Shavings vs Hay

[Michael Propst]

In the summer time my run in just dirt and sand. I give them a layer of straw in the winter for added warmth then rake as much of the straw out as I can in the spring. In my coop I use pine flakes. I bought pine shaving once and I agree they are very dusty, after one use I found that Tractor Supply carries both pine shaving and pine flakes. After switching to flakes I would never use anything else in my coop they are very low dust. Give them a try

 

[MotherOfChickens]

In the summer time my run in just dirt and sand. I give them a layer of straw in the winter for added warmth then rake as much of the straw out as I can in the spring. In my coop I use pine flakes. I bought pine shaving once and I agree they are very dusty, after one use I found that Tractor Supply carries both pine shaving and pine flakes. After switching to flakes I would never use anything else in my coop they are very low dust. Give them a try

You are talking about the pine flakes in the white bag? I use the fine pine in the yellow bag. I thought maybe the fine would break down faster since I put it in the compost bin. I am doing the DLM inside my coop. Sand might be an option for my run... maybe.

 

[Clminer]

I use the TSC flakes in the white bag in my coop it is a little dusty but not bad.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I use the TSC flakes in the white bag in my coop it is a little dusty but not bad.

Maybe I'll use that kind and see if it helps cut down the dust, even just a little

 

[Michael Propst]

You are talking about the pine flakes in the white bag?

Yes the white bag from Tractor Supply. I honestly have very little dust from them. I dont use deep litter method but I do compost. I have a compost pile and a 80 gallon compost bin. I have not had any issues with the flakes breaking down.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

Yes the white bag from Tractor Supply. I honestly have very little dust from them. I dont use deep litter method but I do compost. I have a compost pile and a 80 gallon compost bin. I have not had any issues with the flakes breaking down.

Great to know! I'll try the larger flakes and see if that helps cut down on the dust a little. My compost bin is 3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft. And my coop will start working as a compost bin as well lol.

 

[aart]

I use the fine pine in the yellow bag. I thought maybe the fine would break down faster since I put it in the compost bin. I am doing the DLM inside my coop.

If doing a true composting DLM, I would not use pine shavings at all, they take forever to truly break down...you don't want that mixed into your garden soil as it will eat up the nitrogen needed for plants.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1075545/can-i-do-deep-litter-method-with-this-coop#post_16440037

Even the TSC white bag large flakes will get dusty eventually...mostly from pulverized poops.

 

[RoosterML]

If doing a true composting DLM, I would not use pine shavings at all, they take forever to truly break down...you don't want that mixed into your garden soil as it will eat up the nitrogen needed for plants.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1075545/can-i-do-deep-litter-method-with-this-coop#post_16440037

Even the TSC white bag large flakes will get dusty eventually...mostly from pulverized poops.

X2 what aart said. White bag from TSC is perfect. I tried some other fine pine shavings from my feed store and I will never buy those again. Not dusty coming from the bag so I believe all dust comes after the fact.​

 

[MotherOfChickens]

@RoosterML @aart

What do y'all suggest I use for DLM in the coop?

I should add that for my coop, it is a dirt floor. So it will truly be DLM and not DBM.

 

[RoosterML]

I don't think I do a DLM. Using PDZ on the poop board I screen it every couple days, I say 90% of poop ends up there. For the coop floor (concrete slab) I use TSC white bags large pine flakes. It's roughly 4"-6" deep. One nice thing about pine flakes is it clings to the poop so it's very easy to rake up the poop clumps off the floor every couple weeks. After which I throw down a thin fresh layer of pine flakes. In all honesty very little poop build up on the floor this way. Works well with not much effort or smell.
Note:
With a dirt floor in the coop if it is damp. I would use caution before using pine flakes as they may wick up the moisture out of the ground causing possible mold issues. I would think straw may be best over a dirt floor. Maybe others with a dirt floor will chime in and lay out what has worked for them.