Deep Litter Method for Chicken Coops
One of the least desirable things about raising your own chickens is cleaning out the chicken coop every week. If you have a small flock of chickens, cleaning out the coop can be changed from a weekly task to a yearly task by using the deep litter method for chicken coops.
How it Works
The deep litter methods works by allowing the bedding material and manure to accumulate and decompose inside the coop. As the litter deepens, the fresh manure is scratched through to the bottom by the chickens, keeping dry, fluffy bedding on top. The deep litter become breeding ground for beneficial pathogens (just like compost) so the chickens are less susceptible to diseases and you are less encumbered with chicken coop maintenance.
Get Started
To get the deep litter started, spread a four inch layer of clean litter on the chicken coop floor. Dry grass clippings, leaves or straw works well for the initial layer. As the manure accumulates and deepens, toss on another thin layer of litter (about once per week). Toss a handful of scratch grains or bread scraps on top of the deepening litter every day so the chickens will scratch around for food and keep the litter stirred and aerated for you. The scratching of the chickens will incorporate oxygen into the litter to speed up the decomposing process and prevent clumps from forming. If a clump or two does form. Use a turning fork to break up the clump and re-distribute the moisture across the coop floor.
If the coop is well ventilated, you should not notice any ammonia odor. If you do, add another layer of litter to absorb the moisture and/or add some clay to increase absorption.
One Year Later
Over the course of a year, the litter will become about 12 inches deep and will be ready to be removed and incorporated into garden soil. Clean out the deep litter one year later in the spring or fall, but don’t remove all of the litter. Leave a shallow base layer of the old litter in the chicken coop because it is filled with the beneficial microbes that will instantly spread into the fresh layer of litter and jump start the decomposing process for the upcoming year.
