Pine shavings or hay in run for winter

[kimbymarie]

Hi, I have 6 buff orpington hens. I know they are cold weather hardy, and they love to be outside of their coop in their run, only stay in coop to lay and roost. This is my first winter with them. I keep a deep layer of pine shavings in their coop now verses summer. They have sand in the outdoor run that has plastic around the sides now except for one area I can roll the plastic up and down when needed for weather purposes. I feel that with the cold New England weather I'd like more than just sand in the outdoor run, which by the way is covered also with a peaked steel roof. Which would be better to use for warmth and ease of cleaning hay or pine shavings. I plan to continually maintenace the coop and run throughout the winter.

 

[scooter147]

For the outside run in my opinion it doesn't matter. I use straw in my outside run in the winter as it always seems to be muddy, my choice there is because a bale of straw is $4 compared to around $8-9 for a "bale" of shavings.

I definately prefer shavings only for the inside.

Nice coop by the way

 

[ZoeZoo]

I find straw much warmer, but there isn't a huge difference. Whatever works for you

 

[SteveBaz]

Deep litter method with Compressed wood shavings

 

[Hawkeye95]

I'm not planning on putting any bedding in the run- unless it's sand if there is a low spot. I did already buy several bales of straw that I plan on stacking up on the outside of the run to act as a wind block for the prevailing wind sides. We have terrible winds in the winter, and a wind block will go a long way in making them warmer. I think your sand would be fine on it's own in the run. Maybe just think about an area you could block from the wind?

 

[SteveBaz]

Hay gets wet and stinky. Trust me been there and done that!! wrap the hay in 4mm plastic to prevent it from getting wet them

 

[scooter147]

Agree with Steve on the straw and the smell and if not removed promptly once the weather warms up mold will develop and that's bad for the birds respitory system.

 

[pawsplus]

Yeah, INSIDE the coop is the place for shavings or straw. Put that outside, even in a covered run, and you'll end up w/ a stinky, fungusy mess. Stick w/ sand!

 

[opalwednesday]

there's a pretty heavy how to on crop surgery that someone posted after all his girls ate their straw bedding, that alone has left me pine only.

 

[chickendales]

shaveing is the easest to clean out