Deep Litter Method for Easier Chicken Coop Maintenance

Using the deep litter method is the easiest way to maintain your chicken coop. With this sustainable method, you will only need to clean out your chicken coop once per year or less, creating less work, less waste, less smell, less dust, and healthy compost for your garden beds. Ultimately, with a deep litter coop you will save time and money, and even produce a healthier flock.

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What is a Deep Litter System?

The deep litter system is a sustainable chicken waste management system within the coop itself. We have all grown to dread the process of cleaning out our chicken coop(s). It’s a lot of work and it’s messy. But, I am here to tell you there is a better way! Rather than removing chicken poop and soiled shavings every few weeks, you can implement this method and let your chicken droppings undergo the composting process inside the coop. If you invest in a good hemp bedding, the ammonia smell is eliminated.

The Decomposition Process

The complete deep litter method from start to compost is a several month long process. Throughout these months, the litter will go through three phases of decomposition: the moderate-temperature phase, the high-temperature phase, and the maturation phase.

The initial, moderate-temperature phase is the shortest part of the process, lasting for only a few days. In the process of composting, this phase is also called the mesophilic phase. Mesophilic organisms initiate the decomposition of carbon-based materials. These microorganisms thrive at temperatures between 50 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. They kickstart the composting process by rapidly breaking down the soluble, easily degradable material. As they work, the temperature of the compost rises rapidly.

The second phase is the high-temperature phase. Heat-loving microorganisms (thermophiles) begin to take over, replacing the moderate-temperature-loving microorganisms (mesophiles) in the process. As temperatures rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the decomposition of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates begins. This phase can vary in duration from a few days to a couple of months. Gradually as the bulk of the organic material within the litter is decomposed, the temperature decreases for the longer, final phase.

During the cooling and maturation phase, mesophilic microorganisms begin to establish themselves again to further decompose the remaining organic matter. This is the longest of the three phases, often lasting several months. The diversity of microbes present in the final compost depends entirely on the immediate environment, diversity of materials, and duration that it is left to sit. Typically, the longer the maturation phase, the more diverse the beneficial microbes are within the compost.

Establishing a Deep Litter System in Your Coop

Begin with a thin base layer of litter material on the floor of the coop. A dirt floor is great for starting this method but it will work on any chicken coop floor such as a concrete floor or wooden floors. This initial layer should be about 10-15 cm. I recommend hemp for fresh bedding but you can also start with a thin layer of pine shavings. Overtime as the backyard chickens roost and poop, a new layer of litter should be added. If your chickens are active in the coop, they are going to actively aerate the litter. If your chickens free range and spend more time outside of the coop, you may have to assist with aerating and rotating the coop bedding on a regular basis.

Remember, that the diversity of the microorganisms will depend on the diversity of the materials used in the litter and length of time it is able to sit and mature. It is a good idea to sprinkle in dry leaves, pine needles, wood chips, and dry grass clippings to promote growth of good bacteria within your litter system. Introducing a variety of dry material in small quantities is a good choice for increasing the diversity of the microbes in your chicken coop litter.

Proper Coop Ventilation

A well-ventilated coop helps to control the ammonia odor and excess moisture within the coop year-round. Open eaves are a great way to ensure cross-ventilation. Inadequate ventilation can lead to frostbite in the winter and overheating in the summer months. Improving the air circulation within your coop will also reduce respiratory problems in chickens.

When Should I Start Deep Litter Method?

The best time to start a deep litter coop is in the early spring. Starting this process in the spring allows for one year of composting and a natural source of heat within the coop throughout the winter months. After one year, your deep litter compost will be ready for your flower beds and vegetable garden.

Does it Smell?

With high quality material, such as hemp, and proper ventilation, this process does not smell. As with composting, your deep litter coop should smell like dirt. If this is not the case, there is an imbalance in the system. Often this can be from too much soiled bedding and not enough new material, too much moisture, not enough good ventilation or lacking aeration of the litter material. One clear sign that it is time to flip and add new material is if it starts to smell. If it is due to a moisture issue, I recommend removing the all of the visibly wet material and supplementing with a thin layer of new hemp or shavings. Otherwise, topping off with a new bedding layer and flipping the material to aerate should do the trick.

Why is Hemp Bedding Better than Wood Shavings or Straw?

There are lots of options for chicken litter but wood shavings and straw are the most common. Wood shavings and straw are both great options for chicken bedding. Some people even choose this bedding material to create a deep litter system within their chicken coop. However, hemp bedding is king for optimizing this process.

Hemp maximizes absorbency while simultaneously reducing odor and dust. It is just as soft as other bedding options and, yet, the absorbency doubles that of shavings and triples that of straw. In addition to its absorbency, hemp is also well-known for its rapid decomposition rate, especially compared to pine shavings and straw.

I use Hemp bedding in my coop. I order from Amazon for the convenience and speed of delivery!

Why You Shouldn’t Use Cedar Shavings in the Coop

Cedar shavings are not safe for use in chicken coops and are toxic to most animals. Cedar wood contains plicatic acid. Plicatic acid is dangerous for chicken’s lungs and liver. Airborne cedar dust particles are easily inhaled and immediately begin to destroy cells within the airway and lungs. With repeat exposure, this leads to chronic lung damage over time.

In addition to respiratory concerns, plicatic acid is also damaging to the liver. Exposure to the high amounts of terpene hydrocarbons leads to increased hepatic microsomal enzyme activity and cell death. Over time the liver grows weaker and loses its ability to filter toxins within the body.

And, finally, cedar wood dust, and all general wood dust, is considered carcinogenic. Recurring exposure to wood dust from both soft and hard woods has been linked to an increased risk of developing cancer.

Chicken Bedding vs Chicken Litter

Did you know that there is a difference between chicken bedding and chicken litter? The difference is small but there is one nonetheless. In meat-producing birds (broilers) and large-scale poultry operations, they use a floor-based poultry production system. Those chickens do not have the same opportunity or ability to roost due to their rapid rate of growth. So instead, they bed down on the floor. This is chicken bedding. Since they don’t tend to live too long, usually only a month or two, this situation isn’t the worst. However, it is not a long term solution for egg-producing chickens. Chicken litter, on the other hand, is what is used to manage chicken manure in a small coop where chickens roost on bars.

Pest Management in Your Chicken Coop

The deep litter method, with proper management, can help control pathogens and prevent infestations of pests like lice and mites. It is not advisable to use diatomaceous earth or lime within your deep litter system as it can inhibit the growth of beneficial microbes. That being said, if you are just getting started with a deep litter method, you can use a pest management solution at the base of your litter but avoid adding it to the deep litter throughout the rest of the process. By applying it at the start, you can eliminate bad bacteria, unwanted moisture and smells, creating a healthy environment for the decomposition process to begin.

While it is not advisable to apply pest management solutions to the deep litter material beyond the initial there are still many vulnerable spaces for pests to lurk awaiting your chicken. For this, I like to incorporate a pest management solution on the roost bars, in their dust bathing beds, in the nesting boxes, and in the chicken run using First Saturday Lime.

First Saturday Lime

I have been using First Saturday Lime since I started chicken keeping. With a growing farm filled with animals, I wanted a product that was pet-safe. Traditional hydrated lime is caustic, meaning it will burn human and animal skin and mucous membranes upon contact. For this reason, it is not often considered a great solution for pest management when animals are present. But, what First Saturday Lime has miraculously developed is a lime and limestone formula that is non-caustic. Their products are safe for use in the garden, around pets, children, and humans.

While it is safe for humans and pets, it is not so kind to insects with an exoskeleton, their eggs, or their larvae. First Saturday Lime clogs the spiracles that insects use to breathe and dehydrates them. Diatomaceous earth works in this way as well and is often heavily regarded as a pest management solution for backyard chicken keepers. However, First Saturday Lime’s formula is non-silica based.

Silica is a naturally occurring mineral contained within sand, dirt, glass, granite, etc. While it is natural, it is actually very bad for your health as well as your pets. As we inhale silica in aerosolized dust and sand, these particles permanently settle within our lungs. There is no removing or healing from silica inhalation. Over time, high exposure to silica leads to inflammation and scarring within the lungs, reducing our lung’s ability to take in oxygen. We are exposed to silica naturally all the time. I use First Saturday Lime because I don’t need to have any more exposure to silica in my life that what I am naturally exposed to in nature.

Advice from a Yogi

If you have been utilizing the wrong kind of litter or bedding for your chickens and suddenly feel guilty and ashamed. It is important for you to give yourself forgiveness. There is a lot of information out in the world and, most often, product marketing trumps the truth. As a chicken keeper, you have acted up to this point in the best way that you knew how and with the information that was previously available to you. Don’t be so hard on yourself. In homesteading, we make mistakes, we learn, and we grow.

I found the deep litter method to be the easiest way to maintain my chicken coops. I now only have to clean each of my coops once per year! If you have tried this method, let me know what you think about it in the comments below!