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The main difficulty in caring for chickens is keeping the barn clean. The bird constantly needs to change the litter, and in addition there is a problem with waste disposal. Modern technologies help to facilitate the work of poultry farmers. Among farms, chicken coop bedding with bacteria has long been popular, allowing you to keep the inside of the house clean and at an optimal temperature. After the expiration of the service life, an excellent organic fertilizer is obtained from the litter.
Use of deep litter in raising chickens
When raising poultry outdoors inside a barn, chicken coop bedding is a must, especially in winter. Ordinary hay or straw, mixed with manure, quickly becomes unusable. Dirty mass has to be thrown away after 3-5 days. Modern technologies have facilitated the work of poultry farmers. A new type of deep litter contains beneficial bacteria, making it possible to use sawdust on the floor of the chicken coop for more than three years.
The advantage of using bacterial litter is additional and free heating of the poultry house. During operation, the bacteria start a biological process in the thickness of the sawdust, accompanied by the release of heat. Reviews of poultry farmers say that in the cold winter it will not be possible to heat the barn in this way, but in late autumn you can do without artificial heating. Microorganisms inhabited in sawdust heat them to a temperature of approximately +35оC. Another positive point is that the bacteria neutralize putrefactive microorganisms, and this leads to a slow decomposition of chicken manure.
Before using the bacterial material, you need to properly prepare the floor of the chicken coop. A flat, hard, and most importantly, dry surface is required. The bedding itself 15 cm thick is poured on top of the floor. Any loose material of natural origin with low thermal conductivity, for example, sawdust or husks from sunflower seeds, is suitable.
Not bad for bedding proved peat. Natural material actively absorbs carbon dioxide and ammonia vapors. Peat is used in its pure form or mixed with other material. In the southern regions with a stable warm climate, sand is used for bedding.
Periodically, bedding material on the floor of the poultry house is loosened with a pitchfork to evenly mix it with chicken manure. Inside the loose mass, oxygen penetrates better, which contributes to the reproduction of beneficial microorganisms.
It is important to monitor the moisture content of the deep litter. According to the psychrometer, the indicator should not exceed 25%. With a sharp increase in humidity, superphosphate is sprinkled onto the loosened substance at the rate of 1 kg / m2, after which a layer of new sawdust or other material is poured.
The change of bedding material in the chicken coop occurs after the slaughter of the old and before the settlement of the new poultry population. This is usually done in the fall. The poultry house is completely cleaned of litter residues, complete disinfection, drying and thorough ventilation are carried out. After these procedures, a new bedding material is poured into which bacteria are colonized.
The disadvantages of using deep litter when keeping chickens are indicated by the reviews of simple poultry farmers. It has been observed that this technology requires a greater consumption of sawdust or other material. Eggs are often contaminated. Inside the poultry house, it is rarely possible to maintain the required microclimate, which leads to the development of the disease in chickens.
Overview of popular preparations for bacterial litter
So, as you understand, in order to make a deep litter in the chicken coop, you need to add a bacterial preparation to the bulk organic material. Although the principle of their work is the same, it is difficult for a novice poultry farmer to choose a product from the wide variety offered by retail outlets. After studying numerous reviews, we have compiled a rating of the most popular drugs, and we suggest that you familiarize yourself with it.
German drug “BioGerm”
Powdered preparation of brownish color is intended for the preparation of bacterial litter in the chicken coop. The composition includes beneficial bacteria, as well as special additives that neutralize the unpleasant smell of litter. The drug is applied in two layers under small sawdust, adhering to the consumption rate of 100 g / 1 m2. Chickens on deep litter can be launched 2-3 hours after the colonization of bacteria.
Preparation of Chinese manufacturers “Netto-Plast”
Numerous reviews of poultry farmers praise this particular drug. It contains sour-milk, as well as photosynthetic microorganisms. After settling on the floor, the bacteria begin to work intensively, releasing a lot of heat. The temperature on top of the deep litter is always maintained within +25оC. Bacteria work great with wood shavings or sawdust. To do this, it is enough just to mix all the components, and then loosen the mass with a pitchfork once every 1 days. Consumption of the drug – 4 kg / 0,5 m2. The service life of the litter is 3 years.
Domestic drug “BioSide”
The preparation of domestic manufacturers is designed for a “dry start”. The sawdust is simply mixed with the powder, after which a continuous reaction immediately begins. During the processing of organic matter into compost, heat is released. The surface of the deep litter is heated to a temperature of 20–25оC. The manufacturer guarantees the life of the bedding in the chicken coop – 3 years.
Domestic drug “Baikal EM 1”
The most affordable drug for creating deep bedding is Baikal EM 1. In general, this domestic remedy is considered a fertilizer, but poultry farmers have found a new use for it. The composition of the liquid concentrated preparation includes beneficial bacteria that process manure into compost. A lot of heat is released from the ongoing reaction, which contributes to additional heating of the chicken coop. The principle of use is simple: 1 glass of concentrate is diluted in a bucket of warm water, after which the bedding material is simply watered. The fermentation process starts instantly.
On the video, the use of deep litter:
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Step-by-step instructions for starting a deep litter
In order for the fermentation litter in the chicken coop to work effectively, it must be properly run. In a cold chicken coop, positive results cannot be achieved until all elements of the building are fully insulated. If only chickens live in the barn, it is very difficult to maintain the required temperature regime. We’ll have to install a heater. A small number of livestock also has a bad effect on the work of bacteria due to an insufficient amount of litter.
The sequence of work during the start of bacteria looks like this:
- The floor of the chicken coop, after complete cleaning, disinfection and drying, is covered with sawdust or other similar material. Before compaction, the layer thickness should be within 30 cm. Next, the bedding material is trampled down until it reaches the thickness recommended by the bacteria manufacturer.
- The powdered preparation is evenly scattered over the entire floor area of the chicken coop. You can work without a respirator, as bacteria are safe for humans.
- Warm water is drawn into a watering can with a shower, and sawdust with a scattered preparation is carefully watered. It is important that the water does not contain chlorine impurities, otherwise the bacteria will die immediately. It is better to refuse tap water. If you do not have your own well, you can go to the river or neighbors. Even settled tap water is not suitable for starting bacteria.
- After wetting the entire floor, the sawdust is thoroughly mixed with a shovel. If straw or hay was used, then it is easier to ruffle them with a pitchfork.
- The bacteria viability test is checked on the sixth day. If the temperature inside the litter has risen, then the microorganisms are alive. Now you can run chickens into the poultry house.
Throughout the entire period of operation, the deep litter is periodically loosened, and a number of measures are taken to support the vital activity of bacteria.
User Reviews
Many firms for the sake of advertising promise anything. The poultry farmer buys an expensive drug, hoping to simplify the care of his pets, but in the end it turns out to be a waste of money. There are two reasons for the inactivity of the fermentation litter: a poor-quality preparation or a violation of the technology for launching and caring for bacteria. Let’s read the reviews of several users who have already tried the miracle drug on home farms.