Deep litter method for shavings and metal floor trays?

[binders]

I have a web bought coop that has metal slide out trays for easy cleaning. I was wondering if I could use the deeletter method of shavings with this setup? Do you need to have it on a dirty floor? I don't know how important is is the the living organism be able to come up from the dirt into the beeding or if that is not necessary? I use wood shaving right now and was thinking that I would really like to be able to build up a think layer on the bottom to help keep the shickens warmer in the winter. They seem to move the shavings around a lot everyday and get it down to the metal in some places (huge piles in others). It also seems really dusty and I am worried about that for the lungs.

 

[Dar]

I dont know the answer about the metal slide out trays.. BUT I can tell you that I do use the DLM and my coop is totally enclosed.. My floor is not on the dirt. I have a well sealed wood floor and the litter composts on the floor I stir daily and it smells earthy in there...

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

I don't know how important is is the the living organism be able to come up from the dirt into the beeding

You don't need any "living organisms" from the soil, and there really is no "right" or "wrong" way to do it.​

 

[claudicles]

I have a metal tray in my hen house and the problem I had with it is that it is too close to the roosts so there is not enough space for a good thick layer of DLM. I have deep litter in the run but i use shredded paper and change it more regularly in the hen house. Yours may be different of course but that was my experience.

 

[funkychook]

Quote:
Hi being new to keeping chickens i did a lot of reading about the hen house, the bedding and feeding and found some great stuff on here. Any way after a bit of experimentation with my coop i think i now have it sorted.

I like you have metal tray for easier cleaning.

I now use HEMCORE. Its dust free, allergy free, easy recyclable, keeps the smell of ammonia right down, it keeps the girls warm, and it absorbs moisture.

I do a deep layer of hemcore now over the tray, and in their nesting boxes and pat it down. I do use a bit of straw in their nesting boxes now because its getting cold in the UK, but my chicken expert Dave said it isnt really necessary and NEVER use straw from stables, farms etc as they can hold red mite, so I just buy a small bale treated from the pet shop which isnt expensive.

Anyway all I have to do now is poo pick their coop everyday which is sooooo easy and takes but a few minutes for 4 birds. I replace a bit of hemcore when the level drops.

Now my chickens have started to lay they dig a hole in the hemcore and sit in it and lay lol and BOY when I go in to tidy up dont I ever get told off, because my Red Hampshire will come up the stairs when i am cleaning and growl at me and tell me off, so I respect her space now and wait until she is out and then i do it lol....and I always put it back the way I found it lol.

I love hemcore its not untidy either. I use a disinfectant like Stalosan which I sprinkle over the hemcore and this cuts down mites, and bacteria from growing.

Now I only have to change once a month. Actually probably i am being too fussy as when i do change the hemcore is still clean underneath so i could get away with cleaning less because i poo pick everyday.

When i do clean I put the old hemcore in an old oil drum which i have mixed soil, chicken poo and I am hoping to make good compost for my flower pots next year.

Now the metal drawer is a pain the butt, because when you pack down the hemcore you cant pull the drawer out lol......so I get my trusty dust pan and empty it out as much as i can that way first then pull out the drawer and give it a wash, although to be honest it is still clean.....

On the floor underneath the coop i use hemcore too and stalosan on top of the soil and the chickens use this area to sleep in during the day. Non of my girls roost for some reason. Perhaps they feel safe.

Anyway its cut down my time (because I am disabled), and its cut down my cost drastically.

I did put newspaper underneath to line the drawer but the girls shredded it and threw it out of their door lol so I think i got the message or they just didnt like reading the Daily Mail lol.

I have to say my chicken coop NEVER smells and my girls are nice and clean and have lovely fluffly clean bums lol. No poo sticking anywhere.

I can highly recommend Hemcore or something similar. Oh I found wood shavings very dusty. Funkychook.

 

[OnceAroundTheBlock]

I too have a metal tray in my brand new, so far chickenless, coop and was wondering the same thing the OP asked. Hemcore also sounds like a good product to use so I googled it to see where I can get some but it's made only in the UK. So what other product made here in the USA is similar to this hemcore and where can it be purchased?

I'm still working on getting my coop and run all set up exactly the way it is most beneficial for my future additions to the ole homeplace.

 

[OnceAroundTheBlock]

Ok, I'll ask again......what product is equivalent to "Hemcore" since it looks like it's not available in the US and only in the UK. Thanks for any replies.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Ok, I'll ask again......what product is equivalent to "Hemcore"

Wood shavings are the closest thing to it.
Hemcore is made from Hemp stalks but it's still just cellulose

 

[OnceAroundTheBlock]

Thanks Bear Foot, pine shavings it will be then!