Deep liter and ducks

[RTA1197]

I'm new to the deep liter. Been doing it for a couple of months now and finally got a lot of rain. So now, the hay is completely soaked and of course, the ducks love the mud.
Question is, should I just lay more down or start over?

 

[lomine]

I'd add more bedding and try to turn it.

 

[RTA1197]

I'd add more bedding and try to turn it.

That was my thought.
Thnx

 

[DrHawkeye07]

I am trying to follow deep litter as well. We've been having lots of wet weather which turns it into a sponge. I mix it up a bit with a pitchfork then add a new dry layer. I'm trying to do a mix of straw and pine shavings over 4 inches of playground mulch to decrease compaction.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Just watch for mold which can be life threatening to our birds. You all doing this out in your pens? I do deep litter only inside their house works great inside.

 

[lomine]

I've never had to worry about mold because my climate is so darn dry, but yes you should for sure keep an eye out for it. My problem is the litter getting too dry.

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

I’ve been pondering this for winter as I’ve read that it helps generate warmth, but I’m going to have a hard time with it as I’ve always at least spot cleaned daily. Does it not potentially lead to illness or an increase in parasites at the very least? Am I thinking about it wrong? Do you still get rid of the worst/nastiest/wettest areas of bedding or does everything just get covered up? If done over the winter, don’t you end up essentially needing a Hazmat team in the spring? I’ve been meaning to ask about it as I don’t think I fully understand it. If anyone would be willing to point me in the direction of more info about it I would be very thankful!

 

[DrHawkeye07]

Here's a couple of other threads on deep litter in uncovered runs from this past summer. There's some good suggestions in these and what gave me the impetus to try. So far so good in my case.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/deep-litter-method-pros-and-cons.1263952/#post-20293712

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/deep-litter-method-in-runs.1263480/#post-20285058

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

Here's a couple of other threads on deep litter in uncovered runs from this past summer. There's some good suggestions in these and what gave me the impetus to try. So far so good in my case.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/deep-litter-method-pros-and-cons.1263952/#post-20293712

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/deep-litter-method-in-runs.1263480/#post-20285058

Thank you!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Inside I clean daily all the wet poop, fluff and add as needed.