We’ve talked a complete lot regarding the deep litter methodology with fellow yard flock householders, nonetheless so many are confused regarding the course of and anxious regarding the well-being of their flock.
We’re right correct proper right here to calm your nerves, put collectively you the suitable methodology to make the most of the deep litter methodology in your coop, and give you all our selections and tricks to make it worthwhile!
What is the deep litter methodology?
The deep litter methodology is a system of rooster coop administration that is additional healthful to your flock, and less complicated for you, the rooster keeper.
This methodology consists of layering and mixing bedding offers on the underside of the coop in a thick pile, which not solely saves you the work of constantly cleaning out the coop, nonetheless makes good compost for the yard/
The chickens help with mixing up the litter as they resolve and scratch on the underside of the coop, which in flip exposes them to healthful microbes boosting their immune system, all whereas breaking down that bedding into pretty compost.
Why do it’s a must to profit from the deep litter methodology?
1. A Extra healthful Flock
The deep litter methodology, when carried out appropriately, is a big correctly being booster to your flock. This method encourages healthful microbes contained within the coop, which may help forestall parasites and illness in your flock.
This methodology may even make your coop hotter contained within the winter, on account of the litter that’s breaking down on the underside will add heat to the coop, along with insulate the underside to protect in opposition to the chilly.
2. It Makes Rooster Holding Easier
The deep litter methodology is way less complicated on you, the rooster keeper!
With this technique, you don’t should take time to clean out the coop every week. You merely give the current litter a flip with a pitchfork, and add new litter on excessive. With the enterprise of life, it’s so good to have one masses lots a lot much less chore to do every week.
3. Bonus – Free Compost
This methodology is an environment friendly reply to present all that rooster bedding and poop into nitrogen-rich compost for the yard or your potted vegetation.
You gained’t should take care of any extra huge piles of slowly decomposing rooster bedding, attributable to this method turns all of it into compost applicable on the coop floor.
How one can Implement the Deep Litter Method in Your Rooster Coop
Step 1
When first starting the deep litter methodology, it’s most fascinating to start out out with a transparent slate, actually. Clear the rooster coop utterly, pull out all earlier bedding, scrub the flooring, roosts, and nesting packing containers with cleansing cleaning cleansing cleaning soap and vinegar, and let your entire factor dry utterly.
It’s necessary to substantiate your entire factor is dry forward of you add new bedding.
Subsequent, stack fashionable bedding on the underside so it’s not lower than six inches thick, nonetheless it’s more likely to be as masses as 12 inches thick.
Step 2
The best layer of bedding will in the long term develop to be soiled from rooster waste. This might take just some days or per week, or extra, relying in your flock dimension and coop.
When among the best layer will not be clear, it’s time to flip the bedding.
Use a rake or shovel and alter the bedding. You should flip among the best layer to the underside, so the stylish bedding beneath is now on excessive.
At this diploma, it’s possible you’ll add some new bedding to take care of the litter not lower than 6 inches deep and clear up the coop.
Step 3
When among the best layer as shortly as additional turns into soiled, flip the bedding and add extra fashionable bedding. You’re making an attempt to on a regular basis protect not lower than six inches of bedding on the underside of the coop, nonetheless extra is finest (12″) contained in the occasion you most likely can deal with it.
The bedding should in no way be filthy, moist, or smelly.
In case you retain turning it and together with fashionable bedding, the coop should on a regular basis be clear, nonetheless deep down, that bedding is breaking down into compost.
Step 4:
Two or 3 occasions per yr, you’ll wish to wash out all that bedding and start over as shortly as additional. We regularly do this contained within the spring, mid-summer, and late fall. When you do a coop cleanout, depart just some inches of the earlier bedding on the underside of the coop.
This earlier bedding has microbes that offers you a head start in your subsequent spherical of deep litter.
Prime Concepts for the Deep Litter Method
Ventilate your coop
Make completely sure your coop has relevant air circulation. This is not solely important for the deep litter methodology nonetheless for the correctly being and wellness of your flock. The air can shortly fill with ammonia, moisture, and filth if there isn’t relevant airflow contained within the coop.
You probably can merely add air circulation to your coop by drilling some small holes contained within the wall near the ceiling or together with a rodent-proof vent into the wall.
Choose the exact form of litter
An extreme quantity of cases, after we’re requested regarding the deep litter methodology, of us assume we’re talking about cat litter.
Just for the file, in no way put cat litter in your rooster coop!
Litter merely refers once more to the form of bedding on the underside of the coop.
The proper bedding for the deep litter system is pine shavings. They break down shortly and are ultra-absorbent.
We on a regular basis warning in opposition to using cedar shavings contained within the coop, attributable to they’re terribly aromatic, which can hurt your chickens’ delicate respiratory functions.
Straw will work contained within the deep litter methodology, nonetheless needs to be turned extra incessantly on account of it’s not as absorbent as shavings.
Defend a watch mounted mounted mounted and nostril out for components
We’ve heard of many rooster keepers using the deep litter methodology as an excuse to stop cleaning up after their chickens. Although this method is easier than customary weekly or be-weekly coop clean-outs, it’s nonetheless important that you just merely be sure that the coop is clear and healthful to your flock frequently.
The chickens should in no way be standing of their very personal waste, the coop should in no way scent harmful, and shouldn’t be attracting nasty pests like flies.
Defend your nostril attuned to smells like rooster poop and ammonia. In case you scent them, that you simply probably can add extra bedding and/or flip the bedding extra usually.
Moreover, defend a watchful eye in your flock. Contained in the occasion that they ever look like lacking in correctly being, it’s elevated to scrap the deep litter system and start over than try to revive it whereas your chickens are struggling.
Widespread Questions In regards to the Deep Litter Method
How prolonged does it take the litter to interrupt down into compost?
That is decided by your native native climate, how usually you flip it, and what variety of chickens you could possibly need. In case you’re consistent with it, you probably can have some pretty compost in only some months.
Does this work in moist /dry and chilly/scorching climates?
Deep litter can work in all climates, nonetheless it’s possible you’ll should tweak the system in accordance with the place you reside. In case you reside in a terribly moist and humid location, likelihood is you will want in order so as in order so as to add litter extra usually.
In case you reside in a dry native native climate, likelihood is you will should moisten the litter occasionally. This solely should happen if the litter is dry and dusty and under no circumstances breaking down. Merely mist it with water from the hose to get it going.
As for cold climates, it’s most fascinating to start out out the deep litter system when the native local weather is warmth so it’s already breaking down with microbial put together forward of winter. It’s onerous to get the obligatory microbes going by way of the winter, nonetheless after they’re already present, it ought to help defend the coop warmth and should go completely by way of the winter.
What sort of litter/bedding is most fascinating for the deep litter system?
We wish to make use of pine shavings for our deep litter system attributable to they break down shortly and are extra absorbent than absolutely completely totally different litter choices.
I’ve a concrete/wood/filth floor. Will it work?
Deep litter will work on all types of flooring, even concrete and stone, nonetheless there are some components to ponder.
In case you may need a wood floor in your coop, the deep litter system might set off the wood to rot quicker over time. Nonetheless, resist the urge to place down some type of flooring or barrier, paying homage to vinyl, because it ought to solely end up trapping moisture between the wood and the moisture barrier, inflicting the wood to rot even sooner.
Maybe among the best components you will do to protect the wood floor in a coop is to paint it with mildew-resistant paint. Nonetheless, that’s most fascinating carried out when establishing your coop, forward of you progress a flock in, to offer the paint a considerable period of time to dry and treatment.
Merely change out your litter two to a couple cases a yr to take care of the coop floor in good situation.
The deep litter system will work even elevated on filth flooring as a result of pure microbes and bugs contained within the soil will give the deep litter system a elevate. You do needs to be cautious with filth flooring, though, attributable to predators can dig their approach into your coop.
How do I do know if it’s working?
If the litter is slowly turning into compost, you’ll know your entire factor is engaged on account of it should. If it ever smells like poop or ammonia, you could possibly need an extreme quantity of moisture, and that you simply probably can flip it and add extra litter extra usually. (There must be a terribly faint, sweet, virtually fermenting scent for individuals who might have balanced microbe put together beneath the litter.)
If the litter should not be breaking down in the least into compost, you need extra moisture to encourage microbial put together. Or if you may need a smaller flock, they won’t be producing a great deal of waste, by way of which case likelihood is you will wish to present the litter masses lots a lot much less incessantly and don’t add an extreme quantity of newest litter at a time.
When should I start using the deep litter methodology?
It’s most fascinating to start out out using this technique contained within the early spring when the native local weather is warming up, and you have a complete three seasons of non-freezing native local weather ahead of you.
The deep litter methodology is a top-notch reply to take care of your chickens. Not solely is it healthful for them, nonetheless it’s moreover lots masses lots a lot much less current the outcomes you need!
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