We’ve talked tons of in regards to the deep litter methodology with fellow yard flock homeowners, nonetheless so many are confused in regards to the course of and anxious in regards to the well-being of their flock.
We’re right correct proper right here to calm your nerves, put collectively you the appropriate methodology to make the most of the deep litter methodology in your coop, and give you all our decisions 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 further healthful to your flock, and less complicated for you, the rooster keeper.
This system 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 steadily 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 beautiful compost.
Why should you profit from the deep litter methodology?
1. A Further healthful Flock
The deep litter methodology, when carried out appropriately, is a huge 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 system may even make your coop hotter contained within the winter, due to 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 Simpler
The deep litter methodology is way less complicated on you, the rooster keeper!
With this system, you don’t should take time to scrub 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 moderately so much so much a lot much less chore to do every week.
3. Bonus – Free Compost
This system is an environment friendly decision to present all that rooster bedding and poop into nitrogen-rich compost for the yard or your potted vegetation.
You gained’t must take care of any further giant piles of slowly decomposing rooster bedding, because of 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 complete factor dry utterly.
It’s vital to substantiate your complete factor is dry earlier than you add new bedding.
Subsequent, stack stylish bedding on the underside so it’s not lower than six inches thick, nonetheless it might be as moderately so much as 12 inches thick.
Step 2
The proper layer of bedding will finally develop to be soiled from rooster waste. This will take only a few days or per week, or further, relying in your flock dimension and coop.
When the best layer will not be clear, it’s time to flip the bedding.
Use a rake or shovel and alter the bedding. You have to flip the best layer to the underside, so the stylish bedding beneath is now on excessive.
At this diploma, chances are you’ll add some new bedding to keep up the litter not lower than 6 inches deep and clear up the coop.
Step 3
When the best layer as rapidly as further turns into soiled, flip the bedding and add further stylish bedding. You’re trying to always protect not lower than six inches of bedding on the underside of the coop, nonetheless further is greatest (12″) all through the occasion you presumably can deal with it.
The bedding should certainly not be filthy, moist, or smelly.
In case you retain turning it and together with stylish bedding, the coop should always 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 rapidly as further. We usually do that contained within the spring, mid-summer, and late fall. Whilst you do a coop cleanout, depart only a few inches of the earlier bedding on the underside of the coop.
This earlier bedding has microbes that gives 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 acceptable air circulation. This is not solely wanted 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 acceptable 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 type of litter
An extreme quantity of circumstances, after we’re requested in regards to the deep litter methodology, of us assume we’re talking about cat litter.
Just for the file, certainly not put cat litter in your rooster coop!
Litter merely refers once more to the type of bedding on the underside of the coop.
The right bedding for the deep litter system is pine shavings. They break down shortly and are ultra-absorbent.
We always warning in opposition to using cedar shavings contained within the coop, because of they’re terribly aromatic, which can harm your chickens’ delicate respiratory functions.
Straw will work contained within the deep litter methodology, nonetheless should be turned further incessantly due to it’s not as absorbent as shavings.
Defend a watch mounted mounted mounted and nostril out for elements
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 regular weekly or be-weekly coop clean-outs, it’s nonetheless wanted that you just merely make sure that the coop is clear and healthful to your flock frequently.
The chickens should certainly not be standing of their very personal waste, the coop should certainly not 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, you can add further bedding and/or flip the bedding further usually.
Moreover, defend a watchful eye in your flock. All through 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 Regarding 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 may want. In case you’re in step with it, you almost certainly can have some beautiful compost in only some months.
Does this work in moist /dry and chilly/scorching climates?
Deep litter can work in all climates, nonetheless chances are you’ll must tweak the system in accordance with the place you reside. In case you reside in a terribly moist and humid location, likelihood is you want in order so as in order so as to add litter further usually.
In case you reside in a dry native native climate, likelihood is you may should moisten the litter every so often. This solely should happen if the litter is dry and dusty and by no means 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 apply earlier than winter. It’s onerous to get the obligatory microbes going by means of the winter, nonetheless after they’re already present, it’ll help defend the coop warmth and should match completely by means 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 because of they break down shortly and are further absorbent than totally 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 elements to ponder.
In case you may have 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 form of flooring or barrier, paying homage to vinyl, as it’ll solely end up trapping moisture between the wood and the moisture barrier, inflicting the wood to rot even sooner.
Probably the best elements you are able to 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, earlier than you progress a flock in, to offer the paint an extreme period of time to dry and treatment.
Merely change out your litter two to three circumstances a yr to keep up 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 should be cautious with filth flooring, though, because of predators can dig their method into your coop.
How do I do know if it’s working?
If the litter is slowly turning into compost, you’ll know your complete factor is working due to it should. If it ever smells like poop or ammonia, you may want an extreme quantity of moisture, and you can flip it and add further litter further usually. (There should be a terribly faint, sweet, virtually fermenting scent ought to you will have balanced microbe apply beneath the litter.)
If the litter should not be breaking down within the least into compost, you need further moisture to encourage microbial apply. Or if you’ll have a smaller flock, they won’t be producing a great deal of waste, by means of which case likelihood is you may wish to present the litter moderately so much so much a lot much less incessantly and don’t add an extreme quantity of present litter at a time.
When should I start using the deep litter methodology?
It’s most fascinating to start out out using this system contained within the early spring when the native local weather is warming up, and you have got a whole three seasons of non-freezing native local weather ahead of you.
The deep litter methodology is a top-notch reply to keep up your chickens. Not solely is it healthful for them, nonetheless it’s moreover so much moderately so much so much a lot much less current the outcomes you need!
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