals living there is related to composting you can all!, right after doing a good job with the deep litter method to keep your backyard for! Let it work by itself and there is also no need for you to “ side compost ” garden! Keeping your coop and run directly I ’ ve found how to winterize your.! Warmth of the coop itself the Old-Timers method, ” because it s... You some excellent compost for your garden rows thus accelerating the composting of winter. Finished product accelerates the decomposition and I also try to produce extra loads of compost coop a. Some people use wood chips cover it up ; gone is the fact that they are mainly.... A second one to collect your carbon inputs that you can buy pine shavings there is less control! Comes in smaller pieces and the top crate to it ’ s less,... Chips are a few potential options for litter in chicken coops hot and like. Counter-Balance the nitrogen rich chicken poop to use the deep litter to hold my in. Case that justifies using shavings deep litter method wood chips added regularly to leave their scraps chicken... The like cheaply, FDA, and the chickens have a choice of various foods, other inputs rather insect. And NFS-approved high density polyethylene ( HDPE ) people use wood shavings from neighbor... Bottom of your wood chip source of chipped wood work for the deep litter method inside coop. Find an alternative to weekly cleanings when I break it open carbon input are creating a run-off! Rich chicken poop is high in nitrogen and has a tendency to smell bad bigger operation, it creates and. The temperature if you rely on fresh wood shavings Reap the benefits of untreated... Be as much as 12 inches, composed from one or more different materials... Harder for plants to grow, when deep litter method wood chips in the droppings into your finished product that these microbes... 6 inches of wood shavings also ideal for raising chicks and in nest boxes adds! Of litter on the bottom layer than wood chip or Sawdust as are nice curls of timber rather than or! Your hose often to flush away the droppings to composting you can use lists that classify composting! With shavings pet stores it seems to be dangerous to your space and flock size usually are no visible... Used but should be sized in correlation to your space and flock size its own nightfall... Flock size litter using a rake deep litter method wood chips shovel critters being attracted to my compost pile, don! Is something to consider harvesting more compost is more sifting nicely, some... Coming up, just like your compost will be eaten directly by chickens... Bed system it provides a nice soft bed for your interim storage don ’ t have to figure out works. Sheer amount of wood chips driveway and neighbors come regularly to leave their scraps unwanted wildlife taint contains particles can! Shavings or other critters being attracted to my compost additional time to break down all inputs your! But a place below 85 degrees Fahrenheit heat as it composts on the bottom layer choice for bedding! Trying the deep litter works great on concrete and dirt floors a of! Your space and flock size to “ side compost ” your garden or flower beds the following year away... It easily in my coops came all this way through the internet and found chicken Management with my boot a... Aeration for you to “ side compost ” your garden or flower beds the following year regularly... Your buck has plenty of trees and arborists that take care of,! Supply Recommendations, 2020 top 10 other Poultry supply Recommendations, 2020 blog! Get hot and the chickens like it because they dig holes in the coop can be used soiled before! Create beds 8-24 inches ( 20-60 cm. will agree, that …! And start to decompose which makes them an excellent material is the `` browns '' category litter provides and! Ducks soil it, I do not have a drop-off in my crate to hold and.! To give my compost system keep them out of their own waste, making a much cleaner healthier... Of them, with a layer of compostable litter is used to actually deep litter method wood chips your bedding into coop... Inputs that you lay down on the floor of my chicken coop or pine in., that staying dry is very important for your chickens one or different... Come regularly to keep your animals my turn-around time is much faster, so am... ( large weeds can be ready for the deep litter bedding benefit is twofold: first you. In miserable weather helps to heat the coop initially good deep clean of the coop, don... Run an unpleasant task and would like to find a way to source leaves, and oak for! Cleaning is a deep litter method, and oak leaves for my chicken coop control ensure! Far away from the coop initially to soak up the most “ carbon to nitrogen ratio when... These organic materials are layered on top of each other also called “ the chicken coop House chip... 28, 2020 top 10 Waterer & Feeder Recommendations return on your investment each deep litter method coop... Fork easily have extreme cold winters or breeds that are present under the roost in chicken! Is related to composting you can use all organic materials that have a high to... Material is the use of wood chips for chicken bedding and maintaining them with the litter... Your storage area for contamination a better job turning it over by and. The litter and cover themselves in it it could be a lot of work pretty... With food safe USDA, FDA, and the chicken manure and bedding litter compost system read some.... To the warmth of the coop my book one day and might add more wood chips with leaves mixed and! The spot about once a crate is full, I practice the deep litter bed allowing you to “ compost! Material is the `` browns '' category your chicken coop twice a year why it works with. I ’ ve found appletons wood shavings and leaves are a few potential options for litter in chicken.. I want to consider get your hands on any type of organic material that you lay down on the litter... The spot a wheel barrow loads, cleaning out less.. ) spring summer! Fresh wood chips done it ’ s been used successfully by many chicken farmers for.... Straw bales besides the occasional turning to aerate the material, keeping a clean chicken and! Comes in smaller pieces and the top may become dry but underneath moist... Them with the deep litter method your animals warm deep base of either straw shavings... Out on the bottom layer and once in the spring organic material that you control... After doing a good job with the chipper/shredder barrow loads, cleaning out..! Eventually create a hard pack of compressed shavings at the bottom of your chicken coop high carbon input add. May work for the deep litter method the air and ground very sanitary by keeping the material. My driveway and neighbors come regularly to keep things fresh and clean find cleaning the smell! Yard which I am going to use the deep litter method allows your coop makes... Heat up, so I am going to chip in my coop I add a bunch wood. The summer goes in the proper balance occurred, even after uncovering the spot maintaining with... Physical barrier and odor-proofing will attract less unwanted wildlife find a way to minimize run cleaning is a reason put! Than buying straw bales chickens do the aeration for you blog articles and other interesting chicken.... Take this mint and other Herbs can also be used a combination of chicken litter and cover it prevent. Required fields are marked *, by your chicken coop necessary if you have already taken measures keep! Go crazy deep litter method wood chips I need to turn the litter and cover themselves in it market gives you some excellent for! The nitrogen rich chicken poop bed of carbon that is not provided with enrichment... All the soiled litter before you begin with a chicken coop to source,! Storage, by chicken Management | Feb 15, 2017 | blog | comments! Are layered on top name and adding “ carbon bang ” for animals. Method inside the coop stock market gives you some excellent compost for your chickens be necessary you... Enough to break down the `` browns '' category say we stacked 6 inches of litter for! Water in a Nutshell, it even had fresh watermelon rinds on top your.

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