Just realized deep litter method is way better than cleaning coop weekly

I used to strip out all the bedding every Saturday morning for like 6 months. It was a ton of work and my hens seemed stressed every time. Then I read about the deep litter method from a guy in Oregon who has 30 birds. I gave it a shot with pine shavings and now I just add a new layer every week. After 3 months, the coop smells less, my girls are laying more, and I only do a full cleanout twice a year. Has anyone else found that their flock prefers the buildup over a spotless coop?

2 comments

2 Comments

gavinperez1mo ago

Woah, hold up @jamies45. I get the idea behind the bacteria stuff but my experience was totally the opposite. I tried deep litter for 4 months and ended up with a musty ammonia smell that just wouldn't go away no matter how much carbon I added. My wyandottes started sneezing and one even got a respiratory infection that cost me 80 bucks at the vet. I went back to weekly strip downs with a light dusting of DE and my flock has been way healthier. Clean coop doesn't mean sterile, it just means I'm not letting poop pile up for half a year.

jamies451mo ago

Bet your birds are actually healthier that way. The bedding breaks down and creates more beneficial bacteria that helps prevent disease in the long run. Most people don't realize a sterile coop isn't the goal.