Comments on: Deep litter and chicken coops http://farmfolly.com/2010/02/deep-litter-and-chicken-coops/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=deep-litter-and-chicken-coops Tue, 22 May 2012 15:44:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lesley http://farmfolly.com/2010/02/deep-litter-and-chicken-coops/comment-page-1/#comment-60572 Lesley Sun, 29 May 2011 18:48:09 +0000 http://farmfolly.com/?p=3445#comment-60572 Hi Lee, After reading your comments and then talking with a local Poultry breeder I have decided to try the deep litter method instead. I have dug all the gravel out and changed to Bark chippings. It seems to make more sense. Thanks for your advice. Lesley Hi Lee,
After reading your comments and then talking with a local Poultry breeder I have decided to try the deep litter method instead. I have dug all the gravel out and changed to Bark chippings. It seems to make more sense.
Thanks for your advice.
Lesley

]]> By: lee http://farmfolly.com/2010/02/deep-litter-and-chicken-coops/comment-page-1/#comment-59664 lee Sat, 21 May 2011 21:19:38 +0000 http://farmfolly.com/?p=3445#comment-59664 Hi Lesley, I think I've heard of the gravel idea before, but I don't know anyone who's tried it. It would probably depend greatly on your local weather. We have very dry summers here, and the manure would definitely pile up. It might work, but it's kind of a "septic tank" strategy vs. "composting toilet." Litter provides the substrate and carbon supply for bacterial colonies that will breakdown the manure aerobically. Hi Lesley,

I think I’ve heard of the gravel idea before, but I don’t know anyone who’s tried it. It would probably depend greatly on your local weather. We have very dry summers here, and the manure would definitely pile up.

It might work, but it’s kind of a “septic tank” strategy vs. “composting toilet.” Litter provides the substrate and carbon supply for bacterial colonies that will breakdown the manure aerobically.

]]> By: Lesley http://farmfolly.com/2010/02/deep-litter-and-chicken-coops/comment-page-1/#comment-59660 Lesley Sat, 21 May 2011 20:09:57 +0000 http://farmfolly.com/?p=3445#comment-59660 HI I am new to Chickens and just setting up my coop now. I was told by the local poultry man to keep my chickens on gravel. He told me that the poop just gets rained thorugh the gravel and keeps the smell down. He also said it was good for the chickens to turn over the gravel to get bugs etc out of the ground. Have any of you tried gravel ? HI
I am new to Chickens and just setting up my coop now. I was told by the local poultry man to keep my chickens on gravel. He told me that the poop just gets rained thorugh the gravel and keeps the smell down. He also said it was good for the chickens to turn over the gravel to get bugs etc out of the ground.
Have any of you tried gravel ?

]]> By: Danelle http://farmfolly.com/2010/02/deep-litter-and-chicken-coops/comment-page-1/#comment-8351 Danelle Sun, 13 Jun 2010 23:19:32 +0000 http://farmfolly.com/?p=3445#comment-8351 Hello :-) I'm not familiar with how to leave a message on something like this, but I'll try :-) Just wanted to pass on the answer I found to the problem of the watererss - dirty water, had to go inside the coop to fill, freezing in the winter. I got the heated, 5-gallon flat-back bucket from Henspa, who builds coops. There are two watering nipples coming out of the bottom of the bucket. You can mount them outside a coop. They don't heat unless the temperature drops. There is never litter in the water. I think they're well worth it :-) Hello :-) I’m not familiar with how to leave a message on something like this, but I’ll try :-) Just wanted to pass on the answer I found to the problem of the watererss – dirty water, had to go inside the coop to fill, freezing in the winter. I got the heated, 5-gallon flat-back bucket from Henspa, who builds coops. There are two watering nipples coming out of the bottom of the bucket. You can mount them outside a coop. They don’t heat unless the temperature drops. There is never litter in the water. I think they’re well worth it :-)

]]> By: lee http://farmfolly.com/2010/02/deep-litter-and-chicken-coops/comment-page-1/#comment-7867 lee Sun, 30 May 2010 20:44:19 +0000 http://farmfolly.com/?p=3445#comment-7867 Hi Matthew, Yes, we have feeders and waterers in the chicken coop and it doesn't adversely affect the deep litter. The chickens dig out any food they drop, so this is actually mildly helpful in that it stirs the litter regularly (at least in the high traffic areas). The waterer leaks a little too much (we did have a bit of mold growing on the floor under the litter when we last cleaned it), but if we eventually replace that waterer with a better design we should eliminate that issue. I don't think there's really a big connection between deep litter and rats, especially if you ensure it stays stirred enough. Some people use deep litter on dirt floor coops (which works a little better because the soil moisture encourages composting) and don't have any problems with rats, we have wood floors on a raised coop and similarly no problem. Hanging/wall-mounted feeders probably help a lot as it eliminates a tempting food source. Hi Matthew,

Yes, we have feeders and waterers in the chicken coop and it doesn’t adversely affect the deep litter. The chickens dig out any food they drop, so this is actually mildly helpful in that it stirs the litter regularly (at least in the high traffic areas). The waterer leaks a little too much (we did have a bit of mold growing on the floor under the litter when we last cleaned it), but if we eventually replace that waterer with a better design we should eliminate that issue. I don’t think there’s really a big connection between deep litter and rats, especially if you ensure it stays stirred enough. Some people use deep litter on dirt floor coops (which works a little better because the soil moisture encourages composting) and don’t have any problems with rats, we have wood floors on a raised coop and similarly no problem. Hanging/wall-mounted feeders probably help a lot as it eliminates a tempting food source.

]]> By: Matthew http://farmfolly.com/2010/02/deep-litter-and-chicken-coops/comment-page-1/#comment-7864 Matthew Sun, 30 May 2010 20:03:57 +0000 http://farmfolly.com/?p=3445#comment-7864 thinking of using the deep litter method. Wondering if you could tell me if I can keep the feeder and waterer in the coop. Not wanting to attract rats, wanted to mount the feeder inside, but not sure if that would mess up the deep litter method. Any help appreciated. thinking of using the deep litter method. Wondering if you could tell me if I can keep the feeder and waterer in the coop. Not wanting to attract rats, wanted to mount the feeder inside, but not sure if that would mess up the deep litter method. Any help appreciated.

]]> By: lee http://farmfolly.com/2010/02/deep-litter-and-chicken-coops/comment-page-1/#comment-6017 lee Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:58:25 +0000 http://farmfolly.com/?p=3445#comment-6017 Linda - All our equipment is hanging or wall mounted. I'm going to get an automatic waterer soon, and I'm leaning strongly toward <a href="http://www.jefferspet.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=2&pf_id=16822" rel="nofollow">one like this</a>. I would mount it off the wall in a hanging position, setting up the hoses so they couldn't roost on them. Seems like it would greatly reduce our midnight water hauling and wet litter. The advantage of the hanging models seems to be in minimizing litter in the food/water. Lynn - I can't imagine cleaning it out every week! That would be a lot of work. My homestead philosophy is oriented around minimizing regular chores, and this deep litter system definitely meets that criteria and works well! I think there's an initial hump you have to get over--the litter needs to be deep to start with (4 to 5 inches), and the composting reaction has to kick into gear. Also, if it starts getting crustied over or soggy, it needs to get stirred or removed. Minimizing spilled water is definitely important. Another factor in this is that our chickens get to spend their most active 8 hours of the day outside. If they were inside all the time, I think deeper litter would still work, but you'd have to be a lot more proactive in monitoring it. Leigh - Nice to hear that you are starting them out on this method. The one article I read said that deep little for chicks helps them more quickly build up resistance to coccidia. I didn't know about that three part article in Backyard Poultry Magazine you mentioned, but I fixed your link and I will be sure to read it. Thanks! Our chicks loved to tip over their waterers and feeders. We were very thankful when we could move them to larger hanging models that couldn't get spilled. We made little paper dunce caps for the jars to discourage the chicks from trying to roost on them and knock them over. It worked, but the chicks sometimes pecked them off and stood on them anyway. Linda – All our equipment is hanging or wall mounted. I’m going to get an automatic waterer soon, and I’m leaning strongly toward one like this. I would mount it off the wall in a hanging position, setting up the hoses so they couldn’t roost on them. Seems like it would greatly reduce our midnight water hauling and wet litter. The advantage of the hanging models seems to be in minimizing litter in the food/water.

Lynn – I can’t imagine cleaning it out every week! That would be a lot of work. My homestead philosophy is oriented around minimizing regular chores, and this deep litter system definitely meets that criteria and works well! I think there’s an initial hump you have to get over–the litter needs to be deep to start with (4 to 5 inches), and the composting reaction has to kick into gear. Also, if it starts getting crustied over or soggy, it needs to get stirred or removed. Minimizing spilled water is definitely important.

Another factor in this is that our chickens get to spend their most active 8 hours of the day outside. If they were inside all the time, I think deeper litter would still work, but you’d have to be a lot more proactive in monitoring it.

Leigh – Nice to hear that you are starting them out on this method. The one article I read said that deep little for chicks helps them more quickly build up resistance to coccidia. I didn’t know about that three part article in Backyard Poultry Magazine you mentioned, but I fixed your link and I will be sure to read it. Thanks!

Our chicks loved to tip over their waterers and feeders. We were very thankful when we could move them to larger hanging models that couldn’t get spilled. We made little paper dunce caps for the jars to discourage the chicks from trying to roost on them and knock them over. It worked, but the chicks sometimes pecked them off and stood on them anyway.

]]> By: Leigh http://farmfolly.com/2010/02/deep-litter-and-chicken-coops/comment-page-1/#comment-5982 Leigh Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:55:16 +0000 http://farmfolly.com/?p=3445#comment-5982 I'm very interested in this and have in fact started with the idea of deep litter right off the bat. The chicks absolutely love it when I stir up their litter, they go nuts scratching, looking, and digging. I first read about the idea at the Modern Homestead site - When Life Gives You Lemons <a href="http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Deep-Litter-1.html" rel="nofollow">[part 1]</a>, <a href="http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Deep-Litter-2.html" rel="nofollow">[part 2]</a> & <a href="http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Deep-Litter-3.html" rel="nofollow">[part 3]</a>. I'm having trouble with the water too, but I'm thinking it's because they're getting big enough to tip over the chick waterer. Linda's suggestion of a plastic box is good, will have to get a bigger waterer and try her idea. I’m very interested in this and have in fact started with the idea of deep litter right off the bat. The chicks absolutely love it when I stir up their litter, they go nuts scratching, looking, and digging. I first read about the idea at the Modern Homestead site – When Life Gives You Lemons [part 1], [part 2] & [part 3].

I’m having trouble with the water too, but I’m thinking it’s because they’re getting big enough to tip over the chick waterer. Linda’s suggestion of a plastic box is good, will have to get a bigger waterer and try her idea.

]]> By: Lynn http://farmfolly.com/2010/02/deep-litter-and-chicken-coops/comment-page-1/#comment-5968 Lynn Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:49:12 +0000 http://farmfolly.com/?p=3445#comment-5968 We clean our coop weekly. It's a pain, but I cannot stand it smelling. I cannot imagine letting it go for almost a year!!! Our waterer gets bedding and straw in it all the time. We have been considering what to put it on to raise it up off the floor. The deep litter approach is interesting...I will have to look ino it. We clean our coop weekly. It’s a pain, but I cannot stand it smelling. I cannot imagine letting it go for almost a year!!! Our waterer gets bedding and straw in it all the time. We have been considering what to put it on to raise it up off the floor. The deep litter approach is interesting…I will have to look ino it.

]]> By: Linda http://farmfolly.com/2010/02/deep-litter-and-chicken-coops/comment-page-1/#comment-5960 Linda Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:54:47 +0000 http://farmfolly.com/?p=3445#comment-5960 We set our water on a plastic box. Works all the time without spilling. Linda http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com We set our water on a plastic box. Works all the time without spilling.

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

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