Friable litter

[Ninjago]

Can anybody tell me how to get consistently dry friable litter in free range hen sheds?

I have Big Dutchman multi-tier equal pressurised systems and I get some dry friable areas, some dry hard areas and some wet areas. I run the sheds at 20 degrees and put a small amount of shavings down before the poults are placed.

 

[Daniel]

I have the same system and it's so dry, dusty and friable we've had to put a misting system in because it gave the birds respiratory problems.

Noone can work out why we've had two flocks through it and a real dry dusty litter whereas according to Newquip, most producers have the problem you have.

 

[R J]

Ours are duchman systems , if we get wet capped areas we churn them up with a spade to try and get some air in to dry it out ,
Mostly litter is dry though , only cap if cooler wetter weather over winter

 

[stretch3050]

It’s a litter lottery, weather outside makes the biggest difference, housing birds in the winter makes getting the litter friable very hard work