Deep litter won’t work for indoor layer projects! Here is why

#quaildeeplitter 

I think it is fair to say the deep litter method works only for aviaries , barns and large setups. 

I believe they can’t be even considered for aquariums and especially #layercages 

I have done everything there is on the internet from pine shavings to using white vinegar(more on that later). The only thing that works for me is paper, allows me to dispose waste more readily for a 3* 2 cage. 

Pine shavings don’t keep the smell down of it is wet and the cost compared to paper is simply a fail. 

Vinegar (needs a more elaborate post) definitely neutralizes poop ammonia but creates a new stink of its own. And the beat part is ? You need to keep apraying it every hour. There is fresh poop that needs neutralizing. 

Paper on the other hand, does some absorption of moisture and is easy to dispose when cleaning. 

But here is the math. 

1) 20 quail produce approximately 1/2 cubic foot of poop everyday 

2) Pineshavings simply increases the volume of waste to Be disposed HIGH. ( Bad for indoor / apartment / Garage / Basement growers)

Now thinking of deep litter 

If I build a 2 feet tall box with 4’*3’ dimensions it is 24 cubic foot 

Just the poop will fill it in 48 days , what about the carbon requirement for compost. It needs atleast 2/3 carbon material. Which is 16 cubic foot 

So I have only 8 cubic foot for poop 

That is 16 days ! 💁🏻‍♂️

I think this is the real quail math. 

What kind of a system it is if it is only good for 2 weeks . And nothing composts in 2 weeks. 

So unless you have a large farm in your backyard where you can do the composting by shifting all this SHIT ( which you won’t if you are keeping quail indoors so desperately) #deeplitter is not for us layer projects in indoor arrangements. 

Forget it. 

Taking a good break for a while and coming back to look for something better. 

All the best !