mamacrossroads
In the Brooder
- Apr 21, 2023
- 1
- 18
- 21
Hey there! Hubby and I manage a 300 acre homestead. Just a few years in with gardens, berries, cornfield, orchard, apiary, upkeep of the property. Would LOVE to network with other farm folk in the Richmond VA area.
This year, adding cows and chickens! We have 16 chicks in the brooder at the moment, 3 weeks old (hopefully all pullets). Coop and run are all built. Anxiously awaiting the big transition.
We assembled the coop from a kit — Urban Coop Co XL, top of the line — and it is gorgeous. More than enough space (and bells and whistles) for our girls. Everything is cedar, raised high off the ground, and covered with a tin roof to boot. However, the bottom of the coop is open, leaving everything hovering over our sparse farm-grass ground cover, unlike a thick urban “lawn.” If I understand chickens correctly, I predict they will make short work of this space and quickly reduce it to a dirt floor—especially since they will be staying inside the coop and (huge) run because of abundant predators on the property.
Herein lies the issue of “bedding” (or more appropriately, “litter”). Am I right? I’ve been doing tons of research and I’m at a total loss. I was leaning toward wood chips, but I’ve found articles that say all wood chips, including cedar, pine AND aspen are toxic. (REALLY?) Sand seems to be an optimal choice—but not recommended for my dirt floor because it will be difficult to keep dry, and moist sand will freeze in winter? Chopped straw seemed like an ok idea. But some farmers claim this is a *bedding* material for sheep and barn animals to *sleep* on—that our chickens don’t need material to sleep on (obviously, they sleep roosting in the air); they need something to *poop* in (litter). They say straw should not be used as chicken litter because it creates mold, bacteria, and pathogen issues.
ARGH.
So … Here I am, after reading 50 buh-jillion articles and watching 100 YouTube videos on the chicken coop bedding/flooring/litter issue, and I’m none the wiser. I still don’t know what I’m going to put down on my floor (and in my chicken run, too?)—and, for that matter, the best way to maintain it. Don’t even get me started on the deep litter method (is that what it’s called—can’t remember—basically composting in the coop?) Sounds super cool, but def way out of my league. At this point, I’ll just be happy to put something down that apparently won’t kill my poor babies. Haha
This year, adding cows and chickens! We have 16 chicks in the brooder at the moment, 3 weeks old (hopefully all pullets). Coop and run are all built. Anxiously awaiting the big transition.
We assembled the coop from a kit — Urban Coop Co XL, top of the line — and it is gorgeous. More than enough space (and bells and whistles) for our girls. Everything is cedar, raised high off the ground, and covered with a tin roof to boot. However, the bottom of the coop is open, leaving everything hovering over our sparse farm-grass ground cover, unlike a thick urban “lawn.” If I understand chickens correctly, I predict they will make short work of this space and quickly reduce it to a dirt floor—especially since they will be staying inside the coop and (huge) run because of abundant predators on the property.
Herein lies the issue of “bedding” (or more appropriately, “litter”). Am I right? I’ve been doing tons of research and I’m at a total loss. I was leaning toward wood chips, but I’ve found articles that say all wood chips, including cedar, pine AND aspen are toxic. (REALLY?) Sand seems to be an optimal choice—but not recommended for my dirt floor because it will be difficult to keep dry, and moist sand will freeze in winter? Chopped straw seemed like an ok idea. But some farmers claim this is a *bedding* material for sheep and barn animals to *sleep* on—that our chickens don’t need material to sleep on (obviously, they sleep roosting in the air); they need something to *poop* in (litter). They say straw should not be used as chicken litter because it creates mold, bacteria, and pathogen issues.
ARGH.
So … Here I am, after reading 50 buh-jillion articles and watching 100 YouTube videos on the chicken coop bedding/flooring/litter issue, and I’m none the wiser. I still don’t know what I’m going to put down on my floor (and in my chicken run, too?)—and, for that matter, the best way to maintain it. Don’t even get me started on the deep litter method (is that what it’s called—can’t remember—basically composting in the coop?) Sounds super cool, but def way out of my league. At this point, I’ll just be happy to put something down that apparently won’t kill my poor babies. Haha
We are excited for you to join us
