Thanks, great info. I have six chicks about 8 weeks old and the pine bedding is awsome to absorb the smells. I have the chicks in the play house I have for my nieces and nephews which they never used until these chicks came into the seen here, lol. The play house has two house windows and a exhaust fan but he roof leaks a little and need to fix or just build a new coop which I want to do. I am learning to keep them happy and healthy and how they sleep and building nests. I am an organic heirloom gardener mainly so the chickens I know some about but not completely. Thanks and I will keep listening to you and adoring your beautiful smile.
Thank you for this video! About the deep cleaning in the spring, my assumption is that since the coop now has lots of beneficial microbes, wouldn't it be counterintuitive to clean the coop? I would think that, perhaps leaving a little bit of the old pine shavings mixed with poop, etc, would be beneficial for the next batch of the bedding breaking down faster? I would love to hear what you have to say about this. Thank you!
There's another way with no turning involved. Use 4 to 6-inch deep hemp bedding instead of pine and do not turn over when dirty but just keep on adding new hemp bedding material on top. Then once a year or even more (the smell will guide you), scrape off the crust layer and put it aside. Clean out all the rest and either put it onto your compost or use it directly as mulch. As for the crust you put aside, use it as the bottom layer under your 4 to 6-inch deep new hemp bedding so the decomposing doesn't have to start from scratch, (this way the useful germs are already on-site). ua-cam.com/video/CZRCKhICN_s/v-deo.html
Thank you, that was very informative. In Australia, of course it gets very warm and often very humid which, a couple of times, has attracted mites, once badly. Does this deep litter method help to avoid that? THank you
Love your energy and advice. We have just built our first chicken coop and have ordered 5 laying hens for the spring. Going to take all the good ideas I can find and utilize them to keep a healthy flock. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience, it's appreciated.
This is the first time I have heard of this. Sabrina and I are getting our first chickens for our organic garden this spring. We Really appreciate your content and the explanation with commentary that you provide.
I'm not so sure of region on how this works best...for the north where its VERY cold in winter this nay work, but some places this wouldn't work due to fluctuating Temps all yr long, it may be TOO warm for some regions, but I'm in the north,and yes in winter they will have deeper layers, I'm just not sure about mixing the roost droppings into it all, think I'd rather scoop those out and put fresh bedding in...I dont have a plan on which method I'll go with yet, guess I'll play it by ear based on how my birds do...want to use pine pellets in their yard area, but in coop? THERE'S so many various ways I'm not sure WHICH I'm sold on at this point...I use DE in their dust bath, not in their bedding, but lots to consider, thank you for sharing😊👍🏻
I am living on the southern part of Australia very hot summers always a sea breeze and cold winters but no lower than 8deg Celsius at night maybe in the middle of winter it might get down to 6 degrees. My question is we have a concrete floor as a pad to the Aunts House (Hens) can I still use the deep method or does it have to be a earth floor, also can I do this in the run as well as I have been just turning and leaving piles of old hay for them to forage in but as it is now winter here it does get wet or should I rake all old hay and scraps out to garden. Thankyou for your column. Cheers Judy Esperance West Australia
I have been using this method since I started chicken keeping 5 years ago. I also use fresh herbs all summer long. And I also dry herbs to use in the winter time. I am so glad that you are talking about this method of coop maintenance. I tell anyone who will listen to me about it...
+Maine.Homestead.Project How wonderful. Do you let yours get over 1' deep? What I've read is that it begins to break down and really doesn't accumulate as it wood if it wasn't biodegrading.
I turn and sprinkle new shavings weekly. Sometimes twice a week. When it gets really cold it freezes solid, that is no fun. so It may accumulate to up to a foot at times.
+Maine.Homestead.Project I throw grass clippings or anything I pull up from the yard in the coop in the summer and dead leaves in the fall and winter and sometimes I throw feed in, but they usually scratch it up themselves as they love it when new stuff comes inside the coop.
Hello from Norway. Thanks so much for posting this very informative deep bedding video. It was exactly what I was looking for! I love permaculture principles. We are in the process of building our first chicken coop, and I will definitely use this method. 😀
Thanks for explaining the deep litter method. I didn't realize you shouldn't use DE in that? What about putting down a layer of barn lime on the floor, before putting the pine shavings on top? I think I may have mites in my coop, so I was going to clean out and need to put something in there to kill the possible mites, before putting down new bedding.
Hello! Thinking ahead to winter, where do I put water feeder when weather is too harsh (deep snow or heavy winds) for them to be in the run? My hens are only 8 weeks old. Currently- water and food is only in the run. (You have said don’t have any moisture in the coop.) Advice?
I am interested in this method but you say to clean it out at a certain time when it is ready to put into your garden. How do you do this with the fresh poo from the weeks before clean out. isn't it still active with bad microbes.
Hi, Great channel. I just recently got chickens so Im new at this. Every day I remove any poop I can see on the surface of the hen house. Should I leave the poop instead of cleaning it so it will break down and help create heat in the coop or should the pine and straw just do that on its own?
Great video and subscribed. I’ve used DL for the last 2 years with great success however I’m always evolving the material I’m adding, dried leaves have been a staple for me as I live in a forested area. I am finding the leaves retain moisture however so I’m working with some other material like straws and hay.
I just pulled (almost) all the deep litter from my run, 9 months in the making - 3 birds. I was under the impression it had to go into the compost to finish breaking down before putting it directly on my raised garden beds. Is this not accurate? It could have gone directly into my spring beds at the same time I'm planting my spring/summer garden? It was beautiful stuff and no smell. I sifted it since I use the chip from prunings from the yard as the carbonaceous matter for my litter. Thanks for any help you can provide.
I put compost on my beds in the fall so it has time to break down and develops a mycelium network. Currently I'd put it on berries or crops that don't come into contact with the soil, but not lettuces or root crops.
Great video! We have 4 week old chicks. It’s late June, it’s warm/hot and I’d like to try the deep litter method. Their coop is about 3’ x 4’ and their run is 6’ x 24’. Is it ok for rain to dampen the wood shavings in their run? Just to confirm during the summer months you would only do the deep litter method go for about 3 months before doing a full refresh/restart in the fall? Thanks.
So how does this work when you have stick fast fleas whose larvae burrow into the the ground to pupate into fleas? Or is it a bad idea? And what about mites and lice? I live in Australia. Long hot summers are very prone to attracting the fleas.
I live smack dab in the middle of a subdivision. I just got my chickens yesterday, I adopted an already laying flock! I am hoping that this method will work for me without any smells to bother my neighbors. Loved the video, especialy the part about the herbs!
My chickens are good. We added ducks to the mix too, and they are great. The deep litter works almost too well. We have been using it in the run instead of the house, and have more compost than we can shovel most of the time. The ground is almost 2 feet taller in there than it should be. I would recommend finding a way to rotate your garden and chickens if you are going to do that. We are actually going to switch to sand in the coop and run this spring because we just can't keep up with the compost. I have been composting all our food scraps in the run, leaves from the neighbors, leftover hay and droppings from the rabbits, etc. So I have had a lot going on which has contributed to it, so maybe you won't have as much, but I do. I never thought that would be a problem! We moved 14 wheel barrels full of compost this spring and could have moved that much again. I did not deep litter in the actually hen house because too much moisture would build up and stink. We did end up opening the eves for ventilation, but I would still end up cleaning it out every month. Over all, I love the deep litter method, but it's working too well for me right now. Were going to try sand for a year, and can always go back if we miss the deep litter. Good luck!
The chickens do find a lot to eat in it, and it definitely keeps them busy. Not to mention it is the richest most beautiful compost coming out of there that you have ever seen!
I live in a very humid climate, Singapore. Would the deep litter work? Would it attract mites & lice besides other bugs? My hens just recovered from mites.
I don’t think it would. I live in Australia and any poop left a few days in the coop stinks in summer. I think you need a cooler climate for this to work and not be a cesspit for mites and lice and we also get stick fast fleas which the larvae burrow into the ground to pupate into fleas. We have to have concrete floors and either very little or no bedding to stop the breeding cycle.
Thanks. I just got my first baby chicks and am planning my set up for the coop. This is part of my plan; to use the deep litter method. Your video has been extremely helpful to me. No diatomaceous earth, now to get some wood ash.
Is it safe for my chickens to sleep on deep bedding at night. They are about 19 weeks right now and although I have perches, some still choose to sleep on the ground every night. I check the perches for mites ect, but the wood is ok. That is just they preference. In the day they are free ranged from morning to evening .
Hello, I'm just learning about this method. Does this method cause the coop to smell bad? I'm concerned about the smell because my property isn't very big and I don't want to have a stinky coop permeating stench over my property and reaching the neighbors. Thanks!
This was a response I got from my comment on the ASK PHILL part 4 video. I said that I had been told that you could not use DE when using Deep Litter Bedding. Flyte So Fancy 14 hours ago To the very best of my knowledge and research, DE does not harm bacteria, in fact some bacteria actually use it as a source of silica. Therefore i personally do not see why it cannot be used in a deep litter system although of course it is a drying agent so if used in quantity this in itself will kill the bacteria.
A hello from Australia, I was just told about this method from a forum about quails,as my kids are wanting to try and raise some so I decided to come investigate 😂 turns out Ive been doing this for every chicken Ive owned my whole life, I agree with your comments on the pesticides (though I've not heard of that brand). I didn't however know about the ash 😁 so thankyou for that info I'll start doing that as a preventative method. Anyway I have subscribed and look forward to watching more of your videos
I have not heard that DE is harmful to microbes (not sure you suggested that). It does make sense to me that adding it would be a waste of sorts since it would be lost in the pile. I have a prefab shed that I am thinking I might use for a coop, but it's really not that "tight" (meaning can exclude rodents and snakes). Will chickens be bothered by mice, .etc or will they sort that out on their own?
+The806Traveler You will encourage beneficials using this method, that is how it works, so adding a substance that kills microbial life doesn't make much sense when you want to cultivate them to aid in decomposing.
+The806Traveler Chickens will not only eat mice, they will chase after them. The first snake my chickens saw was a garter snake, and they sort of stood there clucking at it.
Love the video, Thank you. Which dry herbs can I use to keep away mites, ants ect. Can I use the grind up garlic that comes from the supermarket as well ?
Garlic and all other onion relatives are toxic to chickens and cause hemolytic anemia if the chicken eats it. Don't put garlic anywhere a chicken would stumble across it and think they've found a treat.
What are the dimensions on your coop and how many birds do you keep in it? Also, can you go over how much ventilation your coop has in relation to your flock size and the coldness of your winters? I see a lot of beginner advice along the lines of "Don't forget to have ventilation, even in the winter!" but that's usually where it stops. No explanation of where to place the openings, how they are shaped, how big they are, and how to position the coop and vents in relation to the sun and the prevailing winds. Can you please show us, by way of your own example, how to properly manage all aspects of the proper ventilation of a coop? Thank you!
+JeepWranglerIslander Great q's I'll see if I can't get a video addressing them all. My coop is far from ideal, but I can give you an over view of likes/dislikes.
+FRESH PRINCESS Thanks P! I know there's lots of self help and sources people can study and read, but sometimes the best learning comes out of gathering and synthesizing lots of other people's experiences. Just reading about it isn't enough, and can be abstract, whereas seeing how it's done by example can make the book instruction make more sense.
Hi, how about instead of using soap to clean your coop you spray it down with something called lacto Or lab, or diy bokashi. and you can make it yourself with few resources and it helps speed up or pre digest you compost and destroy any pathogenic bacteria plus it’s great probiotics for your birds. And it helps kill any smell. There are many benefits to it, if you do a little research into lacto/lab/lactobacillus serum and bokashi
I was wondering if this will rot my chip board wood floor at all. At the moment I scrape out all the manure and straw monthly, it’s a big job,but I would prefer to do the deep litter if it isn’t going to rot my floor
what are the product that I should use for the deep litter method and what should be the height in foot for deep litter.will it completely reduce the smell of ammonia.
+Sandeep Pakhiddey I use wood chips, straw would also work. Stay away from cedar. It won't eliminate smell, if that's what you're asking, but it will reduce the ammonia buildup.
i have been doing this deep bed method pretty much the way you do it but im still getting strong ammonia and i actually add powderd lime for horse stalls what do you think is wrong?
Can you mix diatomaceous Earth with your chickens food and use the Deep litter method in the coop? will that affect it? I have a 4.5 x 4.5 ft. coop for 4 hens.
I know this sounds absolutely insane to do but for me it works, after I power wash the coop, I use a roofing torch (basically a flame thrower but not exactly) to dry out the coop. if you move the flames around continuously, it evaporates all the water pretty quickly without burning the wood. It also disinfects everything. Of course I shut the doors so the chickens can't get in and of course I stay in there for a little while to make sure it cools down and nothing catches fire. and yes I wait a while before adding any straw back to the coop until everything is back to room temperature. I know I am going to get allot of flack for this one but it works great as long as you have a little common sense. OK now bring on the insults, I'm ready.
@@Thefreshp oh do explain! I have bees as well but I have never done anything to the boxes. when and why do you do this? and thank you, I like the cut of your jib as well :)
Bee boxes can harbor mites and pathogens, I don't have any proof that this eliminates them, but when a hive collapses I burn the frames and char the boxes. Thanks.
do you use straw? I live in WA state and the rain has been making things very mucky. Also my flock is ducks and chickens. I have a poop collector system which catches all the roost poop into a trough. the ducks sleep under the collector. Bunk beds for birds. So the duck poop which is not visible as much is still on the floor bedding.
I'm moving my girls from a large suburban yard to an urban teeny tiny yard where they will have to stay in their run most of the time. Would this method work in the run also? I'm tired of tracking poo inside everyday after checking on them.
+Carrie Council It will certainly work in the run, even better if it receives rain; given that compost attracts worms and tons of bugs, it will keep your girls happy. Have you thought of putting in a swing for them or a ball/bottle on a string at eye level? They will actually play with toys that are suspended which helps alleviate boredom.
Just don't put toy dinos in with the baby chicks. I accidentally traumatized a clutch of chicks by putting in the dino with the frilled collar from Jurassic Park - it was the same size as they were, and it scared them.
We just purchased our first peeps : ) Could you tell me if wood vine & sweet pea are toxic to them? Its already growing all over our yard from the previous owners : (
My Dearest Fresh Princess I am a city boy, I do not think my Apartment Manager would like my raising Chickens on my deck :-) Sorry, I could not help making an irrelevant comment. ;-) It is so good to see your smile back, how is the painting coming along? Much Love Minnesota...
I've heard that pine/wood shavings aren't that great for breaking down into compost. Have you actually seen the shavings break down? I'm tempted to just use straw, which is supposed to break down easily.
i use pine shavings, some leaves from the yard too....the chickens really love it. This will be my first winter with them. My girls are 7 months old now. I did not know you could use wood ash to treat/prevent mites..we havae a fireplace and burn a fire everynight and clean it out every morning..the wood is natural dried out wood, not treated. and we have an ash tree that is dead and we are going to cut it down soon to use for heat. Will that wood be ok to use its ash for the coop? And can i put some of that in the nesting boxes too? I normally use DE in the runs and in the coop for the birds to dust bathe in.
Do you know if shredded hemp is available in Minnesota? We live in Minneapolis and we are working hard to create a comfortable environment for our first flock of chickens in the city. If five chickens is a flock of hens.
The philosohpy of deep litter method is producing compost during keep coop healty for chicken.you need bacteria for composting process. Also someone uses lactobasilous for increasing amount of decomposting bacteria.nitrogen from poops carbon from woodchips etc. and bacteria
FRESH PRINCESS Hi, well i calculated it like this. 3 min per week mixing x 52 weeks is 2.6 hrs plus 2 hour full clean out every year. the buildup over year makes for several wheelbarrel loads. that's 4.6 hours. i can clean all in one load 12x per yr at 20 min (one wheelbarrel load). which is 4 hours saving me .6 hours and im not breathing dust every week. only monthly. in my opinion thats a better option.
Yes! As long as you have the space for the litter to get pretty deep - even up to a foot or more. It works really well in small coops in the winter because the compost heats up and keeps the birds warmer.
You'll get much quicker composting and better results if you don't use all one kind of material, especially wood shavings...they break down slowly and all at the same rate...and you'll have better litter if you DON'T stir it all the time. Using litter with different particle sizes lets enough air into the mass for decomposition, so every time you stir it you lose valuable moisture that aids in your composting. When you remove all your litter and disinfect, you lose valuable microbial life and the litter is important in the summer too...prevents flies and manages smells, you just need more ventilation than you currently have.
Thanks for mentioning the diatomaceous earth I didn't know that!
I never knew there was so much to learn about chicken crap! Thanks for the "egg"ucation.
Thanks, great info. I have six chicks about 8 weeks old and the pine bedding is awsome to absorb the smells. I have the chicks in the play house I have for my nieces and nephews which they never used until these chicks came into the seen here, lol. The play house has two house windows and a exhaust fan but he roof leaks a little and need to fix or just build a new coop which I want to do. I am learning to keep them happy and healthy and how they sleep and building nests. I am an organic heirloom gardener mainly so the chickens I know some about but not completely. Thanks and I will keep listening to you and adoring your beautiful smile.
+Anthony Norris have fun with your babies!! Thanks for your kind words. 🙏🏼
Thank you for this video! About the deep cleaning in the spring, my assumption is that since the coop now has lots of beneficial microbes, wouldn't it be counterintuitive to clean the coop? I would think that, perhaps leaving a little bit of the old pine shavings mixed with poop, etc, would be beneficial for the next batch of the bedding breaking down faster? I would love to hear what you have to say about this. Thank you!
best explaining of method I have heard. Good job. Thank you
Thanks for sharing! Can you use sweet PDZ with this method?
There's another way with no turning involved. Use 4 to 6-inch deep hemp bedding instead of pine and do not turn over when dirty but just keep on adding new hemp bedding material on top. Then once a year or even more (the smell will guide you), scrape off the crust layer and put it aside. Clean out all the rest and either put it onto your compost or use it directly as mulch. As for the crust you put aside, use it as the bottom layer under your 4 to 6-inch deep new hemp bedding so the decomposing doesn't have to start from scratch, (this way the useful germs are already on-site). ua-cam.com/video/CZRCKhICN_s/v-deo.html
I think u should create ur own channel what u have suggested can b believed!!!!
@@muskrilcardo9372 It's already on other people's channel. Look for it, you'll find it.
Thank you, that was very informative. In Australia, of course it gets very warm and often very humid which, a couple of times, has attracted mites, once badly. Does this deep litter method help to avoid that? THank you
Love your energy and advice. We have just built our first chicken coop and have ordered 5 laying hens for the spring. Going to take all the good ideas I can find and utilize them to keep a healthy flock. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience, it's appreciated.
You're so sweet. Enjoy them! You'll be a lovely chicken momma. ♥️
This is the first time I have heard of this. Sabrina and I are getting our first chickens for our organic garden this spring. We Really appreciate your content and the explanation with commentary that you provide.
I'm not so sure of region on how this works best...for the north where its VERY cold in winter this nay work, but some places this wouldn't work due to fluctuating Temps all yr long, it may be TOO warm for some regions, but I'm in the north,and yes in winter they will have deeper layers, I'm just not sure about mixing the roost droppings into it all, think I'd rather scoop those out and put fresh bedding in...I dont have a plan on which method I'll go with yet, guess I'll play it by ear based on how my birds do...want to use pine pellets in their yard area, but in coop? THERE'S so many various ways I'm not sure WHICH I'm sold on at this point...I use DE in their dust bath, not in their bedding, but lots to consider, thank you for sharing😊👍🏻
I am living on the southern part of Australia very hot summers always a sea breeze and cold winters but no lower than 8deg Celsius at night maybe in the middle of winter it might get down to 6 degrees. My question is we have a concrete floor as a pad to the Aunts House (Hens) can I still use the deep method or does it have to be a earth floor, also can I do this in the run as well as I have been just turning and leaving piles of old hay for them to forage in but as it is now winter here it does get wet or should I rake all old hay and scraps out to garden. Thankyou for your column. Cheers Judy Esperance West Australia
I have been using this method since I started chicken keeping 5 years ago. I also use fresh herbs all summer long. And I also dry herbs to use in the winter time. I am so glad that you are talking about this method of coop maintenance. I tell anyone who will listen to me about it...
+Maine.Homestead.Project How wonderful. Do you let yours get over 1' deep? What I've read is that it begins to break down and really doesn't accumulate as it wood if it wasn't biodegrading.
I turn and sprinkle new shavings weekly. Sometimes twice a week. When it gets really cold it freezes solid, that is no fun. so It may accumulate to up to a foot at times.
+Maine.Homestead.Project I throw grass clippings or anything I pull up from the yard in the coop in the summer and dead leaves in the fall and winter and sometimes I throw feed in, but they usually scratch it up themselves as they love it when new stuff comes inside the coop.
Hello from Norway. Thanks so much for posting this very informative deep bedding video. It was exactly what I was looking for! I love permaculture principles. We are in the process of building our first chicken coop, and I will definitely use this method. 😀
You're welcome. Good luck and may the New Year find you blessed.
@@Thefreshp Thanks so much, and same to you.
ua-cam.com/video/OD_m39evplc/v-deo.html
Nice! We're on to a good start with this...just need to continue. Thanks.
Thanks for explaining the deep litter method. I didn't realize you shouldn't use DE in that? What about putting down a layer of barn lime on the floor, before putting the pine shavings on top? I think I may have mites in my coop, so I was going to clean out and need to put something in there to kill the possible mites, before putting down new bedding.
How often do I have to remove the tired bedding, thanks 4 z tips!!!!
Does this method work well for humid climates? I'm in the Carolinas and we have humidity year round, it's just not as bad in the winters.
Thank you for just sounding so nice, enjoyed your video
Hello! Thinking ahead to winter, where do I put water feeder when weather is too harsh (deep snow or heavy winds) for them to be in the run? My hens are only 8 weeks old. Currently- water and food is only in the run. (You have said don’t have any moisture in the coop.) Advice?
Hey, FP. Following your technique, and it works. I use hemp in my coop, and it’s awesome!! Take care!!
Cool! Thanks for the tip.
Where do you find hemp? And is it more expensive than pine shavings?
@@jfuentes9188 newcountryorganics.com They won’t rip you off with inflated shipping like some of the others. Good folks.
Excellent video! I don't have chickens yet!!! but now I do want Great work! Thanks a lot
I am interested in this method but you say to clean it out at a certain time when it is ready to put into your garden. How do you do this with the fresh poo from the weeks before clean out. isn't it still active with bad microbes.
Hi, Great channel. I just recently got chickens so Im new at this. Every day I remove any poop I can see on the surface of the hen house. Should I leave the poop instead of cleaning it so it will break down and help create heat in the coop or should the pine and straw just do that on its own?
You won't need to clean it if you keep up on daily removal. Whatever works. Sounds like you're a good chickie momma.
Great video and subscribed. I’ve used DL for the last 2 years with great success however I’m always evolving the material I’m adding, dried leaves have been a staple for me as I live in a forested area. I am finding the leaves retain moisture however so I’m working with some other material like straws and hay.
I just pulled (almost) all the deep litter from my run, 9 months in the making - 3 birds. I was under the impression it had to go into the compost to finish breaking down before putting it directly on my raised garden beds. Is this not accurate? It could have gone directly into my spring beds at the same time I'm planting my spring/summer garden? It was beautiful stuff and no smell. I sifted it since I use the chip from prunings from the yard as the carbonaceous matter for my litter. Thanks for any help you can provide.
I put compost on my beds in the fall so it has time to break down and develops a mycelium network. Currently I'd put it on berries or crops that don't come into contact with the soil, but not lettuces or root crops.
Great video! We have 4 week old chicks. It’s late June, it’s warm/hot and I’d like to try the deep litter method. Their coop is about 3’ x 4’ and their run is 6’ x 24’. Is it ok for rain to dampen the wood shavings in their run? Just to confirm during the summer months you would only do the deep litter method go for about 3 months before doing a full refresh/restart in the fall? Thanks.
Good work. All info. building my first coop in a week or so.
Have fun with it!
Oh what about lime? I have lime down under my pine chips. Everything seems to be breaking down but now I wonder about lime.
Great video.
Is the bottom floor of the coop just wood, or is it some sort of water proof plastic? I am not sure which way to go?
What herbs specifically do you use?
So how does this work when you have stick fast fleas whose larvae burrow into the the ground to pupate into fleas? Or is it a bad idea? And what about mites and lice? I live in Australia. Long hot summers are very prone to attracting the fleas.
I covered their wood floor with vinyl ...will that make a problem u think?
subbed/ liked...lots of good tips and comments here...thnx
Thx Ben, vinyl is IDEAL, easy to clean and indestructible. Good choice.
I live smack dab in the middle of a subdivision. I just got my chickens yesterday, I adopted an already laying flock! I am hoping that this method will work for me without any smells to bother my neighbors. Loved the video, especialy the part about the herbs!
A dozen eggs now and again can warm the heart of even the most skeptical neighbor. Enjoy them!!
How are your chickens doing, I'm moving into a subdivision and want to get chickens, any tips would be helpful!
My chickens are good. We added ducks to the mix too, and they are great. The deep litter works almost too well. We have been using it in the run instead of the house, and have more compost than we can shovel most of the time. The ground is almost 2 feet taller in there than it should be. I would recommend finding a way to rotate your garden and chickens if you are going to do that. We are actually going to switch to sand in the coop and run this spring because we just can't keep up with the compost. I have been composting all our food scraps in the run, leaves from the neighbors, leftover hay and droppings from the rabbits, etc. So I have had a lot going on which has contributed to it, so maybe you won't have as much, but I do. I never thought that would be a problem! We moved 14 wheel barrels full of compost this spring and could have moved that much again. I did not deep litter in the actually hen house because too much moisture would build up and stink. We did end up opening the eves for ventilation, but I would still end up cleaning it out every month. Over all, I love the deep litter method, but it's working too well for me right now. Were going to try sand for a year, and can always go back if we miss the deep litter. Good luck!
The chickens do find a lot to eat in it, and it definitely keeps them busy. Not to mention it is the richest most beautiful compost coming out of there that you have ever seen!
so during the summer how deep do I want my litter? Should I change/add litter during summer months?
I live in a very humid climate, Singapore. Would the deep litter work? Would it attract mites & lice besides other bugs? My hens just recovered from mites.
I don’t think it would. I live in Australia and any poop left a few days in the coop stinks in summer. I think you need a cooler climate for this to work and not be a cesspit for mites and lice and we also get stick fast fleas which the larvae burrow into the ground to pupate into fleas. We have to have concrete floors and either very little or no bedding to stop the breeding cycle.
I like the ash trick, I don't burn wood, but I know where to get some if needed
Thanks. I just got my first baby chicks and am planning my set up for the coop. This is part of my plan; to use the deep litter method. Your video has been extremely helpful to me. No diatomaceous earth, now to get some wood ash.
ua-cam.com/video/OD_m39evplc/v-deo.html
Does this still work in the winter in areas that don’t freeze often or is this best in cold areas that see all 4 seasons?
Thank you.
Does this method caused the floor of the coop to rot faster?
Is it safe for my chickens to sleep on deep bedding at night. They are about 19 weeks right now and although I have perches, some still choose to sleep on the ground every night. I check the perches for mites ect, but the wood is ok. That is just they preference. In the day they are free ranged from morning to evening .
Sounds cozy!
What do you put in your chicken run
Hello, I'm just learning about this method. Does this method cause the coop to smell bad? I'm concerned about the smell because my property isn't very big and I don't want to have a stinky coop permeating stench over my property and reaching the neighbors. Thanks!
If everything is breaking down correctly, you shouldn't have any pungent or bad odors.
Excellent video
Just subscribed your channel
This was a response I got from my comment on the ASK PHILL part 4 video. I said that I had been told that you could not use DE when using Deep Litter Bedding.
Flyte So Fancy
14 hours ago
To the very best of my knowledge and research, DE does not harm bacteria, in fact some bacteria actually use it as a source of silica. Therefore i personally do not see why it cannot be used in a deep litter system although of course it is a drying agent so if used in quantity this in itself will kill the bacteria.
A hello from Australia, I was just told about this method from a forum about quails,as my kids are wanting to try and raise some so I decided to come investigate 😂 turns out Ive been doing this for every chicken Ive owned my whole life, I agree with your comments on the pesticides (though I've not heard of that brand). I didn't however know about the ash 😁 so thankyou for that info I'll start doing that as a preventative method. Anyway I have subscribed and look forward to watching more of your videos
Hello can I use this on my rabbits instead of chickens ? Thank you
I have not heard that DE is harmful to microbes (not sure you suggested that). It does make sense to me that adding it would be a waste of sorts since it would be lost in the pile. I have a prefab shed that I am thinking I might use for a coop, but it's really not that "tight" (meaning can exclude rodents and snakes). Will chickens be bothered by mice, .etc or will they sort that out on their own?
+The806Traveler You will encourage beneficials using this method, that is how it works, so adding a substance that kills microbial life doesn't make much sense when you want to cultivate them to aid in decomposing.
+The806Traveler Chickens will not only eat mice, they will chase after them. The first snake my chickens saw was a garter snake, and they sort of stood there clucking at it.
Love the video, Thank you. Which dry herbs can I use to keep away mites, ants ect.
Can I use the grind up garlic that comes from the supermarket as well ?
Garlic and all other onion relatives are toxic to chickens and cause hemolytic anemia if the chicken eats it. Don't put garlic anywhere a chicken would stumble across it and think they've found a treat.
@@whifflingtit9240 i have never lost a chicken to garlic , if you use it wisely and properly it’s safe for them
@@whifflingtit9240 what really? i've seen multiple people on youtube adding garlic for magic water and adding powdered garlic to their feed....:/
What are the dimensions on your coop and how many birds do you keep in it? Also, can you go over how much ventilation your coop has in relation to your flock size and the coldness of your winters? I see a lot of beginner advice along the lines of "Don't forget to have ventilation, even in the winter!" but that's usually where it stops. No explanation of where to place the openings, how they are shaped, how big they are, and how to position the coop and vents in relation to the sun and the prevailing winds. Can you please show us, by way of your own example, how to properly manage all aspects of the proper ventilation of a coop? Thank you!
+JeepWranglerIslander Great q's I'll see if I can't get a video addressing them all. My coop is far from ideal, but I can give you an over view of likes/dislikes.
+FRESH PRINCESS Thanks P! I know there's lots of self help and sources people can study and read, but sometimes the best learning comes out of gathering and synthesizing lots of other people's experiences. Just reading about it isn't enough, and can be abstract, whereas seeing how it's done by example can make the book instruction make more sense.
+JeepWranglerIslander I agree.
Does this cut back on the smell significantly? We’re wanting to get chickens this year but I fear being OCD about the smell 🤢
ua-cam.com/video/OD_m39evplc/v-deo.html
Hi, how about instead of using soap to clean your coop you spray it down with something called lacto Or lab, or diy bokashi. and you can make it yourself with few resources and it helps speed up or pre digest you compost and destroy any pathogenic bacteria plus it’s great probiotics for your birds. And it helps kill any smell. There are many benefits to it, if you do a little research into lacto/lab/lactobacillus serum and bokashi
Great suggestion!!
I was wondering if this will rot my chip board wood floor at all. At the moment I scrape out all the manure and straw monthly, it’s a big job,but I would prefer to do the deep litter if it isn’t going to rot my floor
My floor was pressboard too. I shared tour concern but in the 7 years I tried this, the floor didn't seem compromised.
This is week 1 for me with my new girls. Question? Do I add bedding to the ground of my coop or just the upstairs nesting area?
The dirt floor. But be sure and dig down and put hardware cloth in, predators will dig under.
@@Thefreshp thank you.
@@Thefreshp where we live I don't think there are many predators other than neighborhood cats. But better safe than sorry I guess
thank you very much for the video. Is the floor of your coop concrete or earth?
Plywood.
what are the product that I should use for the deep litter method and what should be the height in foot for deep litter.will it completely reduce the smell of ammonia.
+Sandeep Pakhiddey I use wood chips, straw would also work. Stay away from cedar. It won't eliminate smell, if that's what you're asking, but it will reduce the ammonia buildup.
+FRESH PRINCESS Thank u very much for replying me very soon .I will follow urs instructions.U Haven't told anything abt the height of deep litter.
i have been doing this deep bed method pretty much the way you do it but im still getting strong ammonia and i actually add powderd lime for horse stalls what do you think is wrong?
Do you have enough room for the birds?
What about scattering some garden lime on the floor under the bedding? Is that ok!
No, you want to encourage microbial growth, not sterilize it.
@@Thefreshp Thank you
Can you mix diatomaceous Earth with your chickens food and use the Deep litter method in the coop? will that affect it? I have a 4.5 x 4.5 ft. coop for 4 hens.
DE kills the microbes that aid in breaking down the carbon/poo.
when you deep clean and let it dry for a few days where do your chickens live?
I know this sounds absolutely insane to do but for me it works, after I power wash the coop, I use a roofing torch (basically a flame thrower but not exactly) to dry out the coop. if you move the flames around continuously, it evaporates all the water pretty quickly without burning the wood. It also disinfects everything. Of course I shut the doors so the chickens can't get in and of course I stay in there for a little while to make sure it cools down and nothing catches fire. and yes I wait a while before adding any straw back to the coop until everything is back to room temperature. I know I am going to get allot of flack for this one but it works great as long as you have a little common sense. OK now bring on the insults, I'm ready.
I do the same with my bee boxes! I like your style!
@@Thefreshp oh do explain! I have bees as well but I have never done anything to the boxes. when and why do you do this? and thank you, I like the cut of your jib as well :)
Bee boxes can harbor mites and pathogens, I don't have any proof that this eliminates them, but when a hive collapses I burn the frames and char the boxes. Thanks.
do you use straw? I live in WA state and the rain has been making things very mucky. Also my flock is ducks and chickens. I have a poop collector system which catches all the roost poop into a trough. the ducks sleep under the collector. Bunk beds for birds. So the duck poop which is not visible as much is still on the floor bedding.
+Nathan Roboticist yes, straw is awesome. It mats up more than wood chips but works.
+Nathan Roboticist I use straw outside in their pen.
Great video !! THANKS SO MUCH !!!!!!!!!!!
I'm moving my girls from a large suburban yard to an urban teeny tiny yard where they will have to stay in their run most of the time. Would this method work in the run also? I'm tired of tracking poo inside everyday after checking on them.
+Carrie Council It will certainly work in the run, even better if it receives rain; given that compost attracts worms and tons of bugs, it will keep your girls happy. Have you thought of putting in a swing for them or a ball/bottle on a string at eye level? They will actually play with toys that are suspended which helps alleviate boredom.
Just don't put toy dinos in with the baby chicks. I accidentally traumatized a clutch of chicks by putting in the dino with the frilled collar from Jurassic Park - it was the same size as they were, and it scared them.
So funny.
What herbs do you use?
Can I use this method over a dirt floor?
Yes
Can this method work for ducks? Ducks do not roost so I do not know what modifications you would make for this to work for ducks
We just purchased our first peeps : ) Could you tell me if wood vine & sweet pea are toxic to them? Its already growing all over our yard from the previous owners : (
+L James you'll have to google it, I'm unfamiliar with wood vine.
+L James congrats❣️❣️
Thanks! We got 20 dark cornish. They're 12 days old now & thriving - I've never seen anything grow as fast as they do!
+L James yes, meat birds have been bred to grow well beyond normal growth. They're typically slaughtered after just a few months.
sweet pea is toxic to humans for sure, and likely chickens. I'd check out the list of what is safe for them.
My Dearest Fresh Princess
I am a city boy, I do not think my Apartment Manager would like my raising Chickens on my deck :-) Sorry, I could not help making an irrelevant comment. ;-)
It is so good to see your smile back, how is the painting coming along?
Much Love
Minnesota...
+Todd Dembsky That sounds like the perfect place for a hen or two ;)
FRESH PRINCESS Hen -- yes -- Rooster no.
Does this work w ducks and chickens living together?
Lets us know!
Can i substitute used bbq charcoal for wood ash? P.S.: I cook a mean tri-tip!
Yes any carbon
@@Thefreshp Do you just sprinkle it all over and mix it with the bedding?
I sprinkle, the girls mix.
What if i use rice husk instead? Will it work?
Try it and lets us know!
Can you use mint in the coop, we have tons growing
Of course, your girls would LOVE it!
What other herbs are beneficial in the coop? Thanks.
+Fred Mertz any pungent herb
I've heard that pine/wood shavings aren't that great for breaking down into compost. Have you actually seen the shavings break down? I'm tempted to just use straw, which is supposed to break down easily.
+Lynn I use woodchips in my garden twice a year, piling on a thick layer then covering in straw. It's needs moisture and oxygen to break down.
FRESH PRINCESS I see. Where I live it's very dry, so that's probably why straw works better where I live.
+Lynn could be, I'd imagine it to break down much faster
i use pine shavings, some leaves from the yard too....the chickens really love it. This will be my first winter with them. My girls are 7 months old now. I did not know you could use wood ash to treat/prevent mites..we havae a fireplace and burn a fire everynight and clean it out every morning..the wood is natural dried out wood, not treated. and we have an ash tree that is dead and we are going to cut it down soon to use for heat. Will that wood be ok to use its ash for the coop? And can i put some of that in the nesting boxes too? I normally use DE in the runs and in the coop for the birds to dust bathe in.
+Rebecca Johnston I wouldn't see why not. Let me know. Enjoy your ladybirds 💋🐓
i use a version of deep method using shreaded Hemp it is anti microbial, anti bacterial, with Hemp you can go for 3 Years between clean outs.
Do you know if shredded hemp is available in Minnesota? We live in Minneapolis and we are working hard to create a comfortable environment for our first flock of chickens in the city. If five chickens is a flock of hens.
The philosohpy of deep litter method is producing compost during keep coop healty for chicken.you need bacteria for composting process. Also someone uses lactobasilous for increasing amount of decomposting bacteria.nitrogen from poops carbon from woodchips etc. and bacteria
You want to promote microbial breakdown. That's the point. What did the hemp do? Rid method in essence is creating compost.
Do you put a water feeder out in your coop?
I raise quail, but I'm sure this method would work! Thanks for your video. By the way, you are awfully cute.
Your smile is infectious 😍
+Dachshund Life_4 😁
Can I do this with a dirt floor, we are just building our coop
Yes, but put hardware cloth down first, creatures will burrow under and eat your birds.
Thank you so much!
Hi, I don't get it. The amount of work you are doing is not much less than just cleaning it out every month and putting it in compost pile??
+mrpush 10 minutes vs. 2 hours, that's quite a difference to me.
FRESH PRINCESS Hi, well i calculated it like this. 3 min per week mixing x 52 weeks is 2.6 hrs plus 2 hour full clean out every year. the buildup over year makes for several wheelbarrel loads. that's 4.6 hours. i can clean all in one load 12x per yr at 20 min (one wheelbarrel load). which is 4 hours saving me .6 hours and im not breathing dust every week. only monthly. in my opinion thats a better option.
+mrpush have at it. I prefer to experiment with various options.
Beautiful face and perfect illustrations
Any issues with cockroaches?
Can you use ash from a pellet stove ?
Ash when mixed with water forms a lye, I wouldn't use it without some further research.
When to remove the compost
I mean when the compost will done to spread into garden
When it gets too deep!
Great video
+Danny Nguyen thanks.
THUMBS UP !!
Stay Safe young lady.....:o)
Can this method be used in a raised plastic coop? Or should a different kind of material be used on plastic floor, maybe pine shavings instead?
IDK
I like your birds.
+Teri Dittmann ah thanks. I ❤ them too.
Will the deep litter method work for coops that are not the walk-in type?
Yes! As long as you have the space for the litter to get pretty deep - even up to a foot or more.
It works really well in small coops in the winter because the compost heats up and keeps the birds warmer.
Sounds too easy how many feet deep does it get by spring?
+Holly Laughter Once it gets over 6" it begins to biodegrade so it doesn't really get over a foot deep.
Charcoal ash is effective in getting rid of chicken mites.
Good to know
Is she ok?
You'll get much quicker composting and better results if you don't use all one kind of material, especially wood shavings...they break down slowly and all at the same rate...and you'll have better litter if you DON'T stir it all the time. Using litter with different particle sizes lets enough air into the mass for decomposition, so every time you stir it you lose valuable moisture that aids in your composting. When you remove all your litter and disinfect, you lose valuable microbial life and the litter is important in the summer too...prevents flies and manages smells, you just need more ventilation than you currently have.
+Mountain Woman thx❣️
+Mountain Woman all of my windows are wire. It vents on all four sides and we live in a notoriously windy place. It vents just fine.
Not if you are having bad smells.
It doesn't smell bad.
She is so sweet and pretty
nice
You used the term "foul odor". In your video so I just switched it around a little. Sorry, I can be a little confusing at times.
Thx
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I suppose if the hubby aggravates you, then send him to the coop. He then will be in "deep litter".
Ahhh so good.
+Kenneth Lomibao warning: future product spamming will get you banned from the channel.
How do you keep a nice garden while letting chickens free range? It seems everyone is always saying how chickens ruin their gardens.
But my ducks, I have two, and speaking of "Where to poops gathers".. my ducks litterally poop everywhere in the coop