Deep Litter Method for Chicken Coop Composting | Save Time & Money!

[@perkinshomestead]

I came across this video again a year later and realized I commented already on this subject. I will stand by my former comment, but add this: the deep litter method is basically like the forest floor, which is the ground. The best way to do the deep litter method in your chicken coop is right on the ground. Pine shavings on a wood or vinyl floor do not decompose the way wood chips, leaves, and pine shavings do on the ground. I've been doing the deep litter method for a number of years on the soil, not wood or vinyl. I put down wood chips/wood shavings (after my husband cuts wood). Then I will add some store bought dry pine shavings on top. This is all done on the soil on the ground, so it will decompose into compost. We never have any bad odors in our coop, because it is well ventilated. The coop should be cleaned out twice a year with the garden having the benefit of the compost. I hope this helps somebody. If you are going to build a new coop, let the chickens have the earth as their floor. It is the most natural way for them.

[@rasmusnilsson123]

Well if you add soil as base ?

[@rasmusnilsson123]

And what do you say about lime. Does it creates interference with the deep litter?

[@stephenkennedy3020]

Well said

[@kycalm]

Been a chicken owner since Oct 2024. So real new. I have 12 chickens that rarely use their coop. The coop is located in an enclosed run area that is 12 x 20. I am doing the D litter method in the chicken run, it is on soil. Your video validated all that I am doing and I appreciate that.

[@melodeeplath9597]

Great information.💞 THANK YOU for Not spend the first half of your video telling me what you are going to tell me ! Soooooo annoying when ppl do that. And,thank you for NOT playing loud goofy music . Some of these u tube vids play it so loud,you cannot hear the information. 🌹

[@LonelyPinesFarm]

this is an awesome comment, thank you for taking the time to leave it. we don't like long videos, and hate when people run on and on before getting to content, etc. Short and get down to it is my goal! We are your people!

[@thomasaseymour1165]

Really like the getting down to the real info..and you’re naturally funny!!! ✅

[@kittykat57]

Great info! Short and sweet. Thank you!!!

[@awhalewatcher]

Well done! Just what I needed to know.

[@Bellavanacoffee]

Nice! Thanks!

[@crazydaisyminds3597]

Short and sweet. Thank you!

[@blackpackhomesteadchrisand7337]

I deep mulch young birds but once they go outside I am like Yippee! Blessings yall.

[@leighgirouard7151]

I just got chickens and needed to learn this .. So thank you so much you truly helped me !! Better get more windows in the coop and find something better then DE

[@verdeterrazzo5493]

and I've been following your channel for a while, I like it a lot, today I signed up

[@urbangardeningandchickenke1018]

Excellent 👍

[@Bonita20us]

Great quick video, thank you!! 🎉❤

[@c.smiley]

This video is great. Love that you shared your learning experience as well as your current method. Only thing I would like to clarify is the DE doesn’t inhibit microbial activity, it only kills mites and bugs. Agricultural Lime however will kill bacteria and prevent composting.

[@rasmusnilsson123]

Ohhh damit. I wanted to use deep litter with the lime...

[@steveng6269]

Nice post - right to the points. What can be used instead of DE?

[@LonelyPinesFarm]

Thanks! I've heard things about barn lime or certain products like poultry dust, but I don't have much first-hand experience with DE alternatives

[@codytheserg8186]

So in a very humid environment like Florida this is not possible because moisture correct?

[@Uncle_Jon]

It's totally possible as long as you have good ventilation.

[@minettebrits6502]

How often do you add extra shavings etc ? Thanks

[@kylecrusch7900]

Dump them in and mix it up

[@leighgirouard7151]

I think just every spring I didn’t catch that also

[@deliahdykes7824]

have you tried hemp

[@gabetullier]

What about the Lime stuff I see get marketed instead of DE?

[@Ms.NoNo2]

You missed the most important do… how much do you put in? How deep should it be?

[@kylecrusch7900]

I use shredded cardboard and paper, on the dirt floor of my coop, stir it now and then. Have not cleaned the coop in almost 3 years

[@feilee3943]

does it smell?

[@kylecrusch7900]

@@feilee3943 not at all

[@sarahraedougherty1610]

i just got a home with a huge coop and its pretty nasty right now.. out side of the run door there is 0 ventilation??? what should i do? also can i just start deep litter over what's there now? what's considered deep???

[@Doglifegoodlife]

At what point do you add more bedding ?

[@glennlewman4186]

Have you ever added Biochar to your deep liter?

[@thomasenglish1]

I have not one tree in my yard, but get a ridiculous amount of leaves. I’m thinking of using the leaves as bedding. If anyone has tried this please do tell.

[@prayerangel1]

I see a lot of don'ts going on in this vid.....got a few things right but mostly you are just doing deep bedding but not quite composting it if you have to clean it out and pile it up.

[@JohnRambo1stblood]

How do you make the compost?

[@prayerangel1]

@@JohnRambo1stblood The composting should be an ongoing process in the coop. With proper moisture and ventilation, with air spaces within the mass, which should be located under the roosts, and varied bedding materials, composting takes place in the coop all year round. No need to remove it, pile it, rest it, etc. You should be able to pull finished compost out at any time of the year due to the ongoing cooking/composting of the bedding materials.

[@tamaradevault9333]

# 1 WEAR A MASK!!!!!!!

[@cynthiajoy8082]

Seems like the lazy way is always going to be the wrong wrong way. This seems like a disease harboring disaster.

[@perkinshomestead]

I don't think that pine bedding constitutes the "Deep Litter Method". The deep litter method is when you put down wood chips on the actual ground that decomposes into mulch. I had to explain this to my sister in law too. She is doing the same thing as you are. That is NOT the deep litter method and it NEVER will be.

[@winniecash1654]

Then what is?

[@melodeeplath9597]

Perkins....Shut it....... 😒

[@JohnRambo1stblood]

So wood chips over the manure. For about 1 year then the wood chips and manure become compost? At that point do they go straight from the hen house to the garden bed?

[@winniecash1654]

@@JohnRambo1stblood I'm not an expert, just know basic biology. I have pine shavings and DE. The bottom of the coop is vinyl. Over time, as I mix it, it should begin to compost. It would be better, compost faster, it the floor of the coop were dirt, as I'd have the benefit of more microbes. I've had my coop for 4 months and there's no smell or flies at all. I stir it up almost every day. I'll keep at it, the goal being a year. Then that will go to the outdoor compost for 6-8 months. Then it'll be ready for the garden. I compost kitchen scraps and ferment my own kombucha. They all use the same concept which is using microbes to "eat" what's there to change it into what you want.

[@leighgirouard7151]

So wood chips ? Then what do you use instead of DE ?? How deep is deep ? I just got hens and also please how meany windows do we need?? 🙏🏻