The deep litter method is a favorite of many backyard farmers. It allows you to maintain the coop and run in other ways without worrying about changing the bedding and scooping up manure all the time.
We say wood shavings instead of pine specifically because a lot of people have been known to use cedar. Use your discretion on how often you do this. Depending on how many chickens you have you may need to do this more often, especially if the coop looks to be getting very messy. Ventilation is key to this method. The best time to start the deep litter method is close to the beginning of winter. Leaving a inch bottom layer when you clean will allow any new bedding to absorb any good bacteria that has gathered over the past few months.
Seeing clumps of poop when you clean in spring? Get rid of them. Any non-decomposed materials should be removed from the coop so that you can give your chickens the best opportunity to be healthy in the coming months. Grass clippings, pine or cedar shavings, dried leaves, and even hay have been known to work, but we recommend not using the same amount as you use inside your coop. And there you have it! You will probably need to give their coop a much more thorough clean once a month or so too.
I know some backyard chicken owners that shovel out the bedding once a week, once a fortnight, and even once a month. It all depends on how much space each chicken has, and how much pooping and mess they make. Wood shavings are the most popular choice amongst backyard chicken owners.
Cedar and pine are two of the most common. Cedar shavings are known to cause respiratory issues in smaller animals and there is some concern for chickens, so I personally avoid them. Pine shavings and other miscellaneous wood shavings are fine, however. They certainly do when they are crammed into buildings lacking fresh air or when their bedding gets wet — but for a backyard flock just a few simple tips can help minimize odors in your chicken coop. There are many types of litter but to function well all must be able to absorb some moisture, insulate the floor from cold, and give chickens a chance to dust.
All excrement leaves their bodies as solid feces, which helps keep litter dry. By far the most commonly used litter is wood shavings, sold in feed stores, or scrounged from woodworkers. Sawdust also works well but is dusty. Chickens stir it up and dust settles on anything in the coop. Straw is another common bedding. Pine Shavings A popular and prudent choice for litter is pine shavings, found at many feed-supply stores, big-box stores and even pet-supply stores.
The mild pine scent is inviting, though it does fade over time. To play it safe, I recommend avoiding the use of cedar shavings with very young chicks confined to a brooder. However, many chicken keepers have used cedar shavings with success in their coops with adult flocks, so long as the birds have other areas to inhabit besides the coop. Sand Sand, when used as coop bedding, is an excellent and very clean choice for those who have the time to devote to it.
While expensive initially, compared to the alternatives listed here, sand as bedding in the coop need only be replaced once or twice a year if diligently cleaned and contained. Sand dries very quickly and can be turned over with a rake to employ the deep-litter method discussed below or scooped with a cat litter scooper when used in small coops. Your chickens will love it, as mine do. Grass Clippings If you have enough, grass clippings are one viable coop bedding option, but they have a few disadvantages.
Clippings tend to retain moisture and break down quickly. They also dry, shrink and smell. Chickens will pick at anything and everything in their coop—bedding is no exception, especially if there are bugs in it!
Shredded Leaves This is an option if the leaves are finely shredded so they dry quickly.
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