Deep Litter Method For Easy Cleaning

Deep litter Method:

I don't know about you, but I like to make the most efficient use of my time. When I first heard about a way to keep my chicken coop clean that didn't involve taking up my Saturday mornings, I was a little skeptical. But, let me tell you, this is one of the greatest time saving ideas in raising chickens. It is called the "Deep Litter Method."

First of all if I told you I only cleaned my chicken coop once a year, with just a few minutes spent every week maintaining the litter, you would probably think that I was a little crazy. I am just a little crazy but not like that.

Here's how it works:

  • Clean your chicken coop, by washing the walls and floor with a mild bleach solution(10 parts water and 1 part bleach).

  • Let your chicken coop air out for a couple of hours(I clean my coop during the first warm days of spring).

  • Sprinkle diatomaceous earth on the floor of the coop. Make sure you use the food grade version and not the one for swimming pools. This is very important.

  • Now add a layer of 2 to 3 inches of pine shavings.

  • I place a tray under my perch to catch the chicken manure. Once a week I put this in my compost pile.

  • Once a week I sprinkle a dusting of diatomaceous earth on top of the litter and add a fresh layer of new shavings.

  • A couple of times a week I will throw a little scratch into the litter to get the chickens to give it a little fluff. After a year I end up with about 12 to 14 inches of shavings. This will go to the compost pile after my yearly cleaning.

    • That's all there is to it. I have been using this method now for a couple of years and have never had any ammonia smells. Also, the diatomaceous earth helps to reduce any pest problems. Give this a try, it will save you a lot of time.

    By the way, is it time for a new chicken coop?

    Thinking about building a new coop but not sure if those online plans you see are worth the time and money?

    In order to best help you in this area I took the time to preview a couple coop plan resources.

    If you're looking for a quality set of chicken coop plans then take a look as I help simplify the process for you.

    Or just click the image below to view my review...

    chicken coop plans

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