I think I know what you mean but when you say “my husband lets me” it just sounds like you have no say in the matter? I really hope that’s not the case!!! You’re a beautiful smart woman!!
Being first time chicken owners, we would like to thank you for all the information you have provided for us to learn. I look forward to seeing your blogs and referring to all the lessons of making the safest living areas and care for our girls. Our chickens are very happy!!🥰
I ran across a chicken farmer who used an old travel trailer for his chicken coop. He said he wasn’t taxed on the camper and he could move it around his chicken yards. He removed all non essentials and built boxes with the wood from the cabinets. Pretty neat idea and the chickens were happy. Thanks for the video
This is our second winter (Alberta, Canada) with hens and the deep litter method worked well last year, so we are doing it again this year. We used the waste as a mulch in the garden and found that the plants around the bedding grew better than the other plants. Like double the size! Yay nitrogen!
I do the deep litter method and I turn it once every week or two, then I add fresh pine shavings to the top of it. I have a 4'x8' coop and I rotate the litter from underneath the roost to the other side of the coop. So far, not too much of an odor. We have 8 chickens. As a side note: Thank you, your videos are what convinced my wife to allow me to get chickens.
There are two types of composting, cold or hot composting. You are basically doing cold composting where you do not turn it. Cold composting requires less work and is why it's perfect for coops. It also doesn't heat your coop hardly at all, if at all. It is insulating, though.
This is my first year with chickens. I have a 5x8 coop for 6 birds & we are doing the deep litter method. We are in northern Michigan. I started layering pine shavings in July when the girls got out there. Had to add an extra board to the main door to prevent shavings from falling out, it’s working well so far! Every few weeks when the poop under their roosting bar gets too big, I spread it out, sprinkle some lime then add another layer of pine. So far so good. No smell! Humidity is 60%. May need to add more vents up top but holding off until the outside humidity drops.
I have used this method for about 3 years now and won't ever use anything else! I live in the southernmost part of Georgia and with summers so hot and humid, not having to clean out the coop in the heat is a huge advantage. I clean it twice a year, as soon as it is cool enough and again just before we get the unrelenting heat. The fine shavings is new info for me so I will be adding the fine shavings over the winter. My garden and hydrangeas LOVE the compost! These chickens just keep giving!
I'm preparing to get chickens in the spring. First video I've come across explaining the deep litter method. Now I know how the deep litter method works. Thank you.
We have 5 chickens in 15 square feet with an attached run. When I first cleaned it out after 4 months, it didn’t even feel like it needed it. We are going to add a bigger run and I think that will help even more. We also keep food and water outside, so the chickens are only in there when they lay or go to sleep.
Great information! Pretty much what we do. As for the heat production in the winter; don’t count on it making any measurable difference. The cold slows down the bacteria, and so, little heat is produced. The same thing applies to a compost pile; it slows down, and even stops when the pile freezes in the coldest part of the winter.
Love you're videos. We are 6 months into using deep litter. Changed once at the end of Summer with zero bad smells. We'll add another bale or two of wood shavings throughout the Winter and cleanout in Spring. It is a fantastic system!
The obvious reason to not interact with the bottom layer is because that is where any liquid runoff would gather, so if there is excess urine that is pooling, there is where it will be, and its best to leave that down there to bind with the carbons and not stir it up to offgass ammonia vapor
Appreciate you and your channel so much! My husband and I got chicks back in late august, 10 pullets and 1 cockerel. My husband has had chickens before and knows a lot about regenerative farming and composting and polyculture. He’s been educating me over the last few years so your videos I usually know some info but I always learn more :)! We are trying the deep litter method with our birds. We live in northwest Washington so it’s pretty moist here but doesn’t get super hot or cold in the winter. I’ll keep commenting on chicken videos with how things are going :) but so far deep litter method seems to be going well and our birds are happy 🤗! Thank you Oak Abode 🤗❤️!!!
I use the deep litter method and do not mix it… mostly because everything I do I learned from this channel! Works great for me and my flock of 16. Thanks!
I must say your hens look very content and happy - I had chickens for a lot of years both as a child and as an adult. I love to listen to them cluck and make their little noises as they scratch through the grass etc.Thank you for your videos.
We got our 12 chickens in March 2021 and we did the deep bedding from May 2021 to May 2022. I added the bedding up to the beginning of January, once a month, and then it was really cold so I just periodically checked the smell and it was never strong smelling. Our coop is built on a 10x6 framed hitch so it’s relatively small but those chickens are producing eggs and are still healthy. Thank you for a confirmation video on deep bedding method!
I downloaded the Upside app using your link as a thank you for your laying hen videos. An Aunt gave me her coop, enclosure and 5 young laying hens. I’m so excited and have already made pets of them. They are my feathered babies. I love them. I’m a 60 year old new hen mama. Lol. Now I’m educating myself with RUclips and am finding your channel to be the best for backyard chicken care. Thank you.
My wife and I just started our first set of chickens three weeks ago (13, one passed early on). We also just found your page and love it! She and I watched three or four of your videos together right off. Thanks so much for all the info. Loads of great ideas, and no-nos too.. We have done extensive reading and watching of videos so far and looks like we're on the same page...so far..lol... Have a great chicky'day and we'll be back for more. Thanks again!
1st timer seeing your video. Great information! I will say for those in climates like mine, (mid-atlantic southeastern nc) humid climates like mine in the summer definitely require some "mixing" of the bedding to avoid excess moisture. Birdies make so much waste at night and churning it up a few times and mixing in some new bedding really helps in keeping it from being too wet. I have gotten some incredible compost from my birds. Can't wait to dip into my compost pile that I've been building up over the last couple of years for my garden this coming spring!
I am building my coop now. 8x8. Learning so much from your videos. Other people are good but your always the go to page to learn so much. Thank you very much. 😀
Decades ago my grandpa used the deep litter method with his chickens, he used straw and it seemed to me like he just emptied the coop (a large one, I’m thinking much larger than was necessary for the amount of chickens he usually had) once a year. He’d pile it up in the middle of his garden (probably a few piles) with piles of bedding from the rabbits and let the chickens spread it around the garden for him. It’s possible that he did it twice a year and I just wasn’t paying attention, once in spring and once in fall. I haven’t kept chickens myself in many years and hope to do so again soon. When I was doing research I was so surprised about the amount of people advocating for constantly cleaning the coop over the deep litter method, makes me wonder if the “clean coop” method is relatively new? Surely it’s not what people were typically doing long ago, right?
I agree! I would think straw or even hay would be better than wood shavings especially if you are going to put them in your garden! The wood shavings rob your soil of nitrogen as it breaks down. We use big round bales for our horses and as it gets towards the bottom it becomes small pieces of scrap hay that the horses don't eat. I feel this would be much better than wood shavings and probably cheaper too!
The problem with hay and straw is mold spores and other tiny critters. Lots of people say don’t use it in your coop, but then again lots and LOTS do use hay in the coop. I’m not sure honestly but I guess its a roll of the dice and if you see your chicks wheezing you’ll know to remove the hay or straw due to mold. Just info, no opinion.
I sure appreciate you sharing your knowledge with us. I just got my first eggs about a week ago. When i first got the idea of getting some chicks your channel is the one that got me through so much. from paste butt to getting eggs just about everyday, your channel is my go to for anything for my baby dinasors 🍁BlesedBe 🍂
Oh and I got Easter Eggers and let me just say. Of all the chickens I have been around in my life, these gals have alot of personality. They sure are more like pets than livestock. And I felt they were great for a begginer flock. 🐤🐣🐥
Thank You very much for the video! I grew up raising a few chickens for food and eggs, I was aware of the green and brown compost ratio. I don't own a home yet, but I really want to raise free range chicken for food if I have a house with a decent lot for the chickens. The video is informative, and you did a wonderful job presenting the video. Take care and God bless you and your family! Dan from California
This is my first year raising chickens. We took on a lot of projects when we moved into our house and opted for a prefab coop recommended for 8-12 birds. ( We are building a legit coop next spring.) I was nervous about raising them properly in the winter because New York can have some really cold and wet weather, but your videos have given me the knowledge and confidence to care for my girls. We started with 8 but are down to 5 because of a bear attack. I feel five is much better for the size coop we have. I add flake shavings as needed and clean the top layer when it gets really heavy with poop since the coop is smaller than I would like. Then I lightly mix the under layer to make sure there aren’t any troubled areas. I have to clean out the shavings near their door when the wind blows the rain in from the wrong direction, but so far so good. I can definitely see what’s underneath looks like the material you have in the video of you cleaning the coop.
Your videos are the reason I felt confident in getting my girls late last year. Thank you for all of the information. This will be our first winter using the deep litter method so I’m definitely looking forward to it and using the compost for my garden in the Spring. Thank you thank you thank you ❤😊
Great video, we use this method here in Va. We use straw and the chickens eat the seeds out. We let the chickens enjoy scratching the blocks of straw we add along. They love it! The chickens scratch and with a dry interior of the coop on ground it breaks down, no smell and with clean out time. It's ready to use in garden.
Thanks!! That was informative. We’re beginners & learning with y’all sharing ur knowledge / learning & experience. I had no idea of deep litter method & unknowingly cleaned d coop twice before winter. Winter starts from May - September for us. July till Aug being the peak. I think mixing the bed with tiny bit of fresh brown matter 1st & then adding more fresh brown matter to stay would be ideal. As it’ll help to spread evenly d fresh green stuff & improve more absorbency when mixed little fresh brown stuff, as it’ll enhance dry atmosphere. Coz anyhow the hens mix them up naturally. The only reason some don’t mix is, as it creates firm /warm insulated bedding during winter & holds it together. But on the healthy side : mixing it will be stink & flee free & safer. Coz hens r naturally created to keep themselves warm & staying inside d coop is already warmer. As the host said you’ll figure out with ur experience. Of course also depends geographically where we live & climatic conditions. Thanks again for d video. Subscribed & 👍 already.
We use deep litter method and keep adding pine shavings when it breaks down. We also add some lime and DE to sprinkle around the coop. The lime neutralizes any odor and the DE gets rid of the lice that attaches birds.
I have 4 eggers in an elevated 4 ft square coop, living in the maritime Pacific NW where winters are mild. I place pine shavings about 4-6 inches deep in the coop and weekly I scoop out dense spots of poop below the girls' favorite roost spots. I add more shavings when the layer gets thin. I know, not exactly a deep litter method, but our set up isn't very labor intensive since it's a small coop. I put what I've cleaned out into their chicken run and turn it into the dirt. It composts well outside, brings grubs and worms into the run area where they like to scratch around for treats.
I have never cleaned my chicken pen, my chickens never go outside and are fed everything but any 'meat'' types.I've never had a sick chicken and have some of the best looking birds you will find.My pen in 20x25 and house 25 birds.If you keep your birds healthy and plenty of a quality feed source [ie] fermented feed , table scraps and especially Brewers Grain from beer processing.The only thing that is cleaned daily is the waterers that's it.Your info is spot on....
Hello! My wife and I love the channel and would love to see a video on the different uses for chicken bedding and how it can be beneficial and used in gardening. Thanks!
Thanks for the very informative and interesting video... What I have been doing in the coop, is scatter piles of dead mango leaves that fall in copious quantities from a HUGE mango tree where I have my coop below, and the twenty by ten run. In the run, it often gets wet and muddy, (and smelly) in our rainy season (Hawaii), so I will take a bag of garden lime and sprinkle it all over the floor of the run (I have to consider the neighbors as they have complained about the smell...) and this definitely helps the smell, and dries out the muddy ground, then I will take a large quantity of these dead mango leaves and put in about a six inch layer throughout the coop and the run, The girls love it and scratch around very happily... after several layers of these leaves (a couple times a year) I will rake them all up and put them on the compost pile and sometimes churn them around with a fork to mix in the chicken poop with all the compost... I have been doing this for years.... When I need compost for the veggies or new fruit trees or any planting, I use a bunch of this compost with great results...I also use the old nesting box grass in the compost heap as well...
In WI here also. I do the deep litter method also. when I had only 5 chickens, full clean out once a year was enough. With 10 or more, I do 2x a year. I keep a garden rake in the coop, and rake the bedding around from under the roosts, that is the fullest area of "poop" since they generally are outside most of the day either in the run or free ranging. I add more bedding as needed, generally only in the Winter since they are outside most of the day in nice weather. I use the clean out to top my raised beds in the Fall.. the composted parts and poop wash down, and the bedding left makes a great mulch. By Spring, it is no longer hot, and has been working great for me for years. Love the video, thanks!
We are getting 12 layers and 6 Cornish crosses for butchering. My husband is a former farmer and I was on a farm in my early childhood. It will be a learning process as we live in Minot, ND.
I have been using the deep litter method for more than 3 years and I have only every cleaned the bottom of the coop out once and there is no smell. I have a tray with sawdust under their roosting area which is cleaned out once a week and this coop normally has 8 to 10 chickens. The chickens get to free range around a very large fenced off tropical garden during the day so they are "normally" only in the coop for 5 or 6 hours per day unless its bad weather, then I don't let them out. The biggest tip I can give anybody is "water is your enemy" when it comes to the deep litter method and smell. I have put Alsynite (clear plastic) or tin over the top of my coops now..., BEST thing I ever did, they still have a large open run that is not enclosed (roof).
This is my first time keeping chickens, I was using pine shavings but switched to straw. I came across this video and decided to give this method a try. Thanks for the great advice.
Thank you, I just adopted a couple of Hens, that we're living in very poor conditions. I just finish building their coop. Just in the last two month, I learned so much. I will be posting the videos soon. On my now happy hens. Thank you for sharing so much knowledge.🐔🐔
Thank you so much. I am getting 12 easter eggers next month. I am converting half of my garage which is just storage in my coop and using the deep layer. Your videos have given me so much useful information and ideas. I hope to see more videos.
My coop is being built and I need to learn how to maintain the coop. I think I will be using the deep layer method. I live in south Texas, so I’m curious to see how I will get through the hot summer months. Thank you for sharing !
I solved the water tipping over problem by adding a snap on lid and poking holes for another bucket handle (at 90 degrees to the original handle) then hanging the water bucket (with 6 pecking nipples) by a chain. Yes, I have to put it near a corner and add 2 lengths of twine from two opposing sides of the bucket handles, to keep it from spinning, but it's MUCH better than dust and crap getting into their water and a bunch of spoiled bedding/rotting floor boards when they invariably dump it over. I might as well also mention here that I'm not confident that they are really getting sufficient water intake from those pecking nipples, so I also put a half gallon canning jar, open/traditional waterer near a corner that I change out every couple of days. BUT, I hot glued a 6-8" section of 6" PVC pipe to the bottom to elevate the water level up out of the dust and debris. They still kick some bedding flakes into the water occasionally, or even shit in it, but if it's still got a lot of water in the jar I'll open the door and and swirl the water around to push out that debris and put it back in service. Am I anal? Dah... But, my birds seem to choose the open water over the pecking nipples and they're crazy healthy.
Thank you for posting your videos. My coop is off ground with a wooden floor that has some run space under it. Most of the droppings are under the roost poles. I have been cleaning it and putting the litter on the ground with a tarp over it. In the spring, I plan to start composting the pile. It’s too dry and it needs more volume to get the process going. Keep up the good work. We need happiness and joy in this world. God loves a joyful heart.
Brand new to chickens so looking through YT and other sources to learn what we can before we plunge in this spring. We live in Central Florida so have 2-3 months that *might* get down close to freezing, occasionally even below freezing. This method makes sense, and the remains from cleanout would be great to go in the main composting area as well...
We have a 10x10 playhouse-turned-coop that we started esrly summer. Right now we have 11 birds with the oldest 3 hatching (in my SIL's preK classrom) in April, three more in May (from a hatchery), and the youngest 5 at the beginning of June (hatched kn my living room). I started the bedding with a bag of pressed pellets and a bag or two of shavings in May. I've been adding handfuls here and there along the way and just decided to dump the rest of the bag of shavings in the other day. No smell issues. The birds do a good job of mixing it all around for me.
New to the chicken thing. I have 10 chicks. I've had them almost a month. I want to do the deep litter method. Sounds like the best way to go. Thank you you explained it well. Wish me luck
If you would grab your rake and collect all those FREE leaves behind you, throw a bag one every 3 weeks through the winter, you will be completely amazed! Chicks LOVE IT
4'Wx8'Lx6'H coop, with 8x20x6 attached run for 16 standard sized hens. I give the bedding a gentle stir if there's a bit of poop buildup in a spot. As the bedding starts breaking down, I add about 1/4 bag of large flake pine. I maintain a 4" layer of bedding. This works very well for me in my subtropical climate in southeast Texas. Lots of ventilation is key, as is no moisture outside of poop. My coop never smells, my hens are happy and I get 14-16 eggs per day. I have never cleaned out my coop. I harvest the aged compost as I need it and mix it into my garden soil for immediate use. My plants love it more than any "fertilizer" I've ever used.
I have read that the deep litter method uses the anaerobic composting method versus the aerobic composting method. An anaerobic system means without oxygen, and the idea is to not disturb the bottom layer to allow the breakdown of matter with the proper bacteria from the chicken droppings (nitrogen) with the carbon from the brown matter of the litter shavings of choice. Aerobic composting requires oxygen to breakdown matter. This type produces heat and water as well as some CO2. Anaerobic composting produces little to no heat and takes longer to breakdown. In your coop the anaerobic system provides the benefit of lengthening the time of your litter use (as well as decreasing the level of ammonia and odor) but once you clean it out and put the litter and droppings in your compost pile outside of the coop, you can add water and stir to add oxygen which will speed up the breakdown.
I built your coop design and a huge run around it. I am trying the deep litter but it doesn't seem to be breaking down. Have not been adding any either.i have 12 birds that are 19 weeks old. Have not gotten eggs yet but I know I won't since it is winter here in Ohio. I so look forward to how you clean out the coop. I want to know if I can put it straight into my garden or do I put it in a pile for a few months before I put it in my garden. And do I use it as a top layer or mix it in the soil. That would be an excellent video to show. And thanks for all your videos on your chickens and raising them from babies. I have used your advice and my babies are happy girls. 😊
I am about a year in to my birds we are doing deep liter and it does not seem to be breaking down either, I’m not sure what I did wrong. I tried hemp for bedding but I think I’ll try pine shavings once winter is over abs I do a clean out:
I'm in Ohio too, what kind and where did you buy your birds? Thanks! Meyer Hatchery in Polk is an hour from me, then I'll drive another hour to my Daughters in Westerville.
I'm in Ohio as well and the same is happening with me. The bedding isn't breaking down in the coop. Not sure what's wrong - I've watched so many videos and read so many articles. Almost want to give up on the deep litter method. Anyways, I have resorted to using PDZ Refresher and Lime to deal with odors and moisture control, and Food grade Diatomaceous earth to combat the parasites. I scrape the poop off the roosting bars and roosting area daily and clean out my coop more often and add these additives regularly to keep the coop clean - along with adding bedding more often. It's more work, but I know my chickens are in a clean, healthy coop. I live 15 minutes from Meyer Hatchery and have gotten all my chickens from them. I've been very happy with my chickens I received there.
We use the deep litter method as well and I do not intentionally stir up the bottom layer, just don’t feel a need to, but! I do have some 2 month old chicks that for some reason like to kick and scratch holes all the way down to the floor so it kind of gets mixed up anyway but either way our coop never smells 🤷🏼♀️
Have 5 hens in a 4x4 coop with deep litter. Have not had to clean during the first year because I installed a catch board under the roosts .which I clean daily. Hens are seldom in the coop except when laying so by stirying the shavings they stay very sanitary.
I’m really brand new, so I’m starting with 3 hens in a 4x4x4 foot coop over a run of 7x7x 6 feet. I have started with 4” of light shavings. Trusting this will work out well.
Hi! I have just learned about our compost- basically why you don’t mix up The “bedding” in the chicken coop is: it is a “slow compost method”- deep litter - that’s why that name. Basically you don’t need to mix it up. It takes longer to break down.
Thank you for all your knowledge that you share. I don't have chickens yet, doing alot studying before spring. Buying stuff a little at a time. Looking forward to following your methods
We use deep litter method and I def disturb the bottom layer. Our chickens are outside almost all of the time even in the winter (even the idiot chicken that decided they want to molt in the coldest month of the year lol). But so they all sleep on the same roost even though there are 3 roots. So they all poop in the exact same spot and nowhere else. So I rake it to distribute that poop every once in a while.
Thanks for the informative video. My girls are on a concrete pad behind a Morton building and it gets wet so I have to do the deep litter method. I turn mine often and it breaks down just fine. But im always adding a bit more after rain. Im still pretty new to this only 2 years in and I'm learning so much all the time.
Sounds like a great idea. We love compost, and hate cleaning the coop twice a month (maybe once). I’m going to give it a try. When your eggs are frozen solid, you’re welcome to come visit Hawaii 🌴🌞🌈Thanks
We use deep litter but we use organic hemp bedding. We’ve had chickens for 20 years and started deep hemp litter 3 years ago and will NEVER go back. We are like you, kinda switch up how often but ya, deep litter is the BEST. Thank you.
Hey fellow Wisconsinite, the people are so nice in wisconsin I love our state. Our farm is near the Baraboo area. We have 9 chickens and a rooster right now and were about to have 9 more chicks hatching in a few days if all goes well (praying it does). We free range mostly but this is a really cool method, I like it allot.
You mentioned that not turning the bedding is opposite of what you do when composting and you weren't sure why. What I was told is that the goal of composting and deep litter are two different things. When composting, you turn the compost to break it down quickly. Turning it spreads moisture evenly and gets oxygen into the mixture, which speeds up the process. With deep litter, comfort of the animals, elimination of odors, and less time-consuming work is the main goal. The compost is a side benefit, not the main goal. Turning the bedding adds unnecessary time to maintaining it. However, if compost generation is equally important, turning the bedding is not wrong, and many do it. The only downside, other than time, is if your bedding collects moisture down low for some reason like rainwater coming in and turning would bring that moisture/mold/pathogens, closer to the animals, which is not desirable.
From my understanding, there is a difference between aerobic (with oxygen) composting and anaerobic (without oxygen). Not mixing allows for anaerobic composting.
If it’s only 4-6” deep I think it’s all aerobic but not much composting going on due to lack of moisture. The deep bedding neutralises the odour by dessicating the poop.
we use the medium flake from Tractor Supply and it’s extremely dusty not to mention the chickens adding to the dust factor in the coop when shaking out their feathers after dust bathing outside 🤦♀️🤦♀️ I dust my coop weekly and it’s thick. Also, on interior coops with floors, it’s not true composting because composting requires moisture and heat. I personally don’t focus on the “compost” factor. Primary focus is to make sure it doesn’t stink. As for stirring, the chickens stir it up. When we want to clean out, we dump it on our outdoor compost pile where it truly breaks down into soil. We have two coops connected by a run. I have a coop tour video if that helps people see what we do. we have 21 hens and our coops are 4x6 and 8x9.
Love the deep litter method and use it year round. We DON'T mix it throughout the 3-6 months; the chickens di enough rustling it around. I also use small sprinkling of barn lime on the floor before laying down the straw/shavings....just not a lot of it because I know it is not the greatest for chickens...but boy, it's such an awesome odor neutralizer!!
I also use this technique and I have six birds. Three bantams and three regular sized hens. Their coop is 14x4 with a nesting house that is about 4x4. Works perfect.
What a great video! Very organized and direct. And you have a fantastic voice for presentations! No chickens here for us in California near Yosemite (at about 3,000 feet). Just two geese and I'm wondering if this method will work for geese. I've been cleaning out their shed 3 or 4 times a week. I'd like to give this a try,
I found that a dirt floor does better with deep litter method because the hens are great at mulching up shavings so I can scoop it up and use it in my raised bed garden
Have you ever thought of using leafs for some of the brown mater my grandparents used to use their leaves in the fall in the winter just checking to see what y'all think of that thank you for the video's
1st time chicken keeper. I've been using leaves on top of wood shavings. They break down & I've added to the litter if it looks like it's not nice for them to make a deep nest with. Like you, just trying to use what I have access to, but when you mentioned the dust, I wonder if leaves are ok. I also put a bit of ash in the coop only where it's always dry. No waterer in the coop. Helps keep mites away.
I had an issue when they dumped 2.5 gallons of water into the coop. No matter what I couldn't fix the balance even though it dried so I've started over again.
I use a deep litter method for my 10'x20' cement floored outside run with 8-12 hens.I use 3-4 bales of shavings for the run. I'm on the "wet" coast. It takes about 8 minutes to shovel it into 2 or 3 large piles, 2-4x a month.The hens love to scratch them down so they're doing the 'turning'. If there is odour it's time to turn it. I end up with soil to put on the garden 2x a year. We are urban and this way, I don't offend anyone with odours.
We are new chickeneers and started our deep litter method (upon watching your and others methodology) following your advice. Love your channel btw. It is working great this far and have full confidence it will as long as we maintain. It is the same concept as I use for under gravel filtered aquariums with live plants. 👍👍 A question off topic being from Wisconsin and our first eggs just arrived yesterday and today 🎉🎉. What if our eggs freeze before we can harvest them?? What do we do?
I stir the ‘problem’ areas as needed. But that’s more a perch design flaw I need to fix… for the most part I just layer on the new shavings and the chickens do any mixing. I love the deep litter method now but it definitely took a little time ant tweaking to get it to where I am now enjoying it 😂.
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When will this become available in Canada? Or will it?
I think I know what you mean but when you say “my husband lets me” it just sounds like you have no say in the matter?
I really hope that’s not the case!!! You’re a beautiful smart woman!!
Being first time chicken owners, we would like to thank you for all the information you have provided for us to learn. I look forward to seeing your blogs and referring to all the lessons of making the safest living areas and care for our girls. Our chickens are very happy!!🥰
I ran across a chicken farmer who used an old travel trailer for his chicken coop. He said he wasn’t taxed on the camper and he could move it around his chicken yards. He removed all non essentials and built boxes with the wood from the cabinets. Pretty neat idea and the chickens were happy. Thanks for the video
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This is our second winter (Alberta, Canada) with hens and the deep litter method worked well last year, so we are doing it again this year. We used the waste as a mulch in the garden and found that the plants around the bedding grew better than the other plants. Like double the size! Yay nitrogen!
Hi I am from Manitoba, what type of brown matter did you use for bedding? And how many chickens for space? And how deep was your bedding?
I do the deep litter method and I turn it once every week or two, then I add fresh pine shavings to the top of it. I have a 4'x8' coop and I rotate the litter from underneath the roost to the other side of the coop. So far, not too much of an odor. We have 8 chickens.
As a side note: Thank you, your videos are what convinced my wife to allow me to get chickens.
There are two types of composting, cold or hot composting. You are basically doing cold composting where you do not turn it. Cold composting requires less work and is why it's perfect for coops. It also doesn't heat your coop hardly at all, if at all. It is insulating, though.
Don’t the chickens turn it?
This is what I’ve done. I’m now nervous about when I can use it in my garden. Does it need to age before using?
This is my first year with chickens. I have a 5x8 coop for 6 birds & we are doing the deep litter method. We are in northern Michigan. I started layering pine shavings in July when the girls got out there. Had to add an extra board to the main door to prevent shavings from falling out, it’s working well so far! Every few weeks when the poop under their roosting bar gets too big, I spread it out, sprinkle some lime then add another layer of pine. So far so good. No smell! Humidity is 60%. May need to add more vents up top but holding off until the outside humidity drops.
What does the lime do? I guess it’s safe huh
I am new to chickens. This is by far the easiest for keeping the coop clean and smell free. I AM DEFINITELY doing this. 😊
I have used this method for about 3 years now and won't ever use anything else! I live in the southernmost part of Georgia and with summers so hot and humid, not having to clean out the coop in the heat is a huge advantage. I clean it twice a year, as soon as it is cool enough and again just before we get the unrelenting heat. The fine shavings is new info for me so I will be adding the fine shavings over the winter. My garden and hydrangeas LOVE the compost! These chickens just keep giving!
I live in middle Georgia near, Dublin! Hi neighbor!
@@darlenemckay265 what kind of floor base is under the shavings? Bare plywood, paint, or tiles? Thank you
Oh good to know! I wasn’t sure if the deep south’s humidity would through it off or not!
I love your videos, no muck arounds to the point and so informative. Thank you for all your help.
I'm preparing to get chickens in the spring. First video I've come across explaining the deep litter method. Now I know how the deep litter method works. Thank you.
We have 5 chickens in 15 square feet with an attached run. When I first cleaned it out after 4 months, it didn’t even feel like it needed it. We are going to add a bigger run and I think that will help even more. We also keep food and water outside, so the chickens are only in there when they lay or go to sleep.
But they poop more when they sleep than when they're awake
That's great to know. So there really isn't much of a smell with this deep litter method?
I'm building a coop for our first chickens (8 hens/1 roo). Because of you, we are doing a deep litter method. Thank you for this video.
Great information! Pretty much what we do. As for the heat production in the winter; don’t count on it making any measurable difference. The cold slows down the bacteria, and so, little heat is produced. The same thing applies to a compost pile; it slows down, and even stops when the pile freezes in the coldest part of the winter.
Love you're videos. We are 6 months into using deep litter. Changed once at the end of Summer with zero bad smells. We'll add another bale or two of wood shavings throughout the Winter and cleanout in Spring. It is a fantastic system!
The obvious reason to not interact with the bottom layer is because that is where any liquid runoff would gather, so if there is excess urine that is pooling, there is where it will be, and its best to leave that down there to bind with the carbons and not stir it up to offgass ammonia vapor
Being on a concrete slab my bottom layer gets quite wet. I turn it often but not sure if I should but just keep adding more. Ugh!
I thought the deep litter method is only recommended for dirt floors?
@@bknees2 good to know I wasn't aware. I need to do more research on this topic.
Appreciate you and your channel so much! My husband and I got chicks back in late august, 10 pullets and 1 cockerel. My husband has had chickens before and knows a lot about regenerative farming and composting and polyculture. He’s been educating me over the last few years so your videos I usually know some info but I always learn more :)!
We are trying the deep litter method with our birds. We live in northwest Washington so it’s pretty moist here but doesn’t get super hot or cold in the winter. I’ll keep commenting on chicken videos with how things are going :) but so far deep litter method seems to be going well and our birds are happy 🤗!
Thank you Oak Abode 🤗❤️!!!
Do you stir the bottom layer?? That's what I'm reading contradicting info on and am confused about
I use the deep litter method and do not mix it… mostly because everything I do I learned from this channel! Works great for me and my flock of 16. Thanks!
We have used the deep litter method in our hen house for 2 years. Works like a charm. Change it once a year. Could probably go much longer.
I must say your hens look very content and happy - I had chickens for a lot of years both as a child and as an adult. I love to listen to them cluck and make their little noises as they scratch through the grass etc.Thank you for your videos.
Thanks again for this! My wife and I are on our first flock and have been following your advice from several videos 🙏🏻
We got our 12 chickens in March 2021 and we did the deep bedding from May 2021 to May 2022. I added the bedding up to the beginning of January, once a month, and then it was really cold so I just periodically checked the smell and it was never strong smelling. Our coop is built on a 10x6 framed hitch so it’s relatively small but those chickens are producing eggs and are still healthy. Thank you for a confirmation video on deep bedding method!
I downloaded the Upside app using your link as a thank you for your laying hen videos. An Aunt gave me her coop, enclosure and 5 young laying hens. I’m so excited and have already made pets of them. They are my feathered babies. I love them. I’m a 60 year old new hen mama. Lol. Now I’m educating myself with RUclips and am finding your channel to be the best for backyard chicken care. Thank you.
My wife and I just started our first set of chickens three weeks ago (13, one passed early on). We also just found your page and love it! She and I watched three or four of your videos together right off.
Thanks so much for all the info. Loads of great ideas, and no-nos too.. We have done extensive reading and watching of videos so far and looks like we're on the same page...so far..lol...
Have a great chicky'day and we'll be back for more.
Thanks again!
1st timer seeing your video. Great information! I will say for those in climates like mine, (mid-atlantic southeastern nc) humid climates like mine in the summer definitely require some "mixing" of the bedding to avoid excess moisture. Birdies make so much waste at night and churning it up a few times and mixing in some new bedding really helps in keeping it from being too wet. I have gotten some incredible compost from my birds. Can't wait to dip into my compost pile that I've been building up over the last couple of years for my garden this coming spring!
I am building my coop now. 8x8. Learning so much from your videos. Other people are good but your always the go to page to learn so much. Thank you very much. 😀
Decades ago my grandpa used the deep litter method with his chickens, he used straw and it seemed to me like he just emptied the coop (a large one, I’m thinking much larger than was necessary for the amount of chickens he usually had) once a year. He’d pile it up in the middle of his garden (probably a few piles) with piles of bedding from the rabbits and let the chickens spread it around the garden for him. It’s possible that he did it twice a year and I just wasn’t paying attention, once in spring and once in fall. I haven’t kept chickens myself in many years and hope to do so again soon. When I was doing research I was so surprised about the amount of people advocating for constantly cleaning the coop over the deep litter method, makes me wonder if the “clean coop” method is relatively new? Surely it’s not what people were typically doing long ago, right?
I agree! I would think straw or even hay would be better than wood shavings especially if you are going to put them in your garden! The wood shavings rob your soil of nitrogen as it breaks down. We use big round bales for our horses and as it gets towards the bottom it becomes small pieces of scrap hay that the horses don't eat. I feel this would be much better than wood shavings and probably cheaper too!
The problem with hay and straw is mold spores and other tiny critters. Lots of people say don’t use it in your coop, but then again lots and LOTS do use hay in the coop. I’m not sure honestly but I guess its a roll of the dice and if you see your chicks wheezing you’ll know to remove the hay or straw due to mold. Just info, no opinion.
I now understand why one of my coops never needs cleaning. Accidentally been using deep litter by raking in leaves every few days
I sure appreciate you sharing your knowledge with us.
I just got my first eggs about a week ago. When i first got the idea of getting some chicks your channel is the one that got me through so much. from paste butt to getting eggs just about everyday, your channel is my go to for anything for my baby dinasors
🍁BlesedBe 🍂
Oh and I got Easter Eggers and let me just say. Of all the chickens I have been around in my life, these gals have alot of personality. They sure are more like pets than livestock. And I felt they were great for a begginer flock. 🐤🐣🐥
I adopted two Silkies about 3 weeks ago. They both started laying today. I have 2 Easter Eggers & 1 Silkie about 11-12 weeks as well.
I call my chicken “va-la-sa-raptors”
Thank You very much for the video! I grew up raising a few chickens for food and eggs, I was aware of the green and brown compost ratio. I don't own a home yet, but I really want to raise free range chicken for food if I have a house with a decent lot for the chickens. The video is informative, and you did a wonderful job presenting the video.
Take care and God bless you and your family!
Dan from California
This is my first year raising chickens. We took on a lot of projects when we moved into our house and opted for a prefab coop recommended for 8-12 birds. ( We are building a legit coop next spring.) I was nervous about raising them properly in the winter because New York can have some really cold and wet weather, but your videos have given me the knowledge and confidence to care for my girls. We started with 8 but are down to 5 because of a bear attack. I feel five is much better for the size coop we have. I add flake shavings as needed and clean the top layer when it gets really heavy with poop since the coop is smaller than I would like. Then I lightly mix the under layer to make sure there aren’t any troubled areas. I have to clean out the shavings near their door when the wind blows the rain in from the wrong direction, but so far so good. I can definitely see what’s underneath looks like the material you have in the video of you cleaning the coop.
Your videos are the reason I felt confident in getting my girls late last year. Thank you for all of the information. This will be our first winter using the deep litter method so I’m definitely looking forward to it and using the compost for my garden in the Spring. Thank you thank you thank you ❤😊
Great video, we use this method here in Va.
We use straw and the chickens eat the seeds out.
We let the chickens enjoy scratching the blocks of straw we add along.
They love it!
The chickens scratch and with a dry interior of the coop on ground it breaks down, no smell and with clean out time. It's ready to use in garden.
Thanks!! That was informative. We’re beginners & learning with y’all sharing ur knowledge / learning & experience.
I had no idea of deep litter method & unknowingly cleaned d coop twice before winter.
Winter starts from May - September for us. July till Aug being the peak.
I think mixing the bed with tiny bit of fresh brown matter 1st & then adding more fresh brown matter to stay would be ideal. As it’ll help to spread evenly d fresh green stuff & improve more absorbency when mixed little fresh brown stuff, as it’ll enhance dry atmosphere.
Coz anyhow the hens mix them up naturally. The only reason some don’t mix is, as it creates firm /warm insulated bedding during winter & holds it together. But on the healthy side : mixing it will be stink & flee free & safer. Coz hens r naturally created to keep themselves warm & staying inside d coop is already warmer. As the host said you’ll figure out with ur experience. Of course also depends geographically where we live & climatic conditions. Thanks again for d video. Subscribed & 👍 already.
We use deep litter method and keep adding pine shavings when it breaks down. We also add some lime and DE to sprinkle around the coop. The lime neutralizes any odor and the DE gets rid of the lice that attaches birds.
Around the coop, but not in?
I have 4 eggers in an elevated 4 ft square coop, living in the maritime Pacific NW where winters are mild. I place pine shavings about 4-6 inches deep in the coop and weekly I scoop out dense spots of poop below the girls' favorite roost spots. I add more shavings when the layer gets thin. I know, not exactly a deep litter method, but our set up isn't very labor intensive since it's a small coop. I put what I've cleaned out into their chicken run and turn it into the dirt. It composts well outside, brings grubs and worms into the run area where they like to scratch around for treats.
You've got a ton of dry leaves there you can use for brown matter. And it's free! Really enjoying all your informative videos!
We are soon going to get some chicks. I saw the leaves and wondered if they could be utilized. Thanks for your comment!
Could mow them over to make a finer bedding
@@sandravanvliet8478 I just got my first chicks a week and a half ago. So far, no disasters. Yet! Can't wait to try the deep layer method!
I have never cleaned my chicken pen, my chickens never go outside and are fed everything but any 'meat'' types.I've never had a sick chicken and have some of the best looking birds you will find.My pen in 20x25 and house 25 birds.If you keep your birds healthy and plenty of a quality feed source [ie] fermented feed , table scraps and especially Brewers Grain from beer processing.The only thing that is cleaned daily is the waterers that's it.Your info is spot on....
Hello! My wife and I love the channel and would love to see a video on the different uses for chicken bedding and how it can be beneficial and used in gardening. Thanks!
Thanks for the very informative and interesting video...
What I have been doing in the coop, is scatter piles of dead mango leaves that fall in copious quantities from a HUGE mango tree where I have my coop below, and the twenty by ten run.
In the run, it often gets wet and muddy, (and smelly) in our rainy season (Hawaii), so I will take a bag of garden lime and sprinkle it all over the floor of the run (I have to consider the neighbors as they have complained about the smell...) and this definitely helps the smell, and dries out the muddy ground, then I will take a large quantity of these dead mango leaves and put in about a six inch layer throughout the coop and the run, The girls love it and scratch around very happily... after several layers of these leaves (a couple times a year) I will rake them all up and put them on the compost pile and sometimes churn them around with a fork to mix in the chicken poop with all the compost... I have been doing this for years.... When I need compost for the veggies or new fruit trees or any planting, I use a bunch of this compost with great results...I also use the old nesting box grass in the compost heap as well...
In WI here also. I do the deep litter method also. when I had only 5 chickens, full clean out once a year was enough. With 10 or more, I do 2x a year. I keep a garden rake in the coop, and rake the bedding around from under the roosts, that is the fullest area of "poop" since they generally are outside most of the day either in the run or free ranging. I add more bedding as needed, generally only in the Winter since they are outside most of the day in nice weather. I use the clean out to top my raised beds in the Fall.. the composted parts and poop wash down, and the bedding left makes a great mulch. By Spring, it is no longer hot, and has been working great for me for years. Love the video, thanks!
We are getting 12 layers and 6 Cornish crosses for butchering. My husband is a former farmer and I was on a farm in my early childhood. It will be a learning process as we live in Minot, ND.
I have been using the deep litter method for more than 3 years and I have only every cleaned the bottom of the coop out once and there is no smell. I have a tray with sawdust under their roosting area which is cleaned out once a week and this coop normally has 8 to 10 chickens. The chickens get to free range around a very large fenced off tropical garden during the day so they are "normally" only in the coop for 5 or 6 hours per day unless its bad weather, then I don't let them out. The biggest tip I can give anybody is "water is your enemy" when it comes to the deep litter method and smell. I have put Alsynite (clear plastic) or tin over the top of my coops now..., BEST thing I ever did, they still have a large open run that is not enclosed (roof).
This is my first time keeping chickens, I was using pine shavings but switched to straw. I came across this video and decided to give this method a try. Thanks for the great advice.
Thank you, I just adopted a couple of Hens, that we're living in very poor conditions.
I just finish building their coop. Just in the last two month, I learned so much. I will be posting the videos soon. On my now happy hens. Thank you for sharing so much knowledge.🐔🐔
I’m preparing myself to take care of chickens. Let me tell you, your videos are priceless.❤❤❤
Thank you so much. I am getting 12 easter eggers next month. I am converting half of my garage which is just storage in my coop and using the deep layer. Your videos have given me so much useful information and ideas. I hope to see more videos.
My coop is being built and I need to learn how to maintain the coop. I think I will be using the deep layer method. I live in south Texas, so I’m curious to see how I will get through the hot summer months. Thank you for sharing !
Thank you a million times over. I’m just getting started, the chicks will be here soon. All your information is blowing my mind. LOL!!!
We got chickens this Sunday and this channel has beyond helpful
I’ve been meaning to watch a video explaining this method so thank you for posting this!
I solved the water tipping over problem by adding a snap on lid and poking holes for another bucket handle (at 90 degrees to the original handle) then hanging the water bucket (with 6 pecking nipples) by a chain. Yes, I have to put it near a corner and add 2 lengths of twine from two opposing sides of the bucket handles, to keep it from spinning, but it's MUCH better than dust and crap getting into their water and a bunch of spoiled bedding/rotting floor boards when they invariably dump it over. I might as well also mention here that I'm not confident that they are really getting sufficient water intake from those pecking nipples, so I also put a half gallon canning jar, open/traditional waterer near a corner that I change out every couple of days. BUT, I hot glued a 6-8" section of 6" PVC pipe to the bottom to elevate the water level up out of the dust and debris. They still kick some bedding flakes into the water occasionally, or even shit in it, but if it's still got a lot of water in the jar I'll open the door and and swirl the water around to push out that debris and put it back in service. Am I anal? Dah... But, my birds seem to choose the open water over the pecking nipples and they're crazy healthy.
Thank you for posting your videos. My coop is off ground with a wooden floor that has some run space under it. Most of the droppings are under the roost poles. I have been cleaning it and putting the litter on the ground with a tarp over it. In the spring, I plan to start composting the pile. It’s too dry and it needs more volume to get the process going. Keep up the good work. We need happiness and joy in this world. God loves a joyful heart.
Brand new to chickens so looking through YT and other sources to learn what we can before we plunge in this spring. We live in Central Florida so have 2-3 months that *might* get down close to freezing, occasionally even below freezing. This method makes sense, and the remains from cleanout would be great to go in the main composting area as well...
We have 9 chickens right now in a 9x12 coop. We love the deep litter method.
Thank you! I have been doing deep litter for a little while and honestly couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong
We have a 10x10 playhouse-turned-coop that we started esrly summer. Right now we have 11 birds with the oldest 3 hatching (in my SIL's preK classrom) in April, three more in May (from a hatchery), and the youngest 5 at the beginning of June (hatched kn my living room). I started the bedding with a bag of pressed pellets and a bag or two of shavings in May. I've been adding handfuls here and there along the way and just decided to dump the rest of the bag of shavings in the other day. No smell issues. The birds do a good job of mixing it all around for me.
New to the chicken thing. I have 10 chicks. I've had them almost a month. I want to do the deep litter method. Sounds like the best way to go. Thank you you explained it well. Wish me luck
If you would grab your rake and collect all those FREE leaves behind you, throw a bag one every 3 weeks through the winter, you will be completely amazed! Chicks LOVE IT
4'Wx8'Lx6'H coop, with 8x20x6 attached run for 16 standard sized hens. I give the bedding a gentle stir if there's a bit of poop buildup in a spot. As the bedding starts breaking down, I add about 1/4 bag of large flake pine. I maintain a 4" layer of bedding. This works very well for me in my subtropical climate in southeast Texas. Lots of ventilation is key, as is no moisture outside of poop. My coop never smells, my hens are happy and I get 14-16 eggs per day.
I have never cleaned out my coop. I harvest the aged compost as I need it and mix it into my garden soil for immediate use. My plants love it more than any "fertilizer" I've ever used.
I have read that the deep litter method uses the anaerobic composting method versus the aerobic composting method. An anaerobic system means without oxygen, and the idea is to not disturb the bottom layer to allow the breakdown of matter with the proper bacteria from the chicken droppings (nitrogen) with the carbon from the brown matter of the litter shavings of choice. Aerobic composting requires oxygen to breakdown matter. This type produces heat and water as well as some CO2. Anaerobic composting produces little to no heat and takes longer to breakdown. In your coop the anaerobic system provides the benefit of lengthening the time of your litter use (as well as decreasing the level of ammonia and odor) but once you clean it out and put the litter and droppings in your compost pile outside of the coop, you can add water and stir to add oxygen which will speed up the breakdown.
I built your coop design and a huge run around it. I am trying the deep litter but it doesn't seem to be breaking down. Have not been adding any either.i have 12 birds that are 19 weeks old. Have not gotten eggs yet but I know I won't since it is winter here in Ohio. I so look forward to how you clean out the coop. I want to know if I can put it straight into my garden or do I put it in a pile for a few months before I put it in my garden. And do I use it as a top layer or mix it in the soil. That would be an excellent video to show. And thanks for all your videos on your chickens and raising them from babies. I have used your advice and my babies are happy girls. 😊
I am about a year in to my birds we are doing deep liter and it does not seem to be breaking down either, I’m not sure what I did wrong. I tried hemp for bedding but I think I’ll try pine shavings once winter is over abs I do a clean out:
I'm in Ohio too, what kind and where did you buy your birds? Thanks! Meyer Hatchery in Polk is an hour from me, then I'll drive another hour to my Daughters in Westerville.
I'm in Ohio as well and the same is happening with me. The bedding isn't breaking down in the coop. Not sure what's wrong - I've watched so many videos and read so many articles. Almost want to give up on the deep litter method. Anyways, I have resorted to using PDZ Refresher and Lime to deal with odors and moisture control, and Food grade Diatomaceous earth to combat the parasites. I scrape the poop off the roosting bars and roosting area daily and clean out my coop more often and add these additives regularly to keep the coop clean - along with adding bedding more often. It's more work, but I know my chickens are in a clean, healthy coop.
I live 15 minutes from Meyer Hatchery and have gotten all my chickens from them. I've been very happy with my chickens I received there.
We use the deep litter method as well and I do not intentionally stir up the bottom layer, just don’t feel a need to, but! I do have some 2 month old chicks that for some reason like to kick and scratch holes all the way down to the floor so it kind of gets mixed up anyway but either way our coop never smells 🤷🏼♀️
Have 5 hens in a 4x4 coop with deep litter. Have not had to clean during the first year because I installed a catch board under the roosts .which I clean daily. Hens are seldom in the coop except when laying so by stirying the shavings they stay very sanitary.
When we get on our property and get our coops built and fences up, I will be trying this method for sure.
I use it because I found your vlogs! I love it. I don't touch it until the big clean out. Love your vlogs and tips. ❤
I do my deep litter similar to yours. I prefer the flake shavings. We usually have between 4-8 chickens for the 3 of us.
I’m really brand new, so I’m starting with 3 hens in a 4x4x4 foot coop over a run of 7x7x 6 feet. I have started with 4” of light shavings. Trusting this will work out well.
Hi! I have just learned about our compost- basically why you don’t mix up
The “bedding” in the chicken coop is: it is a “slow compost method”- deep litter - that’s why that name. Basically you don’t need to mix it up. It takes longer to break down.
Thank you for all your knowledge that you share. I don't have chickens yet, doing alot studying before spring. Buying stuff a little at a time. Looking forward to following your methods
We use deep litter method and I def disturb the bottom layer. Our chickens are outside almost all of the time even in the winter (even the idiot chicken that decided they want to molt in the coldest month of the year lol).
But so they all sleep on the same roost even though there are 3 roots. So they all poop in the exact same spot and nowhere else. So I rake it to distribute that poop every once in a while.
Thanks for the informative video. My girls are on a concrete pad behind a Morton building and it gets wet so I have to do the deep litter method. I turn mine often and it breaks down just fine. But im always adding a bit more after rain. Im still pretty new to this only 2 years in and I'm learning so much all the time.
Sounds like a great idea. We love compost, and hate cleaning the coop twice a month (maybe once). I’m going to give it a try. When your eggs are frozen solid, you’re welcome to come visit Hawaii 🌴🌞🌈Thanks
We use deep litter but we use organic hemp bedding. We’ve had chickens for 20 years and started deep hemp litter 3 years ago and will NEVER go back. We are like you, kinda switch up how often but ya, deep litter is the BEST. Thank you.
Love your channel! Lots of really great advice as we’re zone 5B too - 53012. Going to begin the chicken coop adventure in spring!
Can you do a video of your chicken coop/coops setup and how many chickens you have? I have 10 chickens in a 4x8 coop but I want at least double that
Hey fellow Wisconsinite, the people are so nice in wisconsin I love our state. Our farm is near the Baraboo area. We have 9 chickens and a rooster right now and were about to have 9 more chicks hatching in a few days if all goes well (praying it does). We free range mostly but this is a really cool method, I like it allot.
I use the deep method also I stir mine every other day but I have a small coop 4' x 5' I have 11 chicken's
You mentioned that not turning the bedding is opposite of what you do when composting and you weren't sure why. What I was told is that the goal of composting and deep litter are two different things. When composting, you turn the compost to break it down quickly. Turning it spreads moisture evenly and gets oxygen into the mixture, which speeds up the process. With deep litter, comfort of the animals, elimination of odors, and less time-consuming work is the main goal. The compost is a side benefit, not the main goal. Turning the bedding adds unnecessary time to maintaining it. However, if compost generation is equally important, turning the bedding is not wrong, and many do it. The only downside, other than time, is if your bedding collects moisture down low for some reason like rainwater coming in and turning would bring that moisture/mold/pathogens, closer to the animals, which is not desirable.
Thank you for your videos. We’re learning a lot from you. We’re doing deep litter method. 💜
This will be first winter with chickens and first time with deep method! Fingers crossed it goes well
From my understanding, there is a difference between aerobic (with oxygen) composting and anaerobic (without oxygen). Not mixing allows for anaerobic composting.
If it’s only 4-6” deep I think it’s all aerobic but not much composting going on due to lack of moisture. The deep bedding neutralises the odour by dessicating the poop.
Discovered you guys like 2 weeks ago and I think I’ve watched every video of yours lol! Thanks for all the helpful information!
I mix the compost with topsoil and sell it as garden soil. Its a huge part of my farm operation and generates most of my profits if im honest.
we use the medium flake from Tractor Supply and it’s extremely dusty not to mention the chickens adding to the dust factor in the coop when shaking out their feathers after dust bathing outside 🤦♀️🤦♀️ I dust my coop weekly and it’s thick. Also, on interior coops with floors, it’s not true composting because composting requires moisture and heat. I personally don’t focus on the “compost” factor. Primary focus is to make sure it doesn’t stink. As for stirring, the chickens stir it up. When we want to clean out, we dump it on our outdoor compost pile where it truly breaks down into soil. We have two coops connected by a run. I have a coop tour video if that helps people see what we do. we have 21 hens and our coops are 4x6 and 8x9.
Great
Love the deep litter method and use it year round. We DON'T mix it throughout the 3-6 months; the chickens di enough rustling it around. I also use small sprinkling of barn lime on the floor before laying down the straw/shavings....just not a lot of it because I know it is not the greatest for chickens...but boy, it's such an awesome odor neutralizer!!
Thank you for this information! I started getting the GrubTerra treats for my birds and they LIVE FOR THEM! Thank you for introducing me to them!
I also use this technique and I have six birds. Three bantams and three regular sized hens. Their coop is 14x4 with a nesting house that is about 4x4. Works perfect.
What a great video! Very organized and direct. And you have a fantastic voice for presentations! No chickens here for us in California near Yosemite (at about 3,000 feet). Just two geese and I'm wondering if this method will work for geese. I've been cleaning out their shed 3 or 4 times a week. I'd like to give this a try,
Your Husband is one Lucky Guy, having you by his side!
First time watching , I just might have to try this method. Thank you for sharing. I been cleaning my coupe 2 times a week. 😆😆
I found that a dirt floor does better with deep litter method because the hens are great at mulching up shavings so I can scoop it up and use it in my raised bed garden
Thank you for this great video. I love it.
Have you ever thought of using leafs for some of the brown mater my grandparents used to use their leaves in the fall in the winter just checking to see what y'all think of that thank you for the video's
Leaves and leaf mulch is perfect for composting.
I use leaves as a litter in our run. Works great!
1st time chicken keeper. I've been using leaves on top of wood shavings. They break down & I've added to the litter if it looks like it's not nice for them to make a deep nest with. Like you, just trying to use what I have access to, but when you mentioned the dust, I wonder if leaves are ok.
I also put a bit of ash in the coop only where it's always dry. No waterer in the coop. Helps keep mites away.
I had an issue when they dumped 2.5 gallons of water into the coop. No matter what I couldn't fix the balance even though it dried so I've started over again.
That’s what I would have done too
I use a deep litter method for my 10'x20' cement floored outside run with 8-12 hens.I use 3-4 bales of shavings for the run. I'm on the "wet" coast. It takes about 8 minutes to shovel it into 2 or 3 large piles, 2-4x a month.The hens love to scratch them down so they're doing the 'turning'. If there is odour it's time to turn it. I end up with soil to put on the garden 2x a year. We are urban and this way, I don't offend anyone with odours.
We are new chickeneers and started our deep litter method (upon watching your and others methodology) following your advice. Love your channel btw. It is working great this far and have full confidence it will as long as we maintain. It is the same concept as I use for under gravel filtered aquariums with live plants. 👍👍
A question off topic being from Wisconsin and our first eggs just arrived yesterday and today 🎉🎉. What if our eggs freeze before we can harvest them?? What do we do?
Thaw in the fridge for 24 hrs and then use them for scrambling.
I stir the ‘problem’ areas as needed. But that’s more a perch design flaw I need to fix… for the most part I just layer on the new shavings and the chickens do any mixing. I love the deep litter method now but it definitely took a little time ant tweaking to get it to where I am now enjoying it 😂.
Your buying shavings and then doing what with those lovely leafs behind you ?
I like the smell test idea 💡 can I use this on my quail coop ? Could it be used on ducks