I use approximately 4 inches of sand inside the chicken coop and as much as a foot in the chicken run.
Movable deep litter chicken coop hardware cloth as floor.
We here at backyard chicken project have been encouraging people to use the deep litter method in their chicken coop for years.
This video demonstrates how easy it is to clean out a carolina coop using the deep litter.
The deep litter method is one sustainable method of managing chicken litter in the chicken coop that many small farmers use.
This method is simply the best chicken coop bedding solution.
This is at the perfect height for putting a wheel barrow next to the coop.
That can work well because chickens aren t walking around on the wire.
A shovel and broom make quick work of the annual task in my coops.
Our chicken coops are not only equipped with hdpe deep litter beds that are 12 deep but they also have a drop down deep litter gate.
Many times when we mention the word litter in regards to the chickens we get puzzled looks from other people.
They re sitting on a roost above the wire.
With a pulling and sweeping motion you can easily empty the litter into the wheel barrow and bring it anywhere in your garden.
In fact some coops will be designed with wire mesh under the roost as a bonus feature.
Cleaning inside of hen house after 18 months of deep litter system.
Inexpensive linoleum placed on top of wood flooring before adding sand makes deep cleaning the coop a breeze.
Deep litter method.
We re never suggesting to actually put cat litter in the chicken coop.
Sand can be used on coop floors that are cement dirt or wood.
In the deep litter method you re basically forming a compost pile of your chicken s poop right on the floor of the coop.
There are a few potential options for litter in chicken coops including hay straw sand pine pellets and pine shavings.
In my experiences the best litter for deep litter method coops is pine shavings by far but let s talk some pros and cons of the other options.
While i personally cannot bring myself to allow waste to accumulate inside my coops i do not doubt the utility of the deep litter method when executed properly i personally prefer sand as a coop litter choice and droppings boards to manage manure.
This is the ultimate bad choice for chicken coop bedding.
Is all wire bad.
Deep litter bedding is clean healthy for your flock and a lot less work for you.