Pine pellets for coop bedding??? Does it work?? I'm curious....

[Debbie292d]

Are you sure? Because I don't have to

I found out as long as you have permission from a member to use their pictures outside of BYC, it's okay.

To use them inside of BYC, it's polite to ask.

So, you have my permission to use anything of mine.

What we can't do is: Create a similar website to BYC, like a blog with categories of healing, raising, or a forum, and then post a link to it here in BYC, which is against BYC rules. That is what we call "Luring to similar Sites." We do not allow people to steal or solicit our members.

 

[awagnon]

FYI, pine pelletized bedding at TSC are currently Buy 4 Get 1 Free. I don't see the promo on their web page, but it shows up in the app. Not sure if it only applies to online orders or what.

I had experimented with mixing pellets and shavings in my garage setup before I had my outdoor setup complete. It was a pretty high load of chicken poop, and the pellets seemed to do a better job than pure pine shaving flakes. As such, I recently decided to just convert to 95% pellets and 5% dried coffee grounds for the coop floor. Nesting boxes are still filled with flakes as it seems softer and more comfy.
Will try to remember to report back once I've used everything long enough to have a real opinion.
What I do know is that all of the pine shavings from all that time in my garage has now been dumped into a compost pile outdoors and it doesn't really appear to be breaking down. I can tell you that the pelletized bedding + flakes definitely seemed to do a better job drying out poop and/or minimizing odors than just flakes.

YMMV.

just a caution on my experience with coffee grounds. I used them in my poo board and even with scooping often, I still has some mold develop. I took that all out as I didn't want my girls getting sick from ingesting mold if they decided to be gross and scratch & peck on the poo board. I was really happy tho with how they controlled the odor.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

I found out as long as you have permission from a member to use their pictures outside of BYC, it's okay.

To use them inside of BYC, it's polite to ask.

So, you have my permission to use anything of mine.

What we can't do is: Create a similar website to BYC, like a blog with categories of healing, raising, or a forum, and then post a link to it here in BYC, which is against BYC rules. That is what we call "Luring to similar Sites." We do not allow people to steal or solicit our members.

That definitely makes sense! That was so nice of you to find out for me, debbie292d, thank you so very much. And also thanks so much for giving me permission to use your images. My website is gonna be just a chicken info website and not a forum like BYC. And also once I get people's permission I will, of course give them credit for the image by writing their username underneath the image.

 

[Squawkers]

I feel like I didn’t do something right. It took me 3 bags to get 1.5 inches deep in a 24 sq foot coop. Looks like I will have to get 2 more bags tomorrow.

Are you still using the pellets? 3 40lbs bags? That’s a lot.

 

[Squawkers]

Are you still using the pellets? 3 40lbs bags? That’s a lot.

Sorry, I saw you answered the 40lbs bags question later in the thread.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

Thinking about making the switch to pine pellets today when we clean out the coops! How many bags do you guys use for your coops? Like, how many inches of pellets should there be on the floor?

 

[StinkyAcres]

Thinking about making the switch to pine pellets today when we clean out the coops! How many bags do you guys use for your coops? Like, how many inches of pellets should there be on the floor?

The portion of my coop that I used them in is 10'x6.5' and I used four 40 lb bags and it wasn't enough, maybe only a couple inches. When the chickens hopped down onto them from the roosts or nesting boxes they slid and their legs slipped out from under them like they landed on marbles. So deeper is better. Adding a couple more inches in my coop would have been too costly for me, so I gave up on them.

 

[KyCoop]

If made into sawdust (with water) before I put them in the coop I use 2 bags for my 6 x 12. It's about 2 -3 inches deep.

 

[avjudge]

If made into sawdust (with water) before I put them in the coop I use 2 bags for my 6 x 12. It's about 2 -3 inches deep.

If used straight out of the bag as many seem to do, it does take a lot of bags to make a thick layer.

However, made into sawdust as above, they fluff up amazingly, so a half inch layer of pellets may be 2 inches deep sawdust.

In my pigeon aviary I use two bags to cover 6’x16’ (96sf). Moistened/broken down I would say it is up to an inch deep. But for them a firmish surface is good. In a chicken coop of the same size, I think I would probably use twice as many bags (four), so one bag per 20–25 square feet

 

[Taj MaHen]

Thinking about making the switch to pine pellets today when we clean out the coops! How many bags do you guys use for your coops? Like, how many inches of pellets should there be on the floor?

I tried shavings, sand and straw, pellets have been a game changer for me!! No smell, WAY fewer flies in summer,so EASY to clean, cheap (less than $6.50 bag here) and lasts a long time. I have a roughly 8x10' coop and started w/3-4 bags on the floor and 2 on my poop tray. I usually have to add maybe 1 a month as I clean it. (curious to see how that changes once I move the pr of geese out) I keep it roughly 3-4" deep. I highly recommend it!e