Best bedding for chicken coop?

[Kristencardany]

I've heard of using pine shavings, or pine pellets, straw or hay. What does everyone recommend? What works best for easy cleaning and most healthy for the chickens?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I don't believe in any one "best" as each coop and each set up is different. All those are valid choices, other possible choices are sand, rice hulls. I use aged wood chips as they're free.

 

[Kristencardany]

Thank you! I'm thinking I might try sand at first and see how it goes.

 

[aart]

How big is your coop and run, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would help here.
How many birds do you have?

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.
-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 5 years.


Oh, and..... Welcome to BYC! @Kristencardany
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[AppleMomma65]

I don't believe in any one "best" as each coop and each set up is different. All those are valid choices, other possible choices are sand, rice hulls. I use aged wood chips as they're free.

We are chipping a huge volume of pine this spring. Is that what you use/recommend? I know I can't use chips right away but any idea how long before it's okay to use? Thank you!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I use whatever chips happen to be available... our pile is mostly hemlock, cedar, and fir.

I'd give them about 6 months, a year is better, but if it's 6 month old chips or having to buy a lot of bedding, I'd use the chips. Just skim the ones off the surface layer.

 

[Bassman2]

What do you think of Oak? I have a bunch of oak chips generated from my planer.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Oak should be fine. Most woods should be ok to use, though I would avoid using all cedar or lots of cedar (especially if it's an aromatic type), anything else that's super aromatic, and black walnut.

 

[aart]

I'd give them about 6 months, a year is better, but if it's 6 month old chips or having to buy a lot of bedding, I'd use the chips. Just skim the ones off the surface layer.

Not sure you need to wait 6-12 months...depends on how green they were chipped(how much leaf inclusion) and the climactic environment. Pine may have a lot of sticky sap.
Skimming off surface of pile, and not piling too high/thick in run, is a good practice.

What do you think of Oak? I have a bunch of oak chips generated from my planer.

Those are more like kiln dried shavings, not as thick as ramial chippings, but would be a good addition....especially if you're chippings are 'wet/green'.