Anyone else in NW GA? Getting ready to start our 1st coop build and I'm wondering about the best bedding for the coop & run, given our climate & clay.

[JnAP]

Hey everyone! Anyone else in NW GA? Hubby and I are getting ready to start our 1st coop build and I'm wondering about the best bedding material to use for the coop & run, given our climate & clay soil here. We're pretty new to this area, so we're still learning the soil, clay, mud, and climate. We were hoping there might be others from our area on here that could give us some pointers. TYIA!

 

[tlcmurphy]

Hey everyone! Anyone else in NW GA? Hubby and I are getting ready to start our 1st coop build and I'm wondering about the best bedding material to use for the coop & run, given our climate & clay soil here. We're pretty new to this area, so we're still learning the soil, clay, mud, and climate. We were hoping there might be others from our area on here that could give us some pointers. TYIA!

We’re in Atlanta, and use sand for the run. It drains well for us, but our property is on a hill. Other folks swear by the deep litter method (leaves, wood chips etc).
I love hemp bedding for the coop

 

[Ecarroll]

If your looking for advice from your fellow people of Georgia try posting in your state thread, which you can find on this page: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/find-your-states-or-your-countrys-thread.270925/

As someone from a completely different state (Massachusetts), I personally think that bedding in the run is unnecessary, except the occasional dumping of leaves, lawn clippings or dirty bedding for scratching and making compost. As for coop bedding, pine shavings work wonderfully for me, and you can really use whatever, straw, dry plant stuff, or even small leaves. Good luck!

 

[JnAP]

If your looking for advice from your fellow people of Georgia try posting in your state thread, which you can find on this page: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/find-your-states-or-your-countrys-thread.270925/

As someone from a completely different state (Massachusetts), I personally think that bedding in the run is unnecessary, except the occasional dumping of leaves, lawn clippings or dirty bedding for scratching and making compost. As for coop bedding, pine shavings work wonderfully for me, and you can really use whatever, straw, dry plant stuff, or even small leaves. Good luck!

Thank you! I didn't even know there was a state thread!

 

[aart]

Most important is that your run have good drainage.
Either/or to keep water from flowing in and puddling and also so it can flow back out of the run area.

A few inches of coarse wood chippings(from a tree trimmer) can work well in all climates. Helps to have a place to store the huge pile they dump.

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.
-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.
- Large flake pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.
- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.
-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 10+ years.

 

[JnAP]

Most important is that your run have good drainage.
Either/or to keep water from flowing in and puddling and also so it can flow back out of the run area.

A few inches of coarse wood chippings(from a tree trimmer) can work well in all climates. Helps to have a place to store the huge pile they dump.

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.
-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.
- Large flake pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.
- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.
-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 10+ years.

Thank you! Appreciate the info!

 

[Ecarroll]

Thank you! Appreciate the info!

There’s all sorts of ways, I use no poop boards but clean whole coop once a month, use pine shavings/whatever I have for bedding. You’ll find everyone has a different schedule, and you need to find what works best for you with time, smell level, coop design and number of chickens.