Chipping frozen clumps of chicken poo off the floor of my chicken coop in the middle of winter is not my idea of a good time!
I figured this out fast my very first year raising chickens – it is cold, hard, back-breaking work.
Then I discovered it’s okay to leave all that chicken waste in the coop – if you use the deep litter method.
In this article, we’ll explore how to use the deep litter method for chickens, discuss its pros and cons, and help you understand what kinds of bedding will work best.
Key Takeaways
- The deep litter method is a means of composting chicken waste right in the chicken coop.
- By adding layers of carbon-based bedding such as straw or pine shavings and mixing them in, the litter and manure compost over time.
- This process creates warmth for the chickens and keeps both them and their coop healthy.
- It saves you from the cold, hard, back-breaking work of cleaning the coop in winter.
What Is the Deep Litter Method for Chickens?
The deep litter method for chickens is a type of coop management based on the principles of composting.
Rather than completely cleaning out your chicken coop several times per month, you continually add bedding to the chicken coop and allow it to compost along with the chicken manure.
Occasionally, you may need to turn the bedding over to help the composting process, but overall, the maintenance required is much lower. So instead, you clean out the coop once or twice per year. Then, you can use the composted bedding in your garden and flower beds but leave a few inches of material behind to facilitate the next round of deep litter.
The composting process will create heat, which keeps your chickens a little bit warmer in the winter.
It will also create a means for beneficial microbes, such as bacteria and fungi, to grow. These microbes will control pathogens, which will help your chickens to be healthier.
The Science Behind the Deep Litter Method
The deep litter method works through the natural process of composting, which involves several composting phases.
Initially, the litter goes through a moderate-temperature phase where microorganisms begin breaking down the organic matter. As the compost matures, it moves into a high-temperature phase, encouraging the growth of macroorganisms like beetles and worms.
This process not only reduces waste but also produces humus, a nutrient-rich material beneficial for gardens.
The below video by Carolina Coops does a great job explaining the deep litter method.
But keep in mind, they recommend using a product they sell, which is industrial hemp, instead of wood shavings.
I recommend wood shavings in this article, primarily because it works so well and is so inexpensive. The hemp is $60 per bag.
Pros and Cons of Using the Deep Litter Method
Pros of the Deep Litter Method
- It’s easy. The deep litter method doesn’t take a lot of work and isn’t physically demanding. There’s no complicated system to follow, and you can use the type of bedding you like best.
- It keeps your chickens warm. The deep litter method is great if you live in a climate with cold, harsh winters. Although most breeds of chicken are pretty cold-hardy, they can still get frostbite on their toes and comb. The deep litter method will add a little bit of free, natural heat to your chicken coop.
- Your chickens will do most of the work for you. While you may need to stir up the litter every once in a while, your chickens love to dig and scratch in compost. They’ll likely do most – if not all – of the work for you. They’ll dig through the bedding, scratching it up, turning it over, and snacking on bugs, vermin, and little bits of food that might be in it.
- It takes care of the chicken waste. You won’t have to worry about disposing of chicken waste. Left on its own, chicken manure is smelly, gross, and can grow dangerous pathogens. However, the deep litter method will compost and decompose those droppings, creating a more sanitary coop for your chickens and you.
- The microbes produce vitamins. Microbes in the decomposition process will provide Vitamins B12 and K for your chickens, which will help make up for vitamin deficiencies in their winter feeding.
- Dust bathing. The deep litter method creates a warm, safe spot for your chickens to dust bathe in the winter, which is a lovely gift to them when there is snow outside. Dust bathing helps prevent mites and other skin issues.
- Environmental benefits. By composting the manure in the coop, you reduce nutrient loading and manure run-off, benefiting the environment and promoting sustainability.
Cons of the Deep Litter Method
- The litter must be turned regularly. To decompose, the litter needs oxygen. If the chickens aren’t turning the bedding enough, you’ll have to take a good old shovel and rake to the coop and do it yourself.
- Ammonia can build up in the coop. If the coop bedding is too wet, it can create ammonia fumes. If the fumes build up, they can cause irritation to your chickens’ eyes or worse. If you smell ammonia at all, you’ll need to add lots more dry bedding to the coop or clean it out and start over.
- You’ll want to avoid DE, lime, or other types of pesticides and miticides. Products like diatomaceous earth (DE) or lime will inhibit the growth of good microbes, which will prevent your bedding and manure from breaking down properly.
- Potential for disease. If not managed correctly, the deep litter method can harbor pathogens like coccidiosis or Capillaria worms, and promote mold and fungus growth, leading to health issues such as respiratory diseases or bumblefoot.
- Not suitable for all flooring. The deep litter method should ideally be built on a dirt floor. Wood floors can absorb moisture and ammonia, hastening the time it takes for them to rot. Concrete floors do not allow for proper drainage or encourage microbial activity.
Flock Size and Management
Proper flock size management is crucial when using the deep litter method.
Overcrowding can lead to too much manure, upsetting the carbon to nitrogen ratio needed for effective composting.
Aim for at least 4 to 5 square feet per bird inside the coop to maintain balance and prevent issues like ammonia build-up.
7 Types of Litter Used for the Deep Litter Method
There are plenty of options for what kind of ‘stuff’ you can use as litter in your chicken coop.
And no, we don’t mean cat litter!
Instead, we’re talking about coop bedding, and you can choose the type that fits your lifestyle, budget, and accessibility.
You’ll want to consider what you put in. Remember, the deep litter method is based on the rules of composting.
In a typical compost pile, you would want to have 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen. Your chicken bedding is the carbon, and their manure is the nitrogen.
You don’t have to get too technical to get it right, but just keep in mind that you need a LOT of carbon to offset the amount of chicken poo!
1. Pine Shavings
Pine shavings are probably the best type of bedding that you can use. They are inexpensive, easy to find, and break down quickly. They also absorb a lot of moisture. Since pine shavings are lightweight, they are easy for the chickens to dig through and easy for you to turn over if needed.
2. Dried Leaves
Dried leaves are a great addition to your coop. Of course, you would need an awful lot of them, but they do make a great supplement to other types of bedding.
3. Straw
Straw works great if there is enough of it. However, straw pieces are larger, harder for the chickens to turn, and clumps are heavier if you need to turn it yourself.
Straw and hay are also pretty expensive right now, so this might not be the most budget-friendly option.
Also, unless you are using organic straw or hay, it might be treated with chemicals that do not break down in the composting process, which means they could hamper the growth of your garden if that is where you use the deep litter bedding.
4. Sawdust
Sawdust is great at absorbing moisture and odors, but it can get pretty clumpy and hard-packed. So you may want to turn it often or mix it with some other type of bedding, such as straw.
5. Woodchips
Woodchips are also a great option for bedding material. Just make sure you are using plain, untreated wood chips.
6. Shredded Paper
Shredded paper can also be used as bedding. It’s an excellent way to recycle old newspapers and documents. However, it may not absorb moisture as effectively as other materials.
7. Dried Grass & Other Dried Organic Plant Matter
Dried grass clippings and other dried organic plant matter can be used as bedding material. These materials are readily available and cost-effective, especially if you maintain a lawn or garden.
They break down well in the composting process, adding valuable nutrients. However, they may not absorb moisture as effectively as pine shavings, and you’ll need a significant amount to maintain proper bedding depth.
Ensure that all plant matter is thoroughly dried to prevent mold, and avoid using clippings from lawns treated with pesticides or herbicides, as these can be harmful to your chickens and garden.
9 Easy Steps to Correctly Use the Deep Litter Method
To use the deep litter method, you’ll want to start with a well-ventilated coop. The coop can be wood, metal, plastic, large, small, or in-between. The floor can be concrete, treated wood, etc.
This method works well with pretty much any type of coop, just so long as it has good ventilation.
1. Start in the Spring
Even if you only plan on housing your chickens in a deep litter system during the winter, spring is the ideal time to start building up the litter.
This timing allows the composting process to reach its warmest phase in the fall, providing additional heat during the colder months.
2. Begin with Dry Bedding
Start with a fresh, 6-inch layer of dry bedding on the floor of the coop. The bedding should be some kind of dried carbon materials, such as pine shavings, wood chips, straw, etc.
Whatever you have that fits your budget will work just fine. You can even use a mix of beddings if you prefer.
3. Keep Building Up the Bedding
Keep adding layers of bedding each day or week as needed until it is about 12 inches deep.
4. Don’t Remove Manure or Bedding
Instead, just allow the manure to fall right into the bedding.
5. Ensure Proper Aeration
Make sure you or your chickens are turning the bedding regularly. Turning the bedding ensures there is enough oxygen (oxygenation) to create the composting process, which reduces the ammonia that can build up in the coop. You can toss some grains or seeds into the bedding to entice the chickens to scratch more.
6. Monitor Moisture Levels
Keep an eye on your coop, adding layers of bedding and turning as needed. If the bedding feels damp and cold, you need to add more dry material like pine shavings or straw. The bedding should be moist but not wet; it should hold together when squeezed but not drip water.
7. Watch for Ammonia Build-Up
If you smell ammonia, it indicates that the deep litter method is not working properly. Add more dry bedding and ensure adequate ventilation.
8. Harvest the Composted Litter
You can shovel out the litter in the spring and put it in your garden or compost pile. It shouldn’t be too heavy or too smelly.
9. Leave Some Litter Behind
Some people will completely clean out the coop, scrub it down, and start fresh. Others will leave about 3 inches of composted bedding on the bottom of the coop to jumpstart the next batch.
This leftover bedding contains beneficial microbes that will help the new bedding compost more effectively.
6 Bonus Tips to Using the Deep Litter Method
1. Maintain Proper Flock Size
If you have too many chickens in a small coop, you may have trouble keeping up with the carbon to nitrogen ratio. Joel Salatin recommends 5 square feet of coop space per bird.
2. Ensure Good Ventilation
A well-ventilated coop is essential to allow moisture and ammonia to escape. Consider having open eaves and cross-ventilation, but avoid drafts at the roost level. If you smell ammonia or some other kind of funk, you probably need more dry material in the coop.
3. Monitor for Disease
If you have any outbreak of disease in your flock – be it parasites or a bacterial or viral illness – clean out all the deep litter, sanitize your coop, and start over to prevent the disease from spreading.
4. Avoid Using Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
While DE can help control parasites, it also kills beneficial microorganisms essential for composting. Use DE sparingly and avoid adding it directly to the deep litter.
5. Watch Out for Predators
If your coop has a dirt floor, ensure it’s secure against predators that may dig under the coop to access your chickens.
6. Be Cautious with Moisture
Avoid letting the bedding become too wet, as this can promote mold and fungus growth, leading to health issues like respiratory diseases in your flock.
7. Encourage Scratching
If you want the chickens to scratch more, throw scratch grains into the bedding. This will help aerate the litter and aid composting.
8. Use Organic Bedding
Avoid using bedding that has been treated with pesticides or herbicides because it may impede the decomposition process. It is also not going to be all that good for your garden at when you clean the compost out of the coop.
9. Compost Further if Needed
If you have a wood floor in your coop, the composted remains might be too ‘hot’ to put directly on your garden. That’s ok. Just throw it in your compost bin for a few months. If you find that the composting process is too hard on the wood floor, you might want to cover the floor with a tarp to prevent the floorboards from rotting away.
FAQ’s About the Deep Litter Method
Chickens aren’t too picky! They will be happy whether or not you use the deep litter method as long as the coop is free of ammonia build-up and bugs. However, they do enjoy scratching for treats in the deep litter.
The deep litter method is safe for chickens when done correctly. However, if you allow too much nitrogen, waste, or ammonia to build up in the coop, it can be harmful to the chickens and people.
You can use the deep litter method for chickens and goats, but it is inappropriate for ducks. Ducks splash too much water around the coop, and it will be difficult, if not impossible, to keep it dry enough to work properly.
