What Is The Deep Litter Method

What is the Deep Litter Method? The Deep Litter Method basically consists of repeatedly turning over the soiled bedding, adding a new layer, and allowing the chicken droppings to decompose on the floor of the coop all winter, at the same time creating heat to keep the coop warm naturally.

How do you use the deep litter method?

What are the disadvantages of deep litter system?

(i) Due to its fineness, it is not durable as litter material. (ii) The birds inhale the dust which creates chest congestion, leading respiratory problems. (iii) Saw-dust cakes up easily. (iv) It habours more bacteria than other systems.

What is the deep litter system?

Deep litter is an animal housing system, based on the repeated spreading of straw or sawdust material in indoor booths. An initial layer of litter is spread for the animals to use for bedding material and to defecate in, and as the litter is soiled, new layers of litter are continuously added by the farmer.

How do you start deep litter for chickens?

Here’s the deep litter method in an eggshell: Start by spreading a 3- to 4-inch layer of clean litter on the floor of the coop. Dry grass clippings or leaves, straw, or wood shavings all work well. About once a week, as the manure accumulates (mostly under the roost), toss on another thin layer of litter.

Does deep litter method smell?

Isn’t it smelly? Not at all. If you are doing it right, there should be no smell other than an earthy-compost smell. If you can smell ammonia you are not doing it right.

When should I start deep litter method?

Deep litter requires months to process properly. It should enter its warmest phase of decomposition in autumn when the heat it generates is a welcome addition. DO start with 4-6 inches of pine shavings.

How do you collect eggs in a deep litter system?

Spread litter material, in case of deep-litter system up to 6” thickness. Arrange feeder and waterer in the poultry house to the height of birds’ back. Grill size may be changed according to the size of the birds head. Provide nest box for every 5 layers about a week before the first egg is laid.

Is deep litter system good for layers?

For broilers for 6 weeks deep litter is okay. But for layers deep litter management is laborious, costly & also the egg quality may not be acceptable in the market. Also in deep litter problem of COCCIDIOSIS may arise very easily.

Which of the following are the advantages of a deep litter system?

(a)(i) Advantages of deep litter system in poultry management include: It increases efficiency in poultry management, facilitates the management of very large flock, maximises use of land, increases rate of growth / production, maximises use of labour, reduces loss of eggs to vermins, snakes and thieves, protects birds.

What is the difference between deep litter and battery cage system?

Battery cage system denies chickens direct access to their faeces. In deep litter system, feeding and watering is more stressful and even the birds soil the feed and water by soiling it with faeces, they may knock off drinkers leading to wet litter, an important predisposing factor to coccidiosis.

What is the best bedding for chickens?

Medium- to coarse-grained sand is the best chicken coop bedding as it’s non-toxic, dries quickly, stays clean, is low in pathogens, and has low levels of dust. Sand is a much safer choice than all other bedding materials.

How often do you sprinkle chicken coop?

The third way you can use diatomaceous earth for your chickens is by adding it to their feed. I simply just sprinkle a few handfuls into their feed and mix it around. This way every time they eat they get a little bit. It helps get rid of any internal parasites and acts as a natural wormer.

What do you do with chicken poop in the winter?

Keep the Chicken Coop Tidy: Best Winter Bedding I don a pair of these gloves and pick up the poop clumps one at a time, plop them in a designated 5 gallon plastic bucket and then toss them into the composting area. The poop is usually frozen solid so it goes quickly.

Can you use kitty litter in chicken?

You should never ever use cat litter in the chicken coop. Chickens can peck at it and eat it, causing at best bad digestion problems, and at worst a painful death. Cat litter also produces enormous amounts of dust, that is dangerous for chickens respiratory systems.

Can you use deep litter on hardwood floors?

Deep litter seems to work best in a coop that has a dirt floor, but it can be successfully done on concrete or wood as well. If you have a wood floor you will want to pay close attention to how the deep litter is affecting the flooring, as the composting process can actually begin to break down and rot the wood.

Can you use deep litter method in summer?

We haven’t found that doing deep litter in the summer makes the coop any hotter. The litter does break down faster in the summer due to the heat, but it has no ill effects.

What should I put on the floor of my chicken coop?

The 8 most common materials for chicken coop floors Concrete. Wire. Wooden boards/slatted wood. Plywood. Painted Flooring. Linoleum and vinyl. Rubber mats. Rubberized Roof Coat Material.

Is sand good for chicken coops?

Clean, dry sand prevents any bacteria from starting. Due to its high thermal mass, sand maintains more stable coop temperatures; the Auburn University researchers found that sand keeps chicken houses cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. In inclement weather, sand inside the coop is dry and dust-bath ready!.

How often do you change coop bedding?

Eventually the litter level builds up to 12 or more inches, because you only change the bedding every six months or a year with the deep litter method. Leave a little when you change the bedding so that those good bacteria already have a good headstart with the new layer.