Rethinking my longtime use of straw - advice appreciated!

[MapleLaurelFarms]

I've always used bags of pine shavings in my coop with great success. From TSC, mostly the 'large flake' variety but sometimes buy a 'small flake' bag. Easy to pick out poop (I do daily), doesn't turn to muck if it does get wet--just scoop out the wet shavings--easy on the feet when chickens jump down from the roost, not really any dust, used shavings are spread out on a trail on our property, but doesn't compost that well.

Thanks! I actually use a mix of PDZ and pine shavings in the coop nesting area and in my brooders, but I've found that it doesn't do well here when I've tried to use it elsewhere. We get a LOT of rain and snow. The pine flakes soak up moisture and take too long to dry which creates huge issues, which is why I switched to straw years ago.

I've nixed the sand idea because I believe that it stays too cold here in the winter. I'd rather not deal with a sand ice block lol.

I think I'm going with fresh soil and wood chips in the run, but I'm still considering the coop area which is usually very dry. We sometimes get a fine dusting of rain or snow blowing in through the ventilation areas, so I may give pine shavings another try!

 

[cassie]

I always used shavings for my chickens

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

I always used shavings for my chickens

Thanks but where do you live? I've found climate makes a huge difference with what works, where. We're in the southern Appalachians and get a lot of wind, rain, and snow. Very wet climate. Wondering how wood chips will do with moisture?

 

[ChaosMom]

Thanks! I actually use a mix of PDZ and pine shavings in the coop nesting area and in my brooders, but I've found that it doesn't do well here when I've tried to use it elsewhere. We get a LOT of rain and snow. The pine flakes soak up moisture and take too long to dry which creates huge issues, which is why I switched to straw years ago.

I've nixed the sand idea because I believe that it stays too cold here in the winter. I'd rather not deal with a sand ice block lol.

I think I'm going with fresh soil and wood chips in the run, but I'm still considering the coop area which is usually very dry. We sometimes get a fine dusting of rain or snow blowing in through the ventilation areas, so I may give pine shavings another try!

We live in the same general area as you, and our run (not coop) will be packed dirt covered with loose soil and wood chips, like you, but also pine straw (=pine needles), maybe more for texture and entertainment than anything else.

Do you know anything about the performance of pine straw in our climate? We’re quite dry here, as we’re in a rain shadow resulting from being surrounded by mountains that catch much of the precip.

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

Pine needles last a while here. They don't do as well as mulch in high winds (they tend to move), but I use them in my garden all the time - especially around the acid-loving berry plants. I think they'd work fine in a run.

 

[Appalachickens]

We likely have the same climate since I’m also in the southern Appalachians, so I’m really interested in this as I decide what kind of bedding to use. I hear good things about hemp, but now I, wanting to also look into the horse pellets.

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

We likely have the same climate since I’m also in the southern Appalachians, so I’m really interested in this as I decide what kind of bedding to use. I hear good things about hemp, but now I, wanting to also look into the horse pellets.

I've heard that hemp is a lot like hay in that it gets compacted and molds easily. Makes sense if it's not dried, but my input is just hearsay so take it as two-cents knowledge. It might do better in drier climates than ours, but it also might depend a lot on how it's sourced, handled, and treated - like most things.

 

[Appalachickens]

I've heard that hemp is a lot like hay in that it gets compacted and molds easily. Makes sense if it's not dried, but my input is just hearsay so take it as two-cents knowledge. It might do better in drier climates than ours, but it also might depend a lot on how it's sourced, handled, and treated - like most things.

Do you know if there is an advantage to mixing types of bedding?

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

Do you know if there is an advantage to mixing types of bedding?

I don't know if there is an advantage, but there's certainly no reason not to. Most of us just use what we've got or can get cheaply. Many use a deep litter/bedding system which is a total hodgepodge. I used it for years with no issues whatsoever. Feel free to mix it up!

 

[Island Coppers]

MapleLaurelFarms​

If you decide to use your chipper try just feeding it smaller branches, stuff under an inch or so. You might find the product more suitable for bedding/litter