We’ve talked numerous 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 easier for you, the rooster keeper.
This technique 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 incessantly 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 should you take advantage of 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 technique encourages healthful microbes contained within the coop, which might help forestall parasites and illness in your flock.
This technique would possibly 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 Simpler
The deep litter methodology is much easier on you, the rooster keeper!
With this system, you don’t must 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 tons lots a lot much less chore to do every week.
3. Bonus – Free Compost
This technique 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 extra giant piles of slowly decomposing rooster bedding, as a consequence of this technique turns all of it into compost applicable on the coop floor.
How one can Implement the Deep Litter Methodology in Your Rooster Coop
Step 1
When first starting the deep litter methodology, it’s most attention-grabbing to start with a transparent slate, truly. 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 the whole factor dry utterly.
It’s essential to confirm the whole factor is dry previous to you add new bedding.
Subsequent, stack fashionable bedding on the underside so it’s not lower than six inches thick, nonetheless it might be as tons as 12 inches thick.
Step 2
The proper layer of bedding will in the long term develop to be soiled from rooster waste. This might take only a few days or per week, or extra, relying in your flock dimension and coop.
When the most effective layer just isn’t clear, it’s time to flip the bedding.
Use a rake or shovel and alter the bedding. You’ll want to flip the most effective layer to the underside, so the fashionable bedding beneath is now on excessive.
At this diploma, you’ll add some new bedding to deal with the litter not lower than 6 inches deep and clear up the coop.
Step 3
When the most effective layer as shortly as additional turns into soiled, flip the bedding and add extra fashionable bedding. You’re making an attempt to always protect not lower than six inches of bedding on the underside of the coop, nonetheless extra is finest (12″) contained in the occasion you presumably can address it.
The bedding must in no way be filthy, moist, or smelly.
In case you retain turning it and together with fashionable bedding, the coop must always be clear, nonetheless deep down, that bedding is breaking down into compost.
Step 4:
Two or 3 occasions per yr, you’ll need to wash out all that bedding and start over as shortly as additional. We usually do that contained within the spring, mid-summer, and late fall. Everytime 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 provides you a head start in your subsequent spherical of deep litter.
Prime Concepts for the Deep Litter Methodology
Ventilate your coop
Make completely constructive your coop has relevant air circulation. This is not solely compulsory 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 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
Various circumstances, after we’re requested regarding the deep litter methodology, people 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 type of bedding on the underside of the coop.
The best 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, as a consequence of they’re terribly aromatic, which could harm your chickens’ delicate respiratory features.
Straw will work contained within the deep litter methodology, nonetheless should be turned extra incessantly on account of it’s not as absorbent as shavings.
Defend a watch 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 technique is easier than commonplace weekly or be-weekly coop clean-outs, it’s nonetheless compulsory that you just merely be certain that the coop is obvious and healthful to your flock frequently.
The chickens must in no way be standing of their very non-public waste, the coop must 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’d add extra bedding and/or flip the bedding extra usually.
Moreover, defend a watchful eye in your flock. All through the occasion that they ever appear as if 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 Methodology
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 per it, you probably can have some pretty compost in just a few months.
Does this work in moist /dry and chilly/scorching climates?
Deep litter can work in all climates, nonetheless you will want to tweak the system in accordance with the place you reside. In case you reside in a terribly moist and humid location, chances are high it’s a must to in order so as in order so as to add litter extra usually.
In case you reside in a dry native native climate, chances are high you will must moisten the litter every so often. This solely must happen if the litter is dry and dusty and in no way breaking down. Merely mist it with water from the hose to get it going.
As for cold climates, it’s most attention-grabbing to start the deep litter system when the native local weather is warmth so it’s already breaking down with microbial put together previous to winter. It’s onerous to get the obligatory microbes going by means of the winter, nonetheless after they’re already present, it ought to help defend the coop warmth and should match completely by means of the winter.
What sort of litter/bedding is most attention-grabbing for the deep litter system?
We need to make use of pine shavings for our deep litter system as a consequence of they break down shortly and are extra absorbent than totally completely completely different litter choices.
I’ve a concrete/picket/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 picket floor in your coop, the deep litter system would possibly set off the picket to rot sooner over time. Nonetheless, resist the urge to place down some type of flooring or barrier, harking back to vinyl, because it ought to solely end up trapping moisture between the picket and the moisture barrier, inflicting the picket to rot even sooner.
Maybe the most effective components you will do to protect the picket floor in a coop is to paint it with mildew-resistant paint. Nonetheless, that’s most attention-grabbing carried out when establishing your coop, previous to you progress a flock in, to supply the paint various time to dry and treatment.
Merely change out your litter two to some circumstances a yr to deal with the coop floor in good state of affairs.
The deep litter system will work even elevated on filth flooring because of the 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, as a consequence of 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 the whole factor is engaged on account of it must. If it ever smells like poop or ammonia, you may want an extreme quantity of moisture, and that you’d flip it and add extra litter extra usually. (There must be a terribly faint, sweet, virtually fermenting scent ought to you will 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 once you may need a smaller flock, they won’t be producing a great deal of waste, by means of which case chances are high you will need to present the litter tons lots a lot much less incessantly and don’t add an extreme quantity of newest litter at a time.
When must I start using the deep litter methodology?
It’s most attention-grabbing to start using this system contained within the early spring when the native local weather is warming up, and you have got a complete three seasons of non-freezing native local weather ahead of you.
The deep litter methodology is a top-notch reply to deal with your chickens. Not solely is it healthful for them, nonetheless it’s moreover lots tons lots a lot much less current the outcomes you need!
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