Fellow PNW native -- I love this video. I have a friend who does this, and her chicken coop is so beautiful, with the deep litter. When I saw it, it looked like compost. And it is my understanding that she takes it right out to the garden, which is next door, and fills her beds with it, so definitely the deep litter method. I think she turns hers almost daily.
@@bryonymcilwaine1055 when you burn wood the black chunks that didnt burn to ash are that. I just empty ash from stove into coop. Wait a day or two to make sure no embers.
Every fall and early spring I take that fantastic deep litter and spread in the garden to compost before planting. The bottom of my raised beds and anything I plant in buckets as well. The coup stays dry and the chickens grind the straw and wood shavings into a perfect consistency for compost.
I’ve been doing deep litter for about 8 months and it works great. The chickens seem to like it and has kept them warm in our milder SC Upstate winter weather. I sprinkle Saturday Lime once a month. Haven’t had any problems. Will be cleaning it out to add in new baby chicks.
I kept chickens for over 20 yrs. I always did deep litter and it generated enough heat that I never heated per se. However, I always had heat lamps(2) suspended under the shelves the birds roosted on. There were ladder pieces that the birds actually roosted on. I had the ladders elevated on bricks so they were never on any manure. The manure got scraped onto the floor daily and was mixed in with a manure fork. Even though our temps dropped to -30 degrees we never had frost bite. The heat lamps generated just enough heat that the birds benefited. Also I kept my waterers on top of overturned heated large size dog water bowls. They were plugged into thermo cube plugs that only turned if the ambient temperature went to 35 degrees or maybe 32 degrees. It meant that the water never froze and the power was only on at low temps.
Clumping cat litter is clay. I changed my cats over to wood pellets for litter. If you compost both types of litter together after a couple of years it's Perfect as starter grower. I found this out accidentally, but glad I did
We have very similar problems with our microclimate and 80" of rain our coops were trying to mold and warranted total clean out once a week. Ty for posting. I've been stressing out for fighting the moisture problem.
I have four urban birds, using deep litter in 4X4 hen house, poop builds up under roost bars, every couple months I take that out with garden spade into five gallon bucket, stir it up and add a bit more pine shavings. Things are great after one year, this fall will get a good compost going with leaves and add all the litter and what I have removed (maybe just what I've removed from under roost). I think the hen house smells great like a wood shop with the door open to nice spring rain, earthy.
My chickens love this deep litter method. It stayed warmer in their coop and they peck and scratch in it all day.. The spot under their roost needs shavings added every week.I do change it out two or three times a year because I use a whole bag of shavings each week. Love the composted end product in the garden. ❤️
I thought you switched to hemp?? I have used hemp from day one and I NEVER NEVER had one smell in the coop or run! Totally absorbent and really dries out any poop you may have missed! What happened to the hemp?
I have adapted a sort of deep litter method. I have my chicken coop under a tree in my yard. The floor is a pallet, lifted up off the ground. When I gather eggs, I just push all the poop down to the ground. They are free ranged, so they get to go under there and benefit from the worm farm that they're managing.
I live right on Puget Sound so I know what you mean about the moisture. The ground water level is also very high, so mud forms even if we don't have rain! I built my chicken coop and covered run on a raised gravel and mesh platform 2 feet high, then the actual structure is on concrete block foundation with a layer of plastic on the gravel beneath the floors in the coop, , just like you'd do beneath a house. The floors are 3/4" plywood coated both sides with epoxy to prevent rot. They are insulated underneath, too, as an extra moisture barrier. I cover the floors with at least 8" of pine shavings to start with and use the deep litter method in both coop and run. The run has a metal roof and 1/2' hardware mesh on all sides, down across the ground between the gravel and the litter, and up the other sides, so there is continuous protection agains burrowing rats and predators. The outside of the wooden structure has 1" heavy gauge wire to protect against larger, stronger predators. The base of the run is built with 2"x12" lumber to contain the deep litter I use in the run. The roof has a large overhang to keep rain and blowing snow out. I also have plastic panels that I put up when we get severe weather so the girls get a windbreak too. The run has lights and water heaters. The coop has a Sweeter Heater on one wall that can be turned on if it's really bitter. The coop has louvered vents to provide ventilation but keep out drafts. This is key in preventing frostbite as chickens themselves create a lot of moisture. There must be a way for that moisture to escape! They have a door that leads out to their fenced pasture that is covered with bird netting to keep hawks and wild birds out. This fencing and netting is moved around whenever the chickens have eaten the grass and started to get it muddy. Try building on a raised gravel platform - it really works! Look up building animal dry pads - they're used on farms to keep livestock from turning corrals and barnyards into quagmires. Keeping chickens - and any livestock - dry in our climate is a challenge, but it can be done.
I'm new to chickens, this page, I just found her. She seems well versed, so I've been binge watching her vids & scrolling comments for bits of useful info. Your comment was a wealth of info. Thank you. 😊
Thank you for this topic. I live in MN and I clean out and put down 6” of new shavings in the fall. Besides its value as compost, it helps keep my coop a bit warmer in severe Winter temps.
Mn also. What type of clay? Don't want diatomaceous earth because it kills bugs the chicks would love to eat. Local feed store looked at me like I was an alien. Help.
I have a question that I really need answered please. I've been very concerned about worms/parasites & have been watching many videos about it but no one ever addresses the issue of using composted chicken litter where your flock has had worms. Can you still use the litter in your garden & on your vegetables if you have battled parasites?? I sure would appreciate you addressing this for me. Thank you. I love watching you.
Hey there! It depends on the parasite. I would find out if it is species specific (only able to infect chickens) and if it can survive outside of the host. Chances are it’s fine but it helps to know what type of parasite you dealt with and go from there. ❤️🐔
Slather a bit of Vaseline on F-bite prone areas before a cold spell . to prevent frost bite , I live in Maine l never use additional heat works for me . Obviously get proper kind of birds for your area. My hen house hasn't smelled at all since I stopped buying liter and started using the leaves (nature's shavings) we rake in the fall . Press down ,a bit, while raking to incorporate some of the local top soil (bacteria) this is key , and it's free heat due to composting action . You should save & add ALL your egg shells to the composting manure when you use this. I use DE twice a year, 1 tablespoon per bird added &mixed to the feeder for deworming needed or not . 💩 covered eggs and 💩 building up at vent area , are signs that this is needed and it WILL remedy the problem.
i am in Florida,, i know about humidity... i rigged up a fan to keep the air moving during the day and that air flow keeps the mosquitoes at bay... The coop i have is open air with the hardware cloth as part of the walls.
We LOVE the deep litter method! We use it in our coop! We use a mix of hemp and pine shavings and chopped straw! This system works really well for our little flock! :D ( not so little lol)
I’m way impressed with the Zeolite. When I forget to use it I can tell. I’ve figured out using Hemp combined with Hay/straw is best for us. Hay alone just smells too much. I mix in pine fines too into their enclosed run. I’m curious as to why you don’t use the diatomaceous earth as well. Wouldn’t that help prevent mites? I dont have a separate dust bath though, i have one part of the run that’s very sandy that I add DE too, along with lavender buds, calendula, rosemary and they use that entire sandy corner. Hope you and the girls are getting through winter well.
I use Vet Rx on their combs and waddles during the winter time for frostbite. For the coop I bough a garden sprayer and use lemon, oregano and rosemary essential oils in the mixer and spray some on the bedding before throwing a small (about 2") layer of new bedding on the floor. I do this about every 2 weeks. I clean the coops out twice a year.
Love your channel! We are new to chickens and live in a cold climate, which stresses me out. We are dry here so I am going to not do the clay this winter and see how it goes but definitely the deep litter. I was thinking I needed to clean out the coop in the spring but once a year even better!!
Hi,I live in the Adirondack mountains of upstate N.Y....... severe cold, no matter what kind of coop you have here, every single comb rooster, that has lived through the winter has no points left on their combs.... it's just how it is here. I breed buckeyes, WYANDOTTES. I also have Dutch ,SERAMA SEBRIGHT, Belgian bantams. For ammonia, which is hardly an issue I use SWEET PDZ. I'm a retired zoo keeper we used it everywhere. For birds, just mix in well.... GREAT VIDEO.... THANKS...
Oh man I love this idea of not having to clean the chicken coop more than once a year. We did something that this won't work for us but we have to change it so this is good to know. Thank you so very much!!
I just started this with my small mixed flock. So far so good a few weeks in. Smells good, less to no flies, not having to clean as often. My flock loves bundling down in the deep parts too to sleep.
im in lower MICHIGAN and use deep liter method thru winter AND we've perfected pretty much for odor. I added HERBS to boxes that helped alot. Im so thankful. we also had. a couple of Rooster that had frost bite, but have healed, thankfully.
New to chickens. We have 3 that just started laying and 3 6wk old babies. Our coop and run is no where near as nice as yours. We rent. Landlord allowed us to get chickens, byt we can't put up anything big or "permanent." Add in the land is rocky and on a slope since we're in the mountains... Anyway, they have a pretty large outside run area and a small closed in coop. Part of the outside run area is covered with shade netting to give them extra shade and protection. It keeps sun, leaves, and other bird dropping off the covered area, but rain can still get through. Whew! All that to ask, this deep litter method, is it just for coops, or can it be used in the covered run area as well? No grass grows there anyway because of rocks and trees. They have another area that gets plenty of sun, fewer rocks and trees, so the grass grows there for them.
First off I love your videos! I know what works for one may not work for another. I tried the deep litter method and didnt like it at all. I turned the straw etc. Personally I think there was too much bacteria that grows. I tried the deep litter with my chickens and my goats. One of my momma goats ended up with mastitis then turned to gangreneous mastitis in a matter of 3 days. I was working aggressively with a vet but we couldnt save her. I truly she would be alive if I would have kept doing what I was and clean the barn once a week and pick up piles of doo doo daily. Time consuming but to me it was cleaner. And my rooster still got frostbite using the deep litter method. But I know it works for a lot of people. This is my experience. Again I love your videos I was just sharing my story.
Same bad experience here with the nasty deep litter and we are no longer allowed to purchase inexpensive antibiotics as of 3 years ago due to the new world order covid psyop.
Deep litter isn't a good idea with goats, however, be aware that feeding excessive amounts of grain can lead to mastitis, especially severe mastitis, as well as a host of other problems including laminitis of the hoof wall. The digestion of grain by the rumen microbes will cause acidic conditions in the rumen which lead to ulcers. Bacteria can then enter the blood stream through the ulcers. I don't know if you are feeding grain but if you are this could be more of a reason for the mastitis than the dirty bedding. I use deep litter method for the chickens and have for decades . The temps here can get to 0 degrees F and below, but have not seen any problems with frostbite.
I live in the Pacific Northwest, like La Presidente, and I just couldn’t make it work for me. And in the end, when Summer comes that is just way too heavy for me to clean. I might try the clay next winter, but for practical purposes it is just too wet here. But everyone has different results.
I do the deep litter method. Just watched your TED talk. I use the chopped straw, as my girl like that, and they do like to spread it around for me. I get fog here in NC, too. Looks pretty cool at times.
I not only shovel sweep and scrape the mess every day. I also take my 16 gallon shop vac to the cracks and seams of my 16 X 8 chicken hotel. I also mop the floor with hot soapy water and leave the exhaust fans running to dry it up completely. This is done while my flock is out pecking around. They love a squeaky clean coop.
in a home farmer's stead nothing will ever be perfect, but you learn something new every day. I grew up in a farming family and even I learn something new every day myself after 50 years
when you cleaning your coop, put your old compost into a 5 gallons bucket and do some Bokashi! You will create Humus! This is excellent for plants, trees...
What do you do when you have a very small coop? I have one that's raised on legs. It's nothing like what you have here. I don't know how I can effect the deep litter method in such a small coop.
I rub Original Formula Bag Balm into chapped/wounded combs and feet. The Balm is great to protect and nurture tissues. I don't put Balm on their cha-chas because it kills off bacteria like a mofo, which nurtures yeast. Hell, I use Original Bag Balm on my own wounds and dry skin--that's how I know about the cha-cha thing, haha.
I like your new coop, but really loved the old one too. Loved the way you had it set up, and the windows just set it off, though I know it probably was colder in winter because of it. Too sentimental I guess 😆
I currently live with my parents and keep chicken's on their property. I'm unemployed due to disability and, I still manage to keep chooks for my own mental wellbeing. I have silkies and 3 Wyandotte laddies. Since I have roosters, we usually let the girls hatch their babies, then I either sell or trade the girls, and give away roosters for free. Do I make money? Absolutely not! But they're low enough cost I can care for them with only my disability payments and the small amount I occasionally make for selling hens. Now I'm looking to move in with friends who are buying, and they're looking for homes on decent sized land, just so I can have my chooks and expand my flock into something that maybe can start paying for itself. Breaking even (in sales, but also savings on buying eggs and meat) is the goal. I'm so excited for the journey.
I have individual pens 7 in all for my different breeds of chicken… Each pen has a dirt flooring in it.. I live in Alabama can I still do the Deep Litter Method.. I have wheat straw on the dirt now.. I rack out the poop… Will this help with my Oder problem…..or does it have to be a wooden flooring? Please let me know Pat from Alabama..
new at rasing chickens, I have 3 chickens and three ducks, which are so messy, I need some help on how or what to do, do I separate the ducks from the chickens inside coop😢
I love you so much you have saved me so much as a first time chicken owner you also live where I graduated from high school so much attachment you have done for me I can’t even explain how much I truly love you ,you are awesome
Come one, people! There are so many free or near free options. I live on ten acres with many fruit trees, so I have a chipper that I need for the trees anyway. It creates great wood chips. If I didn't have a chipper, I could use a planer set on a deep setting that will create excellent chips. If I didn't have that, I could simply use grass clippings which make great bedding.
This answers sooo many questions!!! I had chickens a few years ago that smelled so awful and we had to clean the coop all the time and it was annoying. This year we got a new batch and they love to kick the bedding and there is absolutely no smell!! Lazy chickens vs crazy chickens 😂 also will try the clay if it becomes a problem cause we live in super humid Tennessee. Thank you so much for the video!!
I'll give you a little recommendation live in the mountains of Tennessee we don't get heavy snowfall but we do get some bitter winners some time to time wanna get rid of the moisture in the chicken co-op and your co-op has power get dehumidifier it pull all moisture out the air in the coop with that said now u will have dry cold air c deal with but they make heaters for coops I have chickens I have 25
Another great video, thanks for sharing👍 I live in Germany and here we also add cut grass or leaves. Especially in the winter the cut grass from the summer will heat up the coop whilst it rots. I also add a thin layer of garden soil. Makes it more interesting for the girls to find insects 😁
I'm new to chickens and wondered about them getting to scratch for bugs and worms. I've got a concrete pad from prior dog kennel (not mine)been composting on for 20 years. Its 10x12 and chain linked. Was thinking metal fabric along bottom 2' and chicken wire the rest. Its 9ab here so gets very hot in summertime 110 worst. Its shaded by apricot tree but needs a secure frame because of cats and ?. So do you think start with that and chicken wire overhead, tarped is good? Thanks🤗❣
We get the fog like you do, but we dont get as much snow and cold as you did this year. But, I think I'll look into the clay and see about adding it. I do deep litter, but I usually use the pine pellets that break down into sawdust. But, the whole coop just gets so incredibly dusty. Maybe I'll switch to shavings. Its just about time to do a major clean out of the coop and make some upgrades anyway.
I've been using the wood pellets as well. Chicks are 5 weeks, and it is SO dusty! Been throwing it out but will change to garden composting. I wonder about using it outside with them next week. If it rains I see a major problem.
I love the deep litter method. I only clean under the roosts maybe every few months.The products I use are straw/hay & wood shavings as well,that I scoop out mounds when needed? I actually don’t use any diatomaceous earth either as I haven’t needed it? We live in a pretty brutal weather area, Connecticut but luckily with a small heater for the very cold days we manage to escape any frostbite & two small vents at the top 🔝 of the coop for ventilation? Luckily my hubby built my “ Che’ Cheque Chicken Coop” in several stages. Coop-inside run- outside run- enclosed yard. It’s like a mini house? I’d love to see pics of all the other glorious coops. Your new coop is so much larger & easier to clean I’d imagine? Thank you for all of your wonderful advice & tidbits as they’ve tuned out to be super useful. Bock a@ U Later🐔
Hello! I’m a new subscriber to your channel based on a Guildbrook Farm recommendation. I’m excited to be here and look forward to seeing your other videos as “we” (my family) dive further into raising our first 6 chickens. Here in PA it’s still a little chilly outside so we haven’t moved our hens out yet. I’ll soon be binge watching your videos. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
My coop seemed fine. It was extra large & seemed like I didn’t need to worry too much about cleaning it. Then my coop cat got histoplasmosis & I could get it too from the mold spores in the coop floor. Idk how to clean it now without getting sick. It’s way better to clean it often than have a fatal disease (my cat has the fungal disease bad creating lumps, blindness & fluid in his breathing).
All I can say is LOL, and thank for your time, and I didn't even look at the video yet, just read the Time and two seconds of video. I will watch it now. Enjoy Life and have a Bless day, from Bridgeport Connecticut
I toss scratch with mealworms in the coop when the bedding needs to be turned. I make sure to sprinkle it all over so they get it all. They're really thorough and are happy to scratch for treats. Best part is I don't have to turn it myself. 🤔
I'm absolutely going to try this. Do feathers also compost down? It's shedding time right now and I'm having to clear out feathers every darn day. My biggest concern would be the feathers harboring lice, mites etc. Mareks disease is also a big issue where I currently live. The past year almost every keeper with a decent sized flock lost birds to Mareks.
Fellow PNW native -- I love this video. I have a friend who does this, and her chicken coop is so beautiful, with the deep litter. When I saw it, it looked like compost. And it is my understanding that she takes it right out to the garden, which is next door, and fills her beds with it, so definitely the deep litter method. I think she turns hers almost daily.
Would you recommend mixing sawdust in as well? I have a almost free source of fresh sawdust.
I use biochar to my deep litter. In the northeast I make it in my wood stove. It absorbs odor beautifully and is great for the garden.
Yes i add from woodstove to help absord ammomia
How do you get biochar please 🥺🥺
@@bryonymcilwaine1055 when you burn wood the black chunks that didnt burn to ash are that. I just empty ash from stove into coop. Wait a day or two to make sure no embers.
So the woidash remove the poop smell
@@lada152 it's the ash
Every fall and early spring I take that fantastic deep litter and spread in the garden to compost before planting. The bottom of my raised beds and anything I plant in buckets as well. The coup stays dry and the chickens grind the straw and wood shavings into a perfect consistency for compost.
Wow let it compost all winter even better idea. I appreciate it!!!
I’ve been doing deep litter for about 8 months and it works great. The chickens seem to like it and has kept them warm in our milder SC Upstate winter weather. I sprinkle Saturday Lime once a month. Haven’t had any problems. Will be cleaning it out to add in new baby chicks.
Same!!! Live that line...no smell!!
What specific lime did you use please and thank you 😊
If you coat the combs with Vaseline on the hens before freezing weather they wont freeze. FYI
Does this work for turkeys?
@@Countryboisssyes
@@Countryboisssshould
I didn’t know what chicken combs were. Had to look it up. I recently started raising backyard chickens. Thanks for this tip.
@@Countryboisss never had turkeys
Your personality and voice are delightful and cheer me up. Im happy to of found your channel.
Agree…if I ever get the opportunity to meet “The President” I want to give her a big hug 🤗
I kept chickens for over 20 yrs. I always did deep litter and it generated enough heat that I never heated per se. However, I always had heat lamps(2) suspended under the shelves the birds roosted on. There were ladder pieces that the birds actually roosted on. I had the ladders elevated on bricks so they were never on any manure. The manure got scraped onto the floor daily and was mixed in with a manure fork. Even though our temps dropped to -30 degrees we never had frost bite. The heat lamps generated just enough heat that the birds benefited. Also I kept my waterers on top of overturned heated large size dog water bowls. They were plugged into thermo cube plugs that only turned if the ambient temperature went to 35 degrees or maybe 32 degrees. It meant that the water never froze and the power was only on at low temps.
Why do chickens remove their bedding from their nesting box?
When we were in the suburbs, we used the fall dry leaves in our coop. Free & easy. No taking leaves to city compost 🐓
Clumping cat litter is clay. I changed my cats over to wood pellets for litter. If you compost both types of litter together after a couple of years it's Perfect as starter grower. I found this out accidentally, but glad I did
Any brand of cat litter??
We have very similar problems with our microclimate and 80" of rain our coops were trying to mold and warranted total clean out once a week. Ty for posting. I've been stressing out for fighting the moisture problem.
It’s a constant struggle!
Leave the shavings in the coop a year?
I have four urban birds, using deep litter in 4X4 hen house, poop builds up under roost bars, every couple months I take that out with garden spade into five gallon bucket, stir it up and add a bit more pine shavings. Things are great after one year, this fall will get a good compost going with leaves and add all the litter and what I have removed (maybe just what I've removed from under roost). I think the hen house smells great like a wood shop with the door open to nice spring rain, earthy.
My chickens love this deep litter method. It stayed warmer in their coop and they peck and scratch in it all day.. The spot under their roost needs shavings added every week.I do change it out two or three times a year because I use a whole bag of shavings each week. Love the composted end product in the garden. ❤️
Well thanks for the information. I will be trying the deep litter type of cleaning! tomorrow xx
I thought you switched to hemp?? I have used hemp from day one and I NEVER NEVER had one smell in the coop or run! Totally absorbent and really dries out any poop you may have missed! What happened to the hemp?
I wonder if you can do this with a brooder for chicks? What does anyone think I am curious?
I have adapted a sort of deep litter method. I have my chicken coop under a tree in my yard. The floor is a pallet, lifted up off the ground. When I gather eggs, I just push all the poop down to the ground. They are free ranged, so they get to go under there and benefit from the worm farm that they're managing.
I live right on Puget Sound so I know what you mean about the moisture. The ground water level is also very high, so mud forms even if we don't have rain! I built my chicken coop and covered run on a raised gravel and mesh platform 2 feet high, then the actual structure is on concrete block foundation with a layer of plastic on the gravel beneath the floors in the coop, , just like you'd do beneath a house. The floors are 3/4" plywood coated both sides with epoxy to prevent rot. They are insulated underneath, too, as an extra moisture barrier. I cover the floors with at least 8" of pine shavings to start with and use the deep litter method in both coop and run. The run has a metal roof and 1/2' hardware mesh on all sides, down across the ground between the gravel and the litter, and up the other sides, so there is continuous protection agains burrowing rats and predators. The outside of the wooden structure has 1" heavy gauge wire to protect against larger, stronger predators. The base of the run is built with 2"x12" lumber to contain the deep litter I use in the run. The roof has a large overhang to keep rain and blowing snow out. I also have plastic panels that I put up when we get severe weather so the girls get a windbreak too. The run has lights and water heaters. The coop has a Sweeter Heater on one wall that can be turned on if it's really bitter. The coop has louvered vents to provide ventilation but keep out drafts. This is key in preventing frostbite as chickens themselves create a lot of moisture. There must be a way for that moisture to escape!
They have a door that leads out to their fenced pasture that is covered with bird netting to keep hawks and wild birds out. This fencing and netting is moved around whenever the chickens have eaten the grass and started to get it muddy.
Try building on a raised gravel platform - it really works! Look up building animal dry pads - they're used on farms to keep livestock from turning corrals and barnyards into quagmires. Keeping chickens - and any livestock - dry in our climate is a challenge, but it can be done.
I'm new to chickens, this page, I just found her. She seems well versed, so I've been binge watching her vids & scrolling comments for bits of useful info.
Your comment was a wealth of info. Thank you. 😊
Thank you for this topic. I live in MN and I clean out and put down 6” of new shavings in the fall. Besides its value as compost, it helps keep my coop a bit warmer in severe Winter temps.
Yes, it’s so good for that!
MN here too and I do the same…it seems to work great for my flock!
Mn also. What type of clay? Don't want diatomaceous earth because it kills bugs the chicks would love to eat. Local feed store looked at me like I was an alien. Help.
@@kimberlybrown4284 zeolite clay is what you are looking for. There is a brand called sweet coop or you can just look up zeolite
I have a question that I really need answered please. I've been very concerned about worms/parasites & have been watching many videos about it but no one ever addresses the issue of using composted chicken litter where your flock has had worms. Can you still use the litter in your garden & on your vegetables if you have battled parasites?? I sure would appreciate you addressing this for me. Thank you. I love watching you.
Hey there! It depends on the parasite. I would find out if it is species specific (only able to infect chickens) and if it can survive outside of the host. Chances are it’s fine but it helps to know what type of parasite you dealt with and go from there. ❤️🐔
Slather a bit of Vaseline on F-bite prone areas before a cold spell . to prevent frost bite , I live in Maine l never use additional heat works for me . Obviously get proper kind of birds for your area.
My hen house hasn't smelled at all since I stopped buying liter and started using the leaves (nature's shavings) we rake in the fall . Press down ,a bit, while raking to incorporate some of the local top soil (bacteria) this is key ,
and it's free heat due to composting action .
You should save & add ALL your egg shells to the composting manure when you use this.
I use DE twice a year, 1 tablespoon per bird added &mixed to the feeder for deworming needed or not . 💩 covered eggs and 💩 building up at vent area , are signs that this is needed and it WILL remedy the problem.
i am in Florida,, i know about humidity... i rigged up a fan to keep the air moving during the day and that air flow keeps the mosquitoes at bay... The coop i have is open air with the hardware cloth as part of the walls.
Sounds like a great setup! Florida is definitely humid. 🌴
@@WelcometoChickenlandia gonna get some pdz zeolite real soon. thank you for the idea
We LOVE the deep litter method! We use it in our coop! We use a mix of hemp and pine shavings and chopped straw! This system works really well for our little flock! :D ( not so little lol)
That is awesome!
Deep litter with leaves. The leaves absorb there poop like nothing else can. Thanks for your videos.
So leaves actually work?
When you say 'turn often', how often is that? I dont have much of a sense of smell.
I’m way impressed with the Zeolite. When I forget to use it I can tell. I’ve figured out using Hemp combined with Hay/straw is best for us. Hay alone just smells too much. I mix in pine fines too into their enclosed run. I’m curious as to why you don’t use the diatomaceous earth as well. Wouldn’t that help prevent mites? I dont have a separate dust bath though, i have one part of the run that’s very sandy that I add DE too, along with lavender buds, calendula, rosemary and they use that entire sandy corner. Hope you and the girls are getting through winter well.
I use Vet Rx on their combs and waddles during the winter time for frostbite. For the coop I bough a garden sprayer and use lemon, oregano and rosemary essential oils in the mixer and spray some on the bedding before throwing a small (about 2") layer of new bedding on the floor. I do this about every 2 weeks. I clean the coops out twice a year.
Barn lime aka gypsum aka ag lime also work great like clay.
Hi miss president thanks for your video, from Malta
We are in New England and heat our coop in the cold months
Love your channel! We are new to chickens and live in a cold climate, which stresses me out. We are dry here so I am going to not do the clay this winter and see how it goes but definitely the deep litter. I was thinking I needed to clean out the coop in the spring but once a year even better!!
Thank you for educating us on how to raise chickens! You are adorable and fun!
Hi,I live in the Adirondack mountains of upstate N.Y....... severe cold, no matter what kind of coop you have here, every single comb rooster, that has lived through the winter has no points left on their combs.... it's just how it is here. I breed buckeyes, WYANDOTTES. I also have Dutch ,SERAMA SEBRIGHT, Belgian bantams. For ammonia, which is hardly an issue I use SWEET PDZ. I'm a retired zoo keeper we used it everywhere. For birds, just mix in well.... GREAT VIDEO.... THANKS...
Oh man I love this idea of not having to clean the chicken coop more than once a year. We did something that this won't work for us but we have to change it so this is good to know. Thank you so very much!!
I just started this with my small mixed flock. So far so good a few weeks in. Smells good, less to no flies, not having to clean as often. My flock loves bundling down in the deep parts too to sleep.
im in lower MICHIGAN and use deep liter method thru winter AND we've perfected pretty much for odor. I added HERBS to boxes that helped alot. Im so thankful. we also had. a couple of Rooster that had frost bite, but have healed, thankfully.
Like always your a breath of fresh AIR.
New to chickens. We have 3 that just started laying and 3 6wk old babies. Our coop and run is no where near as nice as yours. We rent. Landlord allowed us to get chickens, byt we can't put up anything big or "permanent." Add in the land is rocky and on a slope since we're in the mountains... Anyway, they have a pretty large outside run area and a small closed in coop. Part of the outside run area is covered with shade netting to give them extra shade and protection. It keeps sun, leaves, and other bird dropping off the covered area, but rain can still get through.
Whew! All that to ask, this deep litter method, is it just for coops, or can it be used in the covered run area as well? No grass grows there anyway because of rocks and trees. They have another area that gets plenty of sun, fewer rocks and trees, so the grass grows there for them.
First off I love your videos! I know what works for one may not work for another. I tried the deep litter method and didnt like it at all. I turned the straw etc. Personally I think there was too much bacteria that grows. I tried the deep litter with my chickens and my goats. One of my momma goats ended up with mastitis then turned to gangreneous mastitis in a matter of 3 days. I was working aggressively with a vet but we couldnt save her. I truly she would be alive if I would have kept doing what I was and clean the barn once a week and pick up piles of doo doo daily. Time consuming but to me it was cleaner. And my rooster still got frostbite using the deep litter method. But I know it works for a lot of people. This is my experience. Again I love your videos I was just sharing my story.
Same bad experience here with the nasty deep litter and we are no longer allowed to purchase inexpensive antibiotics as of 3 years ago due to the new world order covid psyop.
Deep litter isn't a good idea with goats, however, be aware that feeding excessive amounts of grain can lead to mastitis, especially severe mastitis, as well as a host of other problems including laminitis of the hoof wall. The digestion of grain by the rumen microbes will cause acidic conditions in the rumen which lead to ulcers. Bacteria can then enter the blood stream through the ulcers. I don't know if you are feeding grain but if you are this could be more of a reason for the mastitis than the dirty bedding. I use deep litter method for the chickens and have for decades . The temps here can get to 0 degrees F and below, but have not seen any problems with frostbite.
The failure was not in the method (deep or other), it was your medium. Straw is extremely bad for a variety of reason regardless of your method.
Sorry about your goat❣
I live in the Pacific Northwest, like La Presidente, and I just couldn’t make it work for me. And in the end, when Summer comes that is just way too heavy for me to clean. I might try the clay next winter, but for practical purposes it is just too wet here. But everyone has different results.
I do the deep litter method. Just watched your TED talk. I use the chopped straw, as my girl like that, and they do like to spread it around for me. I get fog here in NC, too. Looks pretty cool at times.
36.00 dollars for a bag of shavings. Bahaha tractor supply $6.50
I not only shovel sweep and scrape the mess every day. I also take my 16 gallon shop vac to the cracks and seams of my 16 X 8 chicken hotel.
I also mop the floor with hot soapy water and leave the exhaust fans running to dry it up completely.
This is done while my flock is out pecking around. They love a squeaky clean coop.
in a home farmer's stead nothing will ever be perfect, but you learn something new every day.
I grew up in a farming family and even I learn something new every day myself after 50 years
I mix cat litter in mine, it contains domacious earth, absorbs moisture and prevents smell
when you cleaning your coop, put your old compost into a 5 gallons bucket and do some Bokashi! You will create Humus! This is excellent for plants, trees...
Help!! first time chicken owner. 2 of my hens crown looks swollen is this normal?
So,you think old and new shavings are gold.... mmmm... excellent piece, we're going to try this thanks.
Could you add some soaked seeds to the bedding to get the chickens to scratch away at the bedding.
Thank you for making 💞
What do you do when you have a very small coop? I have one that's raised on legs. It's nothing like what you have here. I don't know how I can effect the deep litter method in such a small coop.
I rub Original Formula Bag Balm into chapped/wounded combs and feet. The Balm is great to protect and nurture tissues. I don't put Balm on their cha-chas because it kills off bacteria like a mofo, which nurtures yeast. Hell, I use Original Bag Balm on my own wounds and dry skin--that's how I know about the cha-cha thing, haha.
LOL you are so funny! Yes, I put A&D ointment on her and it healed up so well. But I was expecting it to fall off!
I like your new coop, but really loved the old one too. Loved the way you had it set up, and the windows just set it off, though I know it probably was colder in winter because of it. Too sentimental I guess 😆
I currently live with my parents and keep chicken's on their property. I'm unemployed due to disability and, I still manage to keep chooks for my own mental wellbeing. I have silkies and 3 Wyandotte laddies. Since I have roosters, we usually let the girls hatch their babies, then I either sell or trade the girls, and give away roosters for free. Do I make money? Absolutely not! But they're low enough cost I can care for them with only my disability payments and the small amount I occasionally make for selling hens.
Now I'm looking to move in with friends who are buying, and they're looking for homes on decent sized land, just so I can have my chooks and expand my flock into something that maybe can start paying for itself. Breaking even (in sales, but also savings on buying eggs and meat) is the goal. I'm so excited for the journey.
I have individual pens 7 in all for my different breeds of chicken… Each pen has a dirt flooring in it.. I live in Alabama can I still do the Deep Litter Method.. I have wheat straw on the dirt now.. I rack out the poop… Will this help with my Oder problem…..or does it have to be a wooden flooring? Please let me know Pat from Alabama..
new at rasing chickens, I have 3 chickens and three ducks, which are so
messy, I need some help on how or what to do, do I separate the ducks from the chickens inside coop😢
You are so awesome! Thank you for doing all of these videos! I call it youtube university! 😂
I love you so much you have saved me so much as a first time chicken owner you also live where I graduated from high school so much attachment you have done for me I can’t even explain how much I truly love you ,you are awesome
Come one, people! There are so many free or near free options. I live on ten acres with many fruit trees, so I have a chipper that I need for the trees anyway. It creates great wood chips. If I didn't have a chipper, I could use a planer set on a deep setting that will create excellent chips. If I didn't have that, I could simply use grass clippings which make great bedding.
This answers sooo many questions!!! I had chickens a few years ago that smelled so awful and we had to clean the coop all the time and it was annoying. This year we got a new batch and they love to kick the bedding and there is absolutely no smell!! Lazy chickens vs crazy chickens 😂 also will try the clay if it becomes a problem cause we live in super humid Tennessee. Thank you so much for the video!!
Try first Saturday lime!!! It's awesome!!
I'll give you a little recommendation live in the mountains of Tennessee we don't get heavy snowfall but we do get some bitter winners some time to time wanna get rid of the moisture in the chicken co-op and your co-op has power get dehumidifier it pull all moisture out the air in the coop with that said now u will have dry cold air c deal with but they make heaters for coops I have chickens I have 25
Another great video, thanks for sharing👍
I live in Germany and here we also add cut grass or leaves. Especially in the winter the cut grass from the summer will heat up the coop whilst it rots. I also add a thin layer of garden soil. Makes it more interesting for the girls to find insects 😁
I'm new to chickens and wondered about them getting to scratch for bugs and worms. I've got a concrete pad from prior dog kennel (not mine)been composting on for 20 years. Its 10x12 and chain linked. Was thinking metal fabric along bottom 2' and chicken wire the rest. Its 9ab here so gets very hot in summertime 110 worst. Its shaded by apricot tree but needs a secure frame because of cats and ?. So do you think start with that and chicken wire overhead, tarped is good? Thanks🤗❣
We get the fog like you do, but we dont get as much snow and cold as you did this year. But, I think I'll look into the clay and see about adding it. I do deep litter, but I usually use the pine pellets that break down into sawdust. But, the whole coop just gets so incredibly dusty. Maybe I'll switch to shavings. Its just about time to do a major clean out of the coop and make some upgrades anyway.
I would only use the clay if you’re having a problem with moisture/ammonia/mildew/bacteria. Sounds like what you are doing is working well!
I've been using the wood pellets as well. Chicks are 5 weeks, and it is SO dusty! Been throwing it out but will change to garden composting. I wonder about using it outside with them next week. If it rains I see a major problem.
made me laugh when you squatted with the weird X-Files music .. almost expected to see a egg left there 😄 🤣 nice t-shirt
Your chickens are so beautiful!
Thank you!
Hello can you use pine pellets in chicken coop is it safe
Oh i live in south Mississippi theres no getting rid of the moisture
I love the deep litter method. I only clean under the roosts maybe every few months.The products I use are straw/hay & wood shavings as well,that I scoop out mounds when needed? I actually don’t use any diatomaceous earth either as I haven’t needed it? We live in a pretty brutal weather area, Connecticut but luckily with a small heater for the very cold days we manage to escape any frostbite & two small vents at the top 🔝 of the coop for ventilation? Luckily my hubby built my “ Che’ Cheque Chicken Coop” in several stages. Coop-inside run- outside run- enclosed yard. It’s like a mini house? I’d love to see pics of all the other glorious coops. Your new coop is so much larger & easier to clean I’d imagine? Thank you for all of your wonderful advice & tidbits as they’ve tuned out to be super useful. Bock a@ U Later🐔
Sounds like you have an awesome setup!
Love your videos! What kind of beautiful white chicken is that at 3:33?
That's Zsa Zsa, my sweet Mosaic chicken. She's under the weather right now. :-(
Hey have your heard a song by Bree Sharp? It's called David Duchovny. 😄
I haven’t heard of it but now I NEED to hear it 😂❤️
@@WelcometoChickenlandia It's great! The music itself is good and the lyrics, while funny, are great too.
Hello! I’m a new subscriber to your channel based on a Guildbrook Farm recommendation. I’m excited to be here and look forward to seeing your other videos as “we” (my family) dive further into raising our first 6 chickens. Here in PA it’s still a little chilly outside so we haven’t moved our hens out yet. I’ll soon be binge watching your videos. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
What are organic wood shavings?
can you use a dehumidifier in the coop?
Thank you! This is just great info. We have just bought an acreage and I intend to have chickens. I was wondering how that would work. So good.
This is excellent 👍. You just changed the way I bed my coop from now on. Hero of the day just cut coop scoop chores down by 99% 😍
My coop seemed fine. It was extra large & seemed like I didn’t need to worry too much about cleaning it. Then my coop cat got histoplasmosis & I could get it too from the mold spores in the coop floor. Idk how to clean it now without getting sick. It’s way better to clean it often than have a fatal disease (my cat has the fungal disease bad creating lumps, blindness & fluid in his breathing).
Your enthusiasm is inspiring.
I shall add you to my treasure box. 💕
what kind of chicken is the brown speckeled hen that the feathers are all sticking up?
LOL you mean my mop? She's a Tolbunt Polish Frizzle.
All I can say is LOL, and thank for your time, and I didn't even look at the video yet, just read the Time and two seconds of video. I will watch it now. Enjoy Life and have a Bless day, from Bridgeport Connecticut
if you plant fast growing deciduous trees, you will have free litter in the fall lasting all winter :)
Thank you for this! I am starting my chickens journey just now and live in Florida where humidity is a big issue.
What type clay do you use and where do you buy it ? Love your videos ❤
I take it out every few weeks so I can compost it quicker with water and sun. Lot easier this deep mulch tho.
What to do to remove the smell after the poop we in tropical no frost etc sun an rain
Big Hi from Central Europe....
👍
You are so funny 😊 and The Best "mama chicken" 👍
Clay works but you can also use food grade DE too
Hi what clay do you use please
Where you find the clay?
When dealing with moisture in the coop, would a dehumidifier help control it?
where do you get the clay
You can get it online or at most farm stores. The brand I use is called sweet pdz. I think I put a link in the description! :)
Try knitting little hats for the chickens.
I toss scratch with mealworms in the coop when the bedding needs to be turned. I make sure to sprinkle it all over so they get it all. They're really thorough and are happy to scratch for treats. Best part is I don't have to turn it myself. 🤔
I do that as well but they never get to the really deep stuff, or at least not enough. There's just too much moisture here!
Love your shirt 😊
I have linoleum on the floor
Cleans really easy
Where do you get that spreadable type of clay
Where do you get the clay?
How cold did it get?
Do you use clay and PDZ ?
I'm absolutely going to try this. Do feathers also compost down? It's shedding time right now and I'm having to clear out feathers every darn day. My biggest concern would be the feathers harboring lice, mites etc. Mareks disease is also a big issue where I currently live. The past year almost every keeper with a decent sized flock lost birds to Mareks.
Once a year? Sounds incredible. Must be awesome for the garden.