Kai: Bioactive enclosures have become very popular in the pet fish and reptile world. What people might not know is that the idea follows the same rules as does permaculture, vice-versa.
Many have already figured out the system for “Bioactive” chicken coops, a system where instead of having to rake out and disinfect the floors of the coop, you simply provide another layer of living bedding, and previous waste composts naturally, without smells, pests, or bad bacterial overgrowth.
Bioactive and permaculture is one the same.

We have been keeping our chicks and button quail on what is considered bioactive soil, which has had great results. The soil provides natural probiotics, which gives the chicks immunity to handle the great outdoors, and, the soil keeps them mentally stimulated by providing the ability to scratch, and take dust baths, both behaviors that are highly developed even at a very young age. Their shuffling through the bioactive soil also prevents their droppings from accumulating, which can result in messy feet and feathers, which was definitely a problem we had when they were on a flat surface.
The droppings compost right back into the soil and don’t smell at all (You can add layers of new bedding if this does become a problem.) We also have been experimenting with putting bio char in the coops to reduce smell, which is perfectly safe for the birds as well.
A soil-bottomed incubator also provides an uneven surface which exercises the birds toes, and helps them to develop stronger legs.
And last but not least, living soil introduces your babies to live food, which is great if you plan to free range them as adults.