Organizing and caring for bacteria for bedding in a chicken coop with your own hands

When organizing a chicken coop, breeders must cover the floor with a certain material. This need is explained by the fact that poultry without a substrate, due to accumulated waste, are more likely to get sick. The modern market offers a selection of specialized bacteria for chicken coop bedding that process organic compounds, thereby preventing rotting and eliminating unpleasant odors.

Why do we need bedding with bacteria?

Bio (or fermentation) litter is a relatively new product on the market, which is a set of granules, solutions or powders that contain aerobic bacteria. Similar additives are used in the substrate for processing bird droppings.

Standard bedding made from sawdust or other materials must be changed every 3-5 days. The use of aerobic bacteria allows this procedure to be carried out every 2-3 years.

The need to regularly change the substrate is due to the fact that droppings, when they get into the straw or sawdust, begin to rot. This process contributes to the spread of pathogenic microorganisms throughout the chicken coop and significantly increases the risk of developing diseases in poultry.

Aerobic bacteria prevent rotting and fermentation. These microorganisms produce heat during their life processes. By pouring fermentation bedding up to half a meter high, you can provide the chicken coop with sufficient heat throughout the cold season. Aerobic bacteria are able to heat sawdust and straw to a temperature of +30 degrees.

Advantages and disadvantages

The use of biobacteria in chicken coop litter has the following advantages compared to traditional substrates:

1. Rotting of the material is excluded. This reduces the risk of infection in poultry. Also, eliminating rotting, bacteria thereby maintain cleanliness in the chicken coop.
2. The chicken coop is maintained at a comfortable temperature for living. The substrate, due to the activity of aerobic bacteria, warms up to +30 degrees.
3. Improves the smell inside the chicken coop.
4. After processing the manure, organic compost is obtained, which can be used to fertilize plants.
5. Fermentation litter should be changed no more than once every 2-3 years.

Bio-litters are ineffective at temperatures below 0 degrees: beneficial bacteria die due to frost. Despite the fact that such substrates are significantly more expensive than standard ones, this solution is ultimately more profitable than traditional methods of organizing a chicken coop. To meet the needs, you will need no more than 10-50 grams of fermentation bacteria per square meter of room. However, a lot of straw or sawdust is needed to form a bio-substrate.

When using fermentation bedding, it is necessary to ensure moisture removal: if there is insufficient ventilation, condensation appears on the material. In addition, chickens often consume straw or sawdust. And due to the entry of enzymes into the stomach, birds develop dysfunction of the digestive tract.

Types of bedding

To organize deep (at least 40 centimeters) litter in a chicken coop with your own hands, it is recommended to pay attention to the products of the following brands:

1. BioGerm. German complex bacterial bedding that destroys pathogenic bacteria, fungi and mold. The product does not contain toxic substances, hormones or antibiotics. For every square meter of the chicken coop you will need 50 grams of this powder. Bio-litter with BioGerm is replaced every two years.
2. Netto-Plast. Chinese product recommended for use with sawdust. Netto-Plast prevents rotting and eliminates unpleasant odors. The main disadvantage of such bio-litter is that bacteria are activated 6-7 days after the addition of enzymes.
3. BioSide. Russian product, including 11 varieties of aerobic bacteria. An important feature of BioSide is that after application the bio-litter must be provided with a constant supply of manure or urea. Otherwise, the bacteria will die.
4. Baikal EM 1.The product is available in the form of a liquid containing biobacteria. This form is convenient because immediately after processing the sawdust, Baikal EM 1 begins to act. Do not use chlorinated water with this product.
5. Biofarm. Ukrainian bio-litter, which must be dug up every 5-6 days. This product requires replacement after 3 years. Bioferm heats the chicken coop to +20 degrees.

The effectiveness of most of the listed bio-litters is the same. The main difference between the products is the release form and the rate of enzyme activation.

How to choose?

When choosing suitable bedding for chickens, you should consider the following recommendations:

• purchase certified products;
• pay attention to the brand and reviews of the manufacturer;
• after purchase, treat a small area with enzymes and evaluate the effectiveness of the product;
• pay attention to the expiration date and duration of action of the bio-litter;
• take into account the requirements for the use of the drug.

You should also consider the type of bacteria contained in the product when choosing chicken litter. Some microorganisms need to be provided with specific conditions for life (a constant supply of urea, etc.).

Conditions for use

The effectiveness of fermentation mat depends on the conditions of use. In order for a biomaterial to perform its own functions, it is necessary to ensure:

• working ventilation, which will prevent condensation from settling on sawdust or straw;
• a constant supply of oxygen, which requires turning the litter regularly (every 5-6 days);
• humidity at 25%.

If the chicken coop has a deep base, the bird population should not exceed five individuals per square meter.

After the expiration date (indicated on the packaging), the litter can be used to fertilize plants without additional processing.

How to use it correctly?

New bio-litter is laid according to the following algorithm:

1. All birds are removed from the chicken coop, after which the room is ventilated, cleaned and disinfected. The optimal time to replace the litter is considered to be mid-autumn.
2. The plaster on the walls is being renewed, and the feeding troughs and drinking bowls are being cleaned.
3. Before laying the bedding, the floor is dried and, if necessary, heated. Biobacteria die if the ambient temperature drops to 0 degrees.
4. Sawdust, peat, moss or other material are distributed along the floor. The thickness of the substrate varies between 27-40 centimeters.
5. The enzyme preparation is distributed over the surface of the substrate. If powder is used, then after application the latter is filled with water in the required volume.

In some cases, it is necessary to lay out bedding and enzymes in layers. The drug should not come into contact with wooden floors.

Features of litter care

The microorganisms that biolitter contains require a regular supply of nutrients. Therefore, in order for the substrate to “work”, you need to periodically add droppings (urea) and a mixture of 20 grams of enzymes and one kilogram of sugar.

After laying the bio-litter, it is prohibited to use insecticides and other means used to combat parasites and rodents. The humidity level in a room with such a substrate should not exceed 60%. Otherwise, it is important to ensure effective ventilation.

To organize bedding with bacteria, it is recommended to use coarse wood waste. Over time, small raw materials stick together, forming dense lumps.

In winter, it is recommended to install a thermometer in the chicken coop. If the ambient temperature begins to decrease, the litter must be mixed with cattle manure, which contains microelements that activate biobacteria. In the event of a sudden change in the living conditions of the chickens, the poultry house should be heated.

Contraindications

Bio-litters have no contraindications for use. This product is based on natural ingredients that do not contain hormones or antibiotics. Therefore, fermentation substrates are not dangerous for birds and humans.