[Jomtie]

Anyone on here use the deep litter method? We don't want our neighbour to have to poo pick every day when we go away so we're looking for alternatives.

[joyfull]

how long would you be away for?

[nerdle]

Do your girls perch?
Mine do and poo onto newspaper - then I sprinkle on the woodshavings every couple of days until its a pile and clean it out.  Virtually no smell.

[nnbreeder]

 We usually use wheat straw with the grain in the head. The birds keep the straw turned looking for grain and then it can be added to the compost pile or used as mulch around plants in the garden.

[hen addict]

I use chopped hemp as deep litter with grow bag trays lined with newspaper under the perches, so easy to keep clean, no smell, no worries. Also extremely absorbent, it really helped keep the feet clean on route from the pop hole to the nest box during the wet weather, I hate dirty eggs ukk

[Sassy]

To keep topping up with dust extracted wood shavings is a good idea. These are usually pine and have natural anti-bacterial properties. However, it is important to ensure droppings are covered to avoid a build up of ammonia which will effect the chooks respiratory tract.

[helens-hens]

Where they actually roost, in the hen house, when I am away I just lay newspaper underneath and my father removes this daily and replaces the paper.

Normally I use easibed in the hen house and poo pick but find the newspaper method is easier for 'hensitters'.

[mumofstig]

old posts which may help........
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=78516.msg883271#msg883271

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=65931.msg752881#msg752881

http://smallfarm.about.com/od/farmanimals/a/deeplitter.htm