The Deep Litter Method for the Chicken Coop

The Deep Litter Method for the Chicken Coop
by Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | December 5, 2023
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If you’ve been a northern homesteader for any length of time, you’re probably pretty familiar with the term ‘deep litter method’. If this is the first you’ve heard of the deep litter method, then that’s great too! There can be some misconceptions about using the deep litter method in the chicken coop, so it’s good to get a basic understanding of the concept and learn how you can apply it specifically to your homestead flock. This customized deep litter method is how I have adapted the method to work for my homestead coops to keep them clean, low maintenance, and create a healthy environment for my flock all winter long!

What is the Deep Litter Method?

The deep litter method is a system of litter management that uses the natural process of composting to control organic waste, like chicken poop. A thick layer of compostable litter is used to prompt the start of the composting process. Once composting begins, the litter only needs a little weekly maintenance in order to help it control the chicken waste properly.

The reason why it is so popular with northern chicken keepers is because it has fairly easy winter time maintenance and it actually provides some benefits that are helpful for keeping a healthy flock throughout the cold winter months. The benefits of deep litter include:

• Generates Heat– composting creates a natural source of heat to help prevent cold stress in chickens
• Beneficial Microbes– it promotes the growth of beneficial microbes which creates competitive exclusion
• Ammonia Control– composting litter prevents the build up of ammonia fumes without having to clean the litter
• Entertainment– deep litter provides entertainment for the flock to prevent winter boredom

For more essential tips on winter chicken keeping, make sure you get a copy of The Ultimate Guide to Winter Chicken Keeping from the Trading Post!

Since using the deep litter method is essentially like building a compost within your chicken coop, a basic understanding of how composting works is essential.

How Does the Deep Litter Method Work?

For composting to begin, there must be 3 elements: a source of nitrogen, a source of carbon, and oxygen. These three elements provide the groundwork for the decomposing of organic materials like chicken poop, feathers, food scraps, and whatever else might be in the chicken coop litter. Oxygen can be found in the air, but what about carbon and nitrogen? These elements can be found in the following materials:

• carbon– hay, straw, dry leaves, wood shavings, wood chips, newspaper, cardboard, paper towels, wood ash, dried grass and pine needles
• nitrogen- vegetables, leafy greens, algae, animal manure (excluding carnivores), plants, weeds, flowers

Beneficial microbes help break down the nitrogen and carbon components to create a fine, dirt-like substance, which we call compost. However, the microbes also need oxygen and moisture in order to survive. In the deep litter method, turning the litter provides oxygen and the chicken droppings provide the moisture.

However, too much moisture attracts harmful microbes. That’s why it is important to clean up water spills or concentrated areas of wet, soiled litter, even when doing the deep litter method. To learn more about the composting process, get this FREE resource on Composting 101!

Customizing the Deep Litter Method

While there is definitely a right way and a wrong way to use the deep litter method, there are still ways you can customize this method to work for your coop set-up and daily routine. Once you understand how the basic principles of this litter management system work, you will find that it can be extremely helpful for cold weather chicken care!

When customizing the deep litter method, keep in mind the three elements that have to be present in order for the method to work: a carbon material, a nitrogen source, and regular oxygenation. Here are some ways in which you have flexibility in customizing the deep litter method:

• Choosing a Carbon-Based Litter: consider price, availability, and functionality when choosing your base layer for the deep litter (large flake wood shavings or straw)
• Additional Nitrogen Source: you can choose to add additional nitrogen sources to improve and speed up the composting process or if you think that the chicken droppings are not providing the right ratio of nitrogen
• Oxygenation Routine: choose a day and time at least once a week that works best for you to do a little deep litter maintenance by stirring or turning the litter
• Limiting Droppings: if you don’t want to tax your deep litter, consider a nightly droppings management system such as droppings boards or poop slings to remove nightly droppings on a regular basis

I use the deep litter method in two ways. In one of my coops (the Svart Hona breeding coop) I use the traditional method as coop litter. Here’s how to perform the traditional deep litter method.

How to do the Chicken Coop Deep Litter Method:

1. Lay down a layer of carbon materials such as dried leaves (ensure they are completely dry) or large flake wood shavings. The layer should be at least 4 inches thick. I prefer large flake wood shavings so I don’t have to worry about the moisture content or tannins in the leaves.
2. Lay down a layer of straw (a large particle carbon-based material). This layer doesn’t have to be quite as thick since you will be continually adding to it throughout the winter.
3. Every morning, stir in the nightly droppings with a rake and add a little bit more straw OR
4. If you use a nightly droppings management system (like droppings boards), you will only have to stir the litter thoroughly once a week and add more straw once a week.
5. Once a week remove any clumps of wet straw and add more straw to replace any you removed.

This method works great in my Svart Hona breeding coop and it keeps the Svart Honas very entertained. It also generates a little bit of heat, insulates the coop, and makes cleaning the coop super easy!

The other way that I use the deep litter method is in both of my flock’s enclosures. Since my flocks don’t get to free-range during the winter, keeping them entertained and the enclosure clean can be a challenge. However, a customized version of the deep litter method works great in the enclosures! Here’s how I use the deep litter method in the enclosures:

How to do the Enclosure Deep Litter Method:

1. First, make sure your enclosure is dry and has a well-draining top layer of litter. My enclosures have a sand-based floor.
2. Lay down a layer of straw in the enclosure. It doesn’t have to be real thick since you will be regularly adding more for the first few weeks.
3. Once a week, stir the straw and add more straw. After a few weeks, a nice thick layer will have been formed and you won’t have to add as much straw on a weekly basis.
4. Remove any wet clumps of straw as needed and replace it with fresh straw.
5. Continually stir once a week and add more straw throughout the winter.

For more tips on using the deep litter method to keep a clean and dry enclosure all year-round, check out these Secrets to Chicken Coop Enclosure Maintenance!

Deep Litter 101 Facts

It’s important to know the basic facts behind why the deep litter method is so effective in order for you to maintain the system properly. Review these facts that will help you understand how the deep litter method can be done properly. Personally, I found all of this very interesting!

Nitrogen & Carbon Ratio

Nitrogen and carbon materials need to be present in about a 30:1 ratio, so about about 30 parts carbon to every 1 part nitrogen. That is why the litter layer must be so thick in order for the deep litter method to work. There must be more carbon materials (like straw) than nitrogen material (chicken droppings) otherwise the compost will harbor harmful pathogens and start to create ammonia fumes.

Herbivore Manure

Since plants are a source of nitrogen, it would make sense that the manure from herbivores would also be a source of nitrogen. Chickens are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and meat. In turn, that means their droppings contain high levels of nitrogen, more than an herbivore’s manure would. You should take this into consideration when monitoring the carbon to nitrogen ratio of your deep litter.

One factor to consider is that your chickens will more than likely be eating a mostly plant and protein-based diet during the winter. This means their droppings will be higher in nitrogen during the winter, which is good for the deep litter method.

Particle Sizes

It also helps to have both large particles of carbon material and small particles of carbon material. The large particles allow for air to get within the litter and the small particles provide something for the beneficial microbes to consume right away. Using wood shavings as a base layer provide the small particles of carbon material. The weekly or daily addition of straw adds large particles of carbon material.

Monitoring Moisture

One concern that I have heard about the deep litter method is that it might get too dusty. First off, this can happen with any litter. Chickens create dust, which then covers everything in their coop. However, for the deep litter method, dust should be kept to a minimum by the moisture content from the droppings.

The chicken droppings should provide adequate moisture for the composting process to work properly and keep dust levels down. A problem that is more common is the presence of too much moisture, which can be caused by inadequate litter maintenance, a crowded coop, or water spills.

Odor Control

Compost should not stink, which means the chicken coop deep litter should not stink either. This is because the beneficial microbes are controlling the levels of gas by creating compost. A smelly deep litter means 1) you have not maintained the proper nitrogen to carbon ratio, 2) you have allowed the litter to get too moist, or 3) you haven’t adequately oxygenized the litter.

If your coop starts to smell like ammonia, start troubleshooting your deep litter. Are there too many droppings compared to the amount of litter? Did the litter get too wet? Are there mats of straw that need to be removed? If the ammonia smell gets too strong or won’t go away, then you will have to clean out the coop and start the deep litter all over again.

Droppings Management

The way in which you deal with nightly droppings will affect how you implement the deep litter method. If you remove the nightly droppings on a daily basis via droppings boards, poop slings, or another droppings management system, then you are removing some of the nitrogen source.

This is not all together bad, and I do it all the time while still using the deep litter method. The removal of those nightly droppings just means the composting process will proceed at a slower rate and less carbon material will need to be added on a regular basis to keep the ratios right. Chickens will still poop in the litter throughout the day and this will supply a nitrogen source. If you are worried that your litter has too little nitrogen, you can supplement with additional nitrogen sources that your chickens may enjoy too (think food scraps)!

If nightly droppings are left within the coop on a daily basis, you are supplying more nitrogen to litter and maintenance will need to be done a little more regularly. More carbon material will need to be added more frequently to keep the ratio right and daily stirring will be essential for incorporating the droppings into the litter to be decomposed.

The Importance of Oxygenation

Oxygenation of the composting material is important for the survival of the beneficial microbes. The oxygenation also helps the composting litter maintain a proper moisture content and allows any excess moisture to dry out when exposed to the air. Oxygenation is accomplished by turning or stirring the litter frequently and not letting it get matted down or too wet.

Chickens can help with oxygenizing the litter too, but don’t rely solely on them for turning all of the litter! Throwing some scratch grains or treats into the deep litter will encourage your flock to help with the deep litter oxygenation.

Proper Deep Litter Maintenance

So, you know what the deep litter method is, how it works, how to get it started, and the science behind why it works. Now you need to know how to properly maintain the deep litter method so that it functions as a beneficial litter all winter long. Follow these guidelines for proper deep litter maintenance:

• Turning-
  • removing nightly droppings: turn once a week
  • leave nightly droppings in the coop: turn and stir once a day
• Add More Straw-
  • once a week turning: add more straw at least once a week
  • daily turning: add more straw every day
• Remove Wet Straw Mats– as needed, add more straw to replace the dirty/wet stuff that was removed

Not only is litter maintenance essential for the deep litter method to work, but flock maintenance is also important. Make sure your flock is not crowded and that they have plenty of coop space. A high concentration of daily droppings will offset the ratio of carbon to nitrogen in the litter.

Allowing your flock access to an outdoor enclosure that is covered and also has the deep litter method is another great way to keep the coop deep litter properly maintained. The more pooping they do outside the coop, the easier it will be to maintain the litter inside the coop!

Once warm weather arrives, you will want to clean out the deep litter. There should be a good layer of compost on the floor of the coop that you can use on your spring gardens. Use a litter that won’t generate heat for the summer months.

Do’s and Don’ts of the Deep Litter Method

DO…

• use a small particle carbon-material for the base layer of the deep litter
• use straw as your main source of carbon-material
• turn the litter every day or on a weekly basis
• start the deep litter method in the fall
• clean out the deep litter once spring and warm weather arrives
• ensure your coop has good ventilation to allow for air flow and air exchange

DON’T…

• use diatomaceous earth with the deep litter (it will kill the good microbes)
• use the deep litter during warm months
• start the deep litter mid-winter unless you absolutely have too (if you smell ammonia and have to start over)
• be skimpy on adding more straw
• leave clumps of wet straw or high concentrations of droppings in the deep litter
• use hay

The deep litter method is a valuable tool that will keep winter chicken care simple and your flock healthy & warm! The customized deep litter method can easily be adapted to work for your homestead coop and flock. I love using the deep litter method in both the chicken coop and in the chicken coop enclosures. My flock enjoys the entertainment they get from the straw and I appreciate the low maintenance litter system during the winter! I can have a clean coop and enclosure, and a happy, healthy homestead flock all winter long!

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