Deep Litter Method
You may be wondering what the deep litter method is and why we personally decided to go this route in our chicken coop. Simply put, the deep litter method consists of many layers of shavings and chicken poop. You start with a base layer of pine shavings and continually add a thin layer of shavings to the coop as needed. This is done about every week or so. The chickens will naturally mix the pine shavings and poop around and it begins to decompose into a powdery substance. Occasionally you may need to go in with a rake to mix things up, if the chickens haven’t been doing so by scratching and dusting. Our chickens are out in the chicken run except for night time, so I do go in about once a week with a rake to mix things around.
Why use the deep litter method?
I always say, why not? Not only does the deep litter method save you money and time, but it is also good for you chickens, provides warmth and creates an incredible compost for your garden! The deep litter method may even help protect your chickens from poultry lice and mites and makes them less susceptible to disease. And no, it doesn’t smell terrible as long as it’s done correctly!
How to use the deep litter method
First you can start with baking soda, corn starch or diatomaceous earth for the bottom of the coop. This is totally optional. You can just sprinkle a thin layer across the bottom of your coop. Then you’ll sprinkle a 2-4 inch layer of pine shavings all around the floor. And that’s it! It’s that simple!
When to clean the coop?
You will want to clean out the coop once or twice a year. To do this you’ll scoop out all of the decomposed poo and shavings into a wheelbarrow and add them to your garden beds or compost. Clean around the inside of the coop and then begin the process all over again. It really is a piece of cake!
We plan to clean ours in the late fall and immediately put all of the compost directly into the garden. Hello enriched soil and beneficial earth worms!
A word of caution for the deep litter method
You have to insure there is enough air circulation in your coop to prevent a build up of gasses like ammonia. We open one of our side windows, that is predator proofed with poultry netting, every morning. We leave it open throughout the day. You also must ensure that water cannot get into the coop or mold can grow and cause health issues for your chickens.
Conclusion
As long as you follow the proper process, the deep litter method will work wonders for you! It will keep your chickens healthy, save your back from constantly mucking out the coop and provide your garden with amazing compost.
Sand in the Chicken Coop — The Sand Litter Method
Feel free to share! When we added chickens to our homestead, we decided to go with the deep litter method in our chicken coop. You can read more about that here. But, after a hot summer, we were having issues with flies and an ammonia smell that was just intolerable. We were definitely bummed because…
Repurposed Playhouse Turned into a Chicken Coop
When we decided we wanted to get chickens, we realized how expensive coops can be. Like so expensive! We knew it would be cheaper to build one ourselves. But then, my mom had such a great idea to turn an old playhouse, that was on our property when we moved in, into a chicken coop….
