Stop CLEANING Your Coop Using This Method

Using the deep litter method this winter we will not be cleaning our chicken coop the whole season. Instead we will keep throwing new bedding on each month to keep it fresh on top but still sanitary.
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[@AcresOfAdventure]

If you want to see us clean this out 5 months later and how it went you can watch it here > m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/amWYp32wa5KZn6M

[@starbriteishere]

I live in the south... What we did is put tile flooring and then sand bedding. In our heat, it is better for smell than any other beddings seen and cleans like a litterbox

[@rhondaogles3440]

My husband had 5 strokes, age 62 in Jan. A sled gave him the ability to work on our property He can't walk without a walker...so, he straps the sled to him and pushes his walker. Amazing.

[@zinnia3684]

That’s great. The human spirit alive and well

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Wow great for your husband, it’s great to hear that story and makes me realize there is always a way to keep moving!

[@rebeccaplumlee9601]

I'm hoping I can graduate to a walker & get back outside again

[@Damselfly54315]

Deep litter needs stirred too,it helps it break down, so give the old a stir before adding new to it, and do that each time you add layers...which I do once every week top off a layer thats been stirred, but nesting boxes should be cleaned every week for safer eggs...and scrap down the roosts they sit on as often as needed...I use DE around edges for mite and insect control, plus when I clean whole coop I wash it down with castile soap that has lavender added, I use a coop refresher made of herbs too, all I make myself...

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Thank you Judi! Those are great tips

[@richardmatthys7133]

How deep should the deep method be? What's the he's recipe?

[@Damselfly54315]

@@richardmatthys7133 mine ends up as deep as 8 inches by the time I scoop and start fresh, but during summer I don't do that I stick to as little as possible...the deep litter keeps them warmer in the winter due to how the process works.

[@kcycle1308]

What is DE? Thanks!

[@sallyboothe911]

I’ve been using deep litter since getting chickens 2 years ago. It’s a great method I think. I use DE in their boxes, with herbs and when I add fresh shavings I put down some Saturday Morning Lime. The lime really helps keep bugs away. Blessings 🙏🏻

[@LilMermaid-yh1fg]

I've used the deep litter method for years, and I've found it helpful to use pine pellets as a base layer before adding your shavings. The pellets turn to powder when exposed to moisture, which will prevent that bottom layer that's really soiled from sticking to your floor (noticed in the video).

[@snafooed]

I keep my pigs, chickens and goats together in the same large pen and everyone gets along great.

[@kathynix6552]

Put a low board across the door so you don’t lose any bedding when you open the door

[@juliewilliams8511]

I've used a snow sled for years! Hauls all sorts of stuff for me!!!!

[@markchidester6239]

Something I did because the deep litter didn't work for us. I put an 18" wide sheet of plywood attached to the bottom of the 2x6 roost. I scrap the poop off into a toast with a drywall knife every 2 or 3 days. About a minute of work just after morning feeding while they are outside. Game changer! Much cleaner in there and use less than half of the bedding. Compost pile for the poop, grass, leaves, cardboard and what ever else.

[@chorebunny8080]

Ha I don't even have chickens but I enjoy watching and respect the love and care Your animals recieve from your family (:

[@cherdowns1074]

Great organized poultry yard and coop.

[@rhondaogles3440]

I have used this method. It is awesome.

[@The.Artistic.Squirrel]

Thank you from NE Wyoming. I’m a Midwesterner myself and I thought I was usta cold. I wasn’t quite prepared for how cold and how long it lasts here. From October-April-Mayish we’ve had negative digits. And I’ve adjusted and learned to love it. Winter here is just so beautiful.

[@taylord2hunt]

I use the same kind of sled to help haul harvested deer from the woods. Comes in super handy.

[@Monkchip]

You always have something new and interesting going on.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Glad you think so!

[@princearthur4946]

Excellent presentation with great chicken coop ideas!

[@katemccool4302]

You can also use dead leaves and pine needles as bedding. Just make sure they're dry. I mix in pine shavings too, and turn the litter over every few days when it gets packed down.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Thanks for the extra tips Kate! Flipping over would probably help

[@AvalonWoodsHomestead]

I'm trying this method also I have access to hay and pine shavings so I'm mixing the two. So far it's working great, no smells! I've been using a wagon to help with chores, but now we have about 8" of snow that isn't going away and the sled idea sounds great, thanks! Happy days💜🐔!!

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Sleds in the snow are great! Thanks for watching as always :)

[@tealbruce7145]

I love sNOw sleds for a couple of reasons. 1. FREE if you pay attention on trash day. B. I can pull a heavier load in a plastic sled over grass than I carry.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Yes snow sleds are great all year round!

[@ruby7741]

I absolutely love you guys and your "you don't know if it works till you try it" WE are the same here in Michigan in the UP learning about our chickens and what works and doesn't. I just saw a guy here on youtube that said his chickens weren't laying like many ppl have said about the feed they are getting and he said lets go back to our great grand parents days and just feed them what we have. He soaked a pot of beans over night then heated it up in the morning tossed in some pasta he said rice would work to and then let it cook a bit till the pasta soaked up all the rest of the water. When he fed his 10+ chickens almost NO FIGHTING, it was so odd to see. I was watching it thinking I wonder if it's cuz they get all that water inside the beans and pasta or if they feel full unlike there feed that is dry from the store. BLEW ME AWAY with watching the chickens eat and how they were not pushing or bopping each other out of the way on the head. Man am I learning from ppl like you and him. LOVED THE CHICKEN DOOR. Could you tell me what the name of the chicken door is and where you got it from? Thank you in advance for all your info and allowing us to peek into your life and learn from you. :) A Michigan MOM

[@Saddlemomma]

We just can't do the deep bedding thing. We live in northern, ME (yes, I can actually see Canada from the end of my street...lol). Our winters last anywhere from 5 to 6 months and we can have -45-degree temps. In fact, we just recently had -68 w/wind-chill (which blows 24/7; 365 here) during that artic blast everyone got. If we left that stuff pile up, it would freeze solid. My daughter used to clean the chicken house of a local women who did the deep-bedding method. She would go over in May, and it would take her HOURS to chip away at the mess because the lower layers would still be frozen. What we do is put in oat straw from huge round bales. These are bales from the cover crop used by a local farmer to mulch into our land which we lease to him to grow potatoes. Each year we go get 1 to two of these bales using a spike with our tractor. The straw still has the oats (or wheat depending which he uses that year) still on the straw. This gives the chickens the added bonus of foraging within the coop for those seed heads. They eagerly look forward to the new straw with each cleaning. In addition, I had inch-thick rubber mats in my stalls when we had horses. We took one of those and cut out a section to put on the floor of our coop. The straw is placed in a thick bed on top of that. It helps to insulate the floor. When we have warmer days of 30-degrees, we go out and change the bedding, putting it in our compost.

[@TheMysticsPlace]

I used this method last year during the roughest winter since the 70's in Flagstaff. My girls all made it through with no other heat source. They seemed happy as could be all winter.

[@nootnoot5263]

The deep litter method worked wonderfully over the winter. It didn't smell and didn't look horrible. We cleaned it out for summer to give them a fresh coop for the new warm and hot months, and to help make the coop cooler. But during the colder months, we will definitely do it again. But I do recommend starting this method at least a month before it gets cold. So there can be a built-up layer to help keep them warm.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Glad it worked well for you, this was our first winter trying it and I liked it a lot , the smell was manageable and will make great compost now

[@jenbear8652]

@acres Joel Salatin says if you smell anything you need more bedding.

[@tstzoophoojywg7226]

What type of bedding that you put in the coop? It does not looks like pine shaving.

[@ronaldbequeath2307]

I use a sand and limestone mix with straw or wood chip so their getting stones for their gizzards. Limestone is good for egg shells. A year ago i had 5 aussies and if i heard noise id let them out. For five days i would loose a hen and when i lost a guinea i call the game warden, they looked at my birds and said that they where just ill. So i talked to my friend a trapper and he said it was a weasel. Even though there were no blood spots. He set his trap at 10:00 pm and by 4:00 am he had a foot long weasel. When the game warden was ask why it was so big his reply was because no one is trapping them any more. We have theorized that as the weasel was attacking the chickens, the aussies would hit the coop and the weasel didnt have time to suck the blood. Love those aussie. After the weasel was gone never lost another chicken or guinea.

[@nicolasabonce6316]

Awesome video I really enjoyed all the information and tips! Thank you 🙏🏼

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Glad it was helpful!

[@chrisbelsito4231]

So cool that your daughter gets to experience this..

[@AcresOfAdventure]

We love that the kids get to be apart of it

[@midsouthhomestead7527]

We put pine shavings in our coup. We also do the deep litter metod. We take a large snow shovel and a Rubbermaid garbage bin to clean it out. We put the compost in different areas of the yard. After we use it up in the garden. We plant potatoes on the ground and cover with leaves. Great video.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Thank you that’s great tips!

[@hmoser6416]

I do this beginning late fall, then when spring is in full force, I clean it out. I also use Manna Pro Coop-N-Compost, it's a great help to neutralize the odors and moisture in the coop, helps with respiratory by controlling ammonia, etc, also aids compost piles greatly!

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Thank you for that, we just bought one as well to keep it nice and fresh, you always have such great tips for us!

[@hmoser6416]

@@AcresOfAdventure Happy to share what works for me for others to consider. It's awesome that so many can connect from all over the world to share helpful information, Hallelujah :) One never knows what will help another. Thank you both for sharing !

[@cynthiavoigts215]

Been composting coop scoopings with some horse manure for couple years & boy did it make the best compost! This fall I used it to top off my raised beds & didn't have to buy any soil. Will try deep litter method again this winter but worry about possibility of odor which has always been a problem before. Thanks for your video, hopefully this winter deep litter method will go better.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Thanks for watching as always Cynthia! And yes I hope this method makes great compost for us this year!

[@kathynix6552]

Moisture is your enemy with the deep litter method. I C it smells add more bedding

[@sheliabenson5496]

Straw, leaves. The chickens enjoy mulch from the people that trim trees too. Add through the winter as you notice yours breaking down. Pick up bags of leaves your neighbor might bag etc. Many free things. God Bless and enjoy your feathered friends.

[@jenbear8652]

Joel Salatin says if it,smells, you don’t have enough bedding. Just keep adding more until there’s no smell

[@micheleweatherspoon6399]

Deep litter is the best. At the end of winter, I rake off the top layer and put it on the compost pile. But the stuff on the bottom layer is a rich soil composition. That goes directly into my raised beds. It makes the best veges I've ever tasted. I raise rabbits, ducks, and chickens together in an outside coop, with direct contact with the soil. The composting process keeps the water from freezing in the Montana winter . I believe you will love the deep litter system.😊

[@Zack-yx5nl]

With a Deep Litter system on top of plywood, you are more susceptible to the floor rotting. I'd suggest you grab some linoleum to put down below the litter so that liquid has more time to dry out. you can grab 4x8 plastic thin sheets from HD that work really well for the floor and walls.

[@gmwwc]

We use peat moss as a coop bedding material. Wood requires large ammount of nitrogen to compost. This robs your compost pile. The peat moss is kinder to your compost.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Interesting! We will have to look into that!

[@SB-rz2kt]

What bedding did you use in video?

[@donna1018]

I use deep litter method but come spring it’s a lot of work to clean out. Depending on the size of your coop anyway.

[@Broodismanifest]

Michigan homestead, just stumbled on your channel and guessing? About to try to do what your doing!

[@Broodismanifest]

Haha 30s later you say its Michigan! I had the feeling! Single dad need help with chicken math before i build a coop. Want to make sure i build a coop for 6 years down the road. DM me if u can help. Live in st clair county near Marine city

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Good luck! It is a lot of fun and you will enjoy it!

[@loremipsum2302]

What do you use for bedding if pine shavings are bad? Thank you

[@waynestanley6371]

You have a great dog. We have Pyrenean Shepherds that work with the Great Pyrenees. They are the best dogs I’ve ever had.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

They are amazing dogs!

[@waynestanley6371]

Smart, obedient (most of the time), require very little training, pleasing their master is their priority!!!! They are the dogs who have seen God. This breed has been with man for at least 6,000 years. Living in a very remote area of Spain, near France for millennia. There are paintings of them in the caves of Lascaux.

[@Gemma6thSense]

You said the name towards the end! and yep- it is what I was thinking. (I couldn’t get the name out!) My husband has been reading up on the breed bc we just moved into a house with a huge fenced yard, soooo not only are we gonna be getting chicks! But he wants 2 Great Pyrenees

[@IddrisuArafat-iw9sg]

Thanks

[@CabinGRL]

Yep the deep bedding / litter method is what I did and there would be 0 smell layer with pinestraw and leaves amazing and really insulates too. Joel Salatin has great books on that system for chickens. His books on land rotation for pigs are essential.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Thanks for the tip! We’re excited to get good compost from this method!

[@alylebold6526]

Good Info Thank You

[@rockwilliams457]

Thank you. When do you have to pull it all out and start fresh again? What about mites and lice, does that method make it more vulnerable to them? Let me know please...blessings from Texas..

[@Biffwellington4518]

We're about to move I'm looking to start raising chickens. Have you thought about taking those raked autumn leaves and using them for your coup deep littering? They could poop on the leaves then transfer them into the compost bin later with out the cost of shavings for litter.. I'll admit I really do not know if what I am suggesting is safe or plausible.

[@MaraCarr-vm9mf]

My chickens hatch their chicks in January to march and their next batch will be in August to january. So it's perfectly normal to have a broody when in the autumn 😂

[@dustyflats3832]

I use an ice fishing sled for a lot of things even in summer. I would suggest wearing a mask when cleaning coops.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Yes I should do that , thank you!

[@rosalindaiacovitti3499]

Do you know if the tractor supply horse wood pellet bedding would work for chickens?

[@melissawaters3360]

Are you using store bought shavings? How is it that you have green grass. We have a small run we let our chickens access, and with in a month, not a blade of grass. Also, seen you have a rooster. I've heard different things in reference to this. We have 11 hens and one rooster. Is rooster good to have? Chicken owner newbie

[@DJ-uk5mm]

Make some charcoal and add about 5 to 10% into the bedding it will absorb the smells and improve their health Also as it absorbs microbes etc it will turn into biochar and help turn the poop to compost

[@rickmonell7338]

What kind of flooring do have down

[@buddycromer2142]

Do you have a video on your coop. I like the way it looks.

[@shaunsmuder1637]

It also gives them respiratory (Breathing) problems. Let just call it what it is it, LAZY, and really, it's not good for your birds. Do them a favor and clean the coop as needed.

[@crissengels8930]

Yes, please share the type of bedding. I've been using hay/straw for almost 2 years, and it works ok, but what you used looks so much lighter and tidier.

[@kathynix6552]

Looks like fine pine shavings

[@melissajohnson2935]

Hay and straw will mold and its not good for chickens respiratory systems. Use pine shavings, they are cheap, smell good and work a lot better.. and you can compost pine shavings. You can compost hay and stay but they usually spray those fields with herbicides and you risk contaminating your compost

[@michaelkurciviez2057]

I’m giving free advice. Get a roll of 3 mill poly min.. 6mil poly will be bettter. Cut it to fit your coop floor. I use a hammer tracker stapler and just a few to keep it in place Tack it down Spread shaving/straw Done!! Clean up? Lift up/bring your four corners together and pull the entire mess out. It’s the same idea as taking leaves onto a tarp and dragging it to the mulch pile. Except this keeps your coop floor spotless…. Also, you can reuse that poly a few more times! (You’ll know when it’s past it’s prime.) Your welcome.

[@amyshubby33]

Did you build that coup or did you buy it? If you bought it where did you get it from?

[@ItsMe-ic7on]

Where do you get your wood chips?

[@michaelkurciviez2057]

If you want, use a blue tarp. Stronger and will take the whole months amount of shaving/poop

[@lindamclean8809]

I thought the bedding was supposed to be in contact with the ground if it’s to work properly ❤❤❤

[@nightskyabc]

Also, add crushed charcoal keeps down the smell

[@dl4065]

Do your chickens fly over your fence?

[@JustinGray70]

I watch this video repeatedly to obtain more sponsor $ for you. You strike me as a super dad.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Thank you for that, I hope you enjoyed the video!

[@malcolmpayne9517]

What's the length and width of your coop?

[@amyyork3031]

So no scooping? Just add more bedding every week. Correct. I'm new and I tried just using drip trays. I'm having a poop melt down. I'm giving this a try.

[@Avalone20000]

But deep litter makes it very difficult to treat for bug infestation

[@MrEpmonroe]

What kind of bedding is that?

[@rebeccaplumlee9601]

U could have put a tiny bit of old on top the new to help with adjustment

[@AcresOfAdventure]

That’s a great idea!

[@melaa8617]

What do you do to keep your rain barrel from freezing up? I just noticed you are filling it in the winter. I emptied mine & left the drains open.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

It is emptied but I need to remove it still, just being lazy

[@gthumbus]

how does this stop you from cleaning the coop. you still have to clean at some point.

[@nanettejernigan7338]

What are you using for bedding? It doesn’t seem to fly around much when you are putting it down. Please let me know? Love your videos

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Hey Nanette! We use wood shavings, usually the large.

[@patrickrobinson2562]

Did you buy or build your coop?

[@zinnia3684]

The pigs probably smelled the turkey and they woke up the chickens.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

That is probably true!! Haha

[@ItsMe-ic7on]

Is that bedding sawdust?

[@1966MrAlex]

Look what your Chickens want at 4:54.

[@rebeccaplumlee9601]

I ran my 3 pot belly pigs with my pygmy whether, ducks, geese, chickens & guienia fowl & rabbits in a huge pen. In cold the goat went in chicken house at night.. pigs layed in their building. Rarely any trouble. (At least after butcher of the small boar)

[@gaylewatkins4685]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Thank you gayle!

[@felishiadarling]

When I put a new layer of shavings, my chickens stay out and stare. They don’t like change. If it’s the smell, I don’t know. I do know they don’t like change. I’m building on my coop now and they seem to be getting used to me working on it.

[@brendathollis2960]

What is the best bedding for chickens

[@jeremiahstewart5933]

I’ve been doing some heavy research and I am leaning towards medium course sand. It’s not as dusty, I can use a poop scoop to clean with, and it drains and dries quickly. I live in central Florida, so I’m not worried about snow, it’s always hot here.

[@dstuart2918]

We clean our coop every week--one is asking for trouble with illness if the coop not kept clean, plus it's disgusting and mean for the birds to live among all that s--t.

[@tammywisdom3701]

I like deep litter. I don't like the design of the coop I bought (premade), as there is no door going directly outdoors. It makes it harder to clean. I am hoping to add a smaller door that I can use just for that cleaning. Just a consideration when building a coop.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Yes the coop design is very important

[@tammywisdom3701]

@Acres Of Adventure Homestead I love your design, by the way!

[@ItsMe-ic7on]

What do you mean by broody hen?

[@jacalli]

She wants to be a mom

[@kevo355]

Just changed my bedding, every 6 months, use deep liter method, also use borax under the bedding, and add charcoal pellets to absorb the smell.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

That’s a great idea!

[@2015gtbass]

My wife said she going to be doing the deep method once the coop gets build

[@Lewisusa11]

I also have 15 girls and about half of them are missing their tail feathers and a bare patch there also. And Ideas?

[@pamelak7924]

Lice or mites

[@Lewisusa11]

@@pamelak7924 I have some diatomaceous earth that I am going to add to their dirt bath area, any other suggestions?

[@pamelak7924]

@@Lewisusa11 you might want to try some poultry dust/powder you could get at a farm store or tractor supply Or look into other videos on KZbin D E is good but it won't kill everything,but it's good to use in henhouse and on bedding nest boxes dust bath areas Good luck to you and your chickens

[@advancedproperties4272]

where did you get your coop?

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Someone locally made it for us

[@Gemma6thSense]

What kind of dog is that? I feel like it’s on the tip of my tongue!! (Watch it be something super easy!)

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Great Pyrenees

[@Gemma6thSense]

@@AcresOfAdventurelol yeah I literally just got done the video and you say it with about 2 mins or so left!!! But it is the breed I was trying to get the name stuck out of head!!! My husband loves them he had a neighbor who had one and he said he’s wanted one since. But he wanted to be fair to the dog; and have the space the dogS would need seeing he told me he’s thinking about getting 2. So I felt guilty right away! Bc ppl get on me about making donations to various animal charities, but yet they say I don’t adopt my dogs (not completely true. We just lost 3 dogs in the past 4 years that were all with us from before we married and lived very long lives, but bc I do support adopt don’t shop- I do understand there being certain times when someone does want a specific breed, and if you can adopt it - awesome. But it doesn’t go that way usually…. Although ironically enough, just prior to us purchasing the house, I got a notification from the local animal shelter and I opened the email. Don’t you know someone turned in a whole litter of full bred Great Pyrenees puppies. They lasted online maybe a week if that. Every one got a home. I was in no position to take any dogs, and I wasn’t ready after losing our last one. But yeah looks like we will have 2 of these guys (guy and girl, girls. Have to see about this and educate myself on the breed) but they’re gorgeous dogs. And from all I’ve read, and been told, extremely well behaved. And silly.

[@robindevellen7038]

Shouldn’t you start with deep litter?

[@sonyiawinfield3020]

Saddlemomma, I read your post about the chickens and the oat straw. I was intrigued by your winter temperatures. I’ve always wanted to ask, have you ever considered moving to a warmer area? I live in Arkansas and many moons ago when I was a child the winters were cold and we had more snow than we do now. Matter of fact we have little snow now. I just don’t know how you can survive the temperatures and get your work done outside. Do you stay there because of family or because you love the cold? I’m impressed, but if you ever want to move to a warmer climate, Arkansas is pretty good place.

[@mrose4132]

Mmmmm, seems like the composting of the chicken poop has to put off gasses that aren’t healthy for the chickens.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

As long as you have a clean layer on top it is fine, this method has been used for years!

[@Radiant6.214]

U need 7 inch for best

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Thanks for the tip!

[@ML-ks2lj]

The pigs will eat that chicken if given an opportunity. Theyll eat baby cows if given the chance

[@genesmay6589]

What about the walls and other things.All these how to clean videos putting bedding down and none have bird poop on the walls , windows, roosts...I must have alien birds that crap sideways...

[@AcresOfAdventure]

We have some on the walls, not a lot but we for sure do😂🙈

[@Kanne606]

I want to use leaves, but excessive aerosol chemical spraying of the sky and damaged chemical burns on the leaves has me concerned... sure hope we can get these 'block the sun' DC psychos stopped soon

[@hamzaalzadjali7207]

Pigs are poison my brother, quit pigs please

[@kasiapicur]

Great idea with the sled 🛷 ❤

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Thanks! 😊

[@justmanette2152]

Can you reply to us in the comments? Several of us cannot identify the type of deep bedding you put in... Thank you😊

[@Paddyandpoppy]

Hi, how do you cope with Red mites? Good videos 👌

[@_Keto_Diet]

Diatomaceous earth.