WHAT IS THE DEEP LITTER METHOD:
The deep litter method is an old-time way of doing chickens when farmers didn’t have the time to devote to cleaning their coops. So instead of cleaning out the henhouses, they would cover the floors with fresh substrate (organic matter) to get by until they could do a thorough clean out.

Over time, they realized that there was no pungent smell, the hens were healthy, and the heap on the floor had composted into a nutrient-rich fertilizer ready for the garden.

HOW IT WORKS:
The hemp bedding and the chicken dropping promote the growth of beneficial microbes that grow and actually help control pathogens, making your chickens less susceptible to diseases.

By not removing the waste, the beneficial microbes make a home in the litter and eat and break down the feces and consume unhealthy bacteria, leaving good bacteria behind. The microbes also help prevent infestations of lice and mites in your flock.

DOESN’T THAT STINK?
Not if done properly and you don’t overload your henhouse with chickens. Our hemp bedding is the most absorbent animal bedding on the market, four times more absorbent as pine shavings or straw. Our hemp decomposes faster and is less acidic than pine shavings or pellets.

Most people will clean out their henhouse about once a year. Many wait even longer. We recommend leaving about an inch or two layer of the old stuff behind to help the new litter break down faster.

Surprisingly your coop will smell more earthy and natural. If done properly in a well-ventilated coop, there should be no ammonia or ‘fowl’ smell. (sorry, couldn’t resist)

TIPS:
Stir up the bedding to break up clumps every so often.
Don’t ever use diatomaceous earth (DE) or any other chemical insecticide in the coop bedding! This will kill off the beneficial microbes and nematodes.