Chickens cope with cold far better than with damp, and a coop that has been bedded the same way since spring is the first place that catches up with them. The deep litter method replaces a full clean-out with layers of fresh bedding added over old, building a floor that composts gently in place and gives off its own low heat through the coldest months. Done properly now, it should need no more than a top-up until you empty it again in spring.

Deep-Litter a Chicken Coop Before Winter

What you need

3 bags pine wood shavings 25kg, dust-extracted poultry grade
1 bale barley or wheat straw for nest boxes and a top layer
1 bag garden lime optional, for a thin dusting under the shavings — not quicklime
1 pair rubber gloves
1 dust mask FFP2 or better
1 bottle poultry-safe coop disinfectant for the perches and nest box

Step by step

Choose a dry, bright day and move the hens into their run while you work.
10 min
Scrape and shovel out all the old bedding down to the bare floor, including corners and under the perches, and wheel it to the compost heap.
30 min
Scrub the perches and nest box with a wire brush to knock off dried droppings, wipe down with the disinfectant, then leave the coop open to air and dry.
20 min
If using, dust a thin, even layer of garden lime over the bare floor, keeping it away from feeders and drinkers.
5 min
Lay a 10cm base layer of pine shavings over the whole floor, working it well into the corners.
15 min
Add a lighter layer of straw on top, thicker in the nest boxes, and rake it level.
10 min
Let the hens back in. From here, add a double handful of fresh shavings every few days rather than cleaning out again.
5 min

Afterwards

Add a double handful of fresh shavings every few days rather than digging the whole floor out again, and give it a quick turn with a hand fork if it starts to smell of ammonia rather than warm hay. Rake out the patch under the water drinker separately, since that is where litter turns to paste first. Empty the whole floor onto the compost heap in spring and start again.

Questions

How deep should the litter get?

Build it up gradually to 15-20cm over the season. Going straight to that depth in one go tends to stay damp in the middle instead of composting.

Should it smell?

A well-managed deep litter smells faintly of warm hay, not ammonia. A strong ammonia smell means it is too wet or too shallow and needs turning and topping up.

Do I still need to clean it out in winter?

No — that is the point of the method. Leave it layering and composting and just keep adding fresh bedding until a full clean-out in spring.

Is garden lime necessary?

No, it is optional. A thin dusting under the first layer helps with odour and damp, but plain shavings and straw work on their own if you would rather skip it.