Time to clean last year's litter out of the coop. (Throw on the bib overalls!) There's a couple different theories out there as to how long to wait to clean out your coop. I use the deep litter method. I remove the straw once a year when I am ready to plant the garden.
I put a generous layer of fresh straw in the corners, laying boxes and the floor. This will be at least 12" deep. The "ladies" really enjoy scratching and moving new straw around. This new straw will be the base layer of next years' garden fertilizer. The straw will "settle" in height after a some pooping and trampling by the ladies.
I'll add another bale of straw every 6 weeks to the existing layer of straw until December. This keeps any odors down and keeps the "ladies" scratching around which helps the natural break down process going. By the time winter arrives, there is a thick protective layer of straw on the floor to keep it insulated throughout the long winter months. I also add straw to the walls throughout the year to help keep it cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Believe it or not, the deep litter method is pretty much odor free when done properly and does actually produce heat. This helps the coop warm along with a heat lamp in the winter months. (Even though the girls are remarkably "hardy" when it comes to winter time).
