Content
The main challenge 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. Bacterial chicken coop bedding has long been popular on farms to keep the house clean and at an optimal temperature. At the end of its useful life, an excellent organic fertilizer is obtained from the litter.
Using deep bedding when raising chickens
When growing poultry in a floor way inside a barn, you definitely need a bedding for a chicken coop, especially in winter. Ordinary hay or straw, mixed with droppings, quickly deteriorate. The dirty mass has to be thrown away after 3-5 days. Modern technologies have made the work of poultry farmers easier. The new type of deep litter contains beneficial bacteria, which allows the use of sawdust on the floor of the chicken coop for more than three years.
The advantage of using bacterial bedding is additional and free heating of the house. During operation, bacteria start a biological process in the thickness of the sawdust, accompanied by the release of heat. Reviews of poultry farmers say that in 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 about +35aboutC. Another positive point is that bacteria neutralize putrefactive microorganisms, and this leads to slow decomposition of chicken droppings.
Before using the bacterial material, you need to properly prepare the floor of the chicken coop. An even, firm, and most importantly, dry surface is required. On top of the floor, the litter itself is poured with a thickness of 15 cm. Any friable material of natural origin with low thermal conductivity, for example, sawdust or husk from sunflower seeds, is suitable.
Peat has proven itself not bad for litter. Natural material actively absorbs carbon dioxide and ammonia vapors. Peat is used in pure form or mixed with other material. In southern regions with a stable warm climate, sand is used for bedding.
Periodically, the litter material on the floor of the house is loosened with a pitchfork to mix it evenly with the chicken droppings. Oxygen penetrates better inside the loose mass, which promotes 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 scattered 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 litter material in the hen house occurs after the slaughter of the old one and before the settlement of the new poultry population. This is usually done in the fall.The poultry house is completely cleaned of droppings, complete disinfection, drying and thorough ventilation are carried out. After these procedures, a new bedding material is poured into which bacteria are colonized.
Reviews of simple poultry farmers speak about the disadvantages of using deep bedding when keeping chickens. It has been observed that this technology requires a higher consumption of sawdust or other material. Contamination of eggs is common. It is rarely possible to maintain the required microclimate inside the poultry house, which leads to the development of chicken diseases.
Review of popular preparations for bacterial bedding
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 breeder to choose a product from the wide variety offered by retail outlets. Having studied numerous reviews, we have compiled a rating of the most popular drugs, and we suggest that you familiarize yourself with it.
German drug "BioGerm"
A brownish powdery preparation intended for preparation of bacterial bedding in a chicken coop. The composition contains beneficial bacteria, as well as special additives that neutralize the unpleasant odor of droppings. The drug is applied in two layers under fine sawdust, adhering to the consumption rate of 100 g / 1 m2... Chickens can be placed on deep litter 2–3 hours after bacteria colonization.
The drug of the Chinese manufacturers "Net-Plast"
Numerous reviews of poultry farmers praise this particular drug. It contains fermented milk and photosynthetic microorganisms. After settling on the floor, the bacteria begin to work intensively, generating a lot of heat. The temperature on top of the deep litter is always kept within +25aboutC. Bacteria work well with wood chips or sawdust. To do this, it is enough just to mix all the components, and then once every 4 days, loosen the mass with a pitchfork. Drug consumption - 0.5 kg / 10 m2... The life of the litter is 3 years.
Domestic drug "BioSide"
The preparation of domestic manufacturers is designed for "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 generated. The surface of the deep litter is heated to a temperature of 20-25aboutC. The manufacturer gives a 3-year guarantee for the lifespan of the litter in the chicken coop.
Domestic drug "Baikal EM 1"
The most affordable preparation 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 concentrated liquid preparation contains beneficial bacteria that process manure into compost. A lot of heat is generated from the reaction that occurs, which contributes to additional heating the chicken coop... The principle of use is simple: 1 cup of concentrate is diluted in a bucket of warm water, after which the bedding material is simply watered. The fermentation process starts instantly.
In the video, the use of deep bedding:
111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
Step-by-step instructions for starting deep bedding
In order for the fermentation bed in the chicken coop to work effectively, it must be started up properly. In a cold chicken coop, positive results cannot be achieved until all elements of the building are completely insulated. If only chickens live in the barn, it is very difficult to maintain the required temperature regime. We'll have to put in a heater. A small number of livestock also has a bad effect on the work of bacteria due to an insufficient amount of droppings.
The sequence of work during the launch of bacteria looks like this:
- After complete cleaning, disinfection and drying, the floor of the chicken coop is covered with sawdust or other similar material.Before compaction, the layer thickness should be within 30 cm. Further, the bedding material is trampled down until it reaches the thickness recommended by the bacteria manufacturer.
- The powdery 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 taken into a watering can with a shower, and the sawdust with the 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 don't have your own well, you can go to the river or neighbors. Even standing tap water is not good enough to start bacteria.
- After wetting the entire floor, the sawdust is thoroughly mixed with a shovel. If straw or hay has been used, it is easier to ruffle them with a pitchfork.
- The bacteria test is checked on the sixth day. If the temperature inside the litter has risen, then the microorganisms are alive. Now you can start chickens in the poultry house.
Throughout the entire period of operation, the deep litter is periodically loosened, and a number of measures are taken to maintain the vital activity of bacteria.
User reviews
Many firms promise whatever they want to advertise. The poultry farmer buys an expensive drug, hoping to simplify the care of his pets, but the end result is a waste of money. There are two reasons for the inactivity of the fermentation bed: a poor-quality preparation or a violation of the technology for starting and caring for bacteria. Let's read the reviews of several users who have already tried the miracle drug on home farms.
