My old coop cleaning routine was a huge pain until I switched to the deep litter method

For the first two years, I cleaned my coop floor every single week, which meant hauling out all the old bedding and putting in new pine shavings. It took about an hour each time and was just a chore I dreaded. Last fall, after reading about it online, I started just adding a fresh layer of carbon material, like leaves or more shavings, on top every few days instead of removing the old stuff. Now, six months in, I only do a full cleanout twice a year, and the bedding breaks down into amazing compost for my garden. Has anyone else tried this method, and how often do you actually do a full cleanout?

2 comments

2 Comments

anthony_fox905d ago

Switched to deep litter last year and it changed everything. I add a bag of pine shavings over the top every week or so. I only do a full clean in the spring and fall now. The compost it makes is fantastic for my vegetable beds. It saves so much time and my coop actually smells better.

michaelnguyen5d ago

My first winter with deep litter I used straw and it got soggy fast. Switched to pine shavings like you said and it stays way drier. I toss a handful of scratch grains in there once a week so the girls stir it up for me. Honestly the garden tomatoes last summer were the biggest I've ever grown from that compost.