The Deep Litter Method: What It Is and How to Do It
The deep litter method is one of the most practical and time-saving approaches to coop management available to backyard flock owners. Instead of cleaning the coop frequently, you build up layers of bedding over time and let natural composting do the work. Here's how it works and how to do it right.
What Is the Deep Litter Method?
Instead of removing soiled bedding regularly, the deep litter method involves adding fresh bedding on top of existing bedding and allowing the layers to build up over months. Beneficial microorganisms break down the manure through composting, reducing odor, generating mild heat, and creating rich organic material.
Done correctly, you only do a full coop cleanout once or twice a year — typically in spring and fall — rather than weekly or monthly.
Why It Works
Chicken manure is high in nitrogen. When layered with carbon-rich bedding (pine shavings, straw), the ratio creates ideal conditions for aerobic composting. The microbial activity:
- Breaks down pathogens in the manure
- Reduces ammonia odor when managed correctly
- Generates gentle heat from below — beneficial in winter
- Produces finished compost that's excellent for gardens
Hens also scratch through the litter naturally, turning it and accelerating the composting process.
How to Start the Deep Litter Method
Step 1: Start with a Clean Coop
Begin after a full cleanout. Start with a fresh base of 4–6 inches of pine shavings on the coop floor. Pine shavings are the best base material — absorbent, carbon-rich, and easy for hens to scratch through.
Step 2: Add Fresh Bedding Regularly
When the litter starts to look or smell off, add a fresh layer of shavings on top — typically 1–2 inches every 2–4 weeks depending on flock size and coop ventilation. Don't remove the old material; just add on top.
Step 3: Stir Occasionally
Use a rake or pitchfork to turn the litter every week or two. This introduces oxygen, accelerates composting, and prevents anaerobic pockets that cause ammonia buildup. Hens will help with this naturally.
Step 4: Monitor Moisture and Smell
The litter should feel slightly damp — like a wrung-out sponge — not wet. If it smells strongly of ammonia, it's too wet or not getting enough oxygen. Add dry bedding and stir more frequently. Good ventilation is essential.
Step 5: Full Cleanout in Spring (and Optionally Fall)
After 6–12 months, remove all the litter and compost it or apply directly to garden beds. The finished material is rich, dark, and excellent for soil amendment. Start the cycle again with fresh bedding.
What the Deep Litter Method Is NOT
- It is not neglecting your coop. You still add fresh bedding and stir regularly.
- It does not work without adequate ventilation. Moisture is the enemy — airflow is essential.
- It does not work in small, poorly ventilated coops where moisture can't escape.
Best Bedding Materials for Deep Litter
- Pine shavings — Best overall. Absorbent, carbon-rich, easy to work with.
- Straw — Works well as a top layer. Less absorbent than shavings but hens love to scratch through it.
- Dried leaves — Excellent carbon source if available. Free and effective.
- Wood chips — Great for runs and outdoor areas. Slower to break down but very effective.
Avoid sawdust (too fine, compacts and goes anaerobic quickly) and cedar (oils are harmful to chickens).
Deep Litter in Winter
The composting action in deep litter generates mild heat from below — typically 2–5°F of warmth at the floor level. In cold climates, this is a meaningful benefit. Allow the litter to build up through fall and winter rather than cleaning it out in fall, and your hens will benefit from the natural warmth through the coldest months.