Straw V Hay for Bedding

[TSOWOATNKC]

I buy the big bags of pine shavings sold for horses.

Everything that gets wet is prone to molding; even humans can get moldy. Seriously, my brother ended up getting literally moldy from his habit of showering and immediately getting dressed without fully drying first.

 

[Clousic Chicks]

I buy the big bags of pine shavings sold for horses.

Everything that gets wet is prone to molding; even humans can get moldy. Seriously, my brother ended up getting literally moldy from his habit of showering and immediately getting dressed without fully drying first.

Are you talking the "bales" of pine shavings or something bigger? I currently buy the bales of pine shavings for my coop...I might try the pine shavings in the duck house. Thanks.

 

[Aquachick]

Straw did not work for me. I am so glad that it works for others. Maybe where we live affects its benefits. I use the deep litter method with my chickens and this will be my first winter with ducks so we will see how they do. The straw no matter where I got it did not absorb smells or messes at all. The pine shavings keep my coops smelling fresh and it is always warm. I also don't have to clean it as often with shavings.
I have found shavings available at TSC and every feed store I have gone to in my 40 mile radius. The shavings cost me a little more than the straw would but it lasts much longer.
I say if it works and you like it, keep it up.

 

[TSOWOATNKC]

Are you talking the "bales" of pine shavings or something bigger? I currently buy the bales of pine shavings for my coop...I might try the pine shavings in the duck house. Thanks.

I get something like this;
http://bmfp.com/product/cozy-den-animal-bedding-premium-pine-shavings/

 

[SkyBlueEmu]

I prefer straw to hay. I tried to use hay, but it wasn't absorbent enough for the mess my geese made. The straw was drier so I was more absorbent. The straw was also softer for the geese to sleep on. The only thing I liked about the hay was that it had a nice smell that helped to mask the bird smell in the coop.

 

[Clousic Chicks]

So I switched to pine shavings for my duck house on Monday--WHAT.A.DIFFERENCE! I made is fairly deep and am just having to "fluff" it like I do my coop. It does lead me to another question...what do I do in winter...I can imagine that the shavings are going to freeze. We insulated underneath the floor of the coop, but we still get very cold temperatures in the winter. I just want to be prepared for what I need to do. Thank you in advance for any words of wisdom!

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

So I switched to pine shavings for my duck house on Monday--WHAT.A.DIFFERENCE! I made is fairly deep and am just having to "fluff" it like I do my coop. It does lead me to another question...what do I do in winter...I can imagine that the shavings are going to freeze. We insulated underneath the floor of the coop, but we still get very cold temperatures in the winter. I just want to be prepared for what I need to do. Thank you in advance for any words of wisdom!

My shavings don’t freeze. The coop is off the ground and not insulated underneath. I get poopcicles with shavings stuck on them. I put a fairly thick layer down and it does fine.

eta: I don’t have ducks. If they track in a lot of water I would think you would get frozen spots but if you break those up and keep shaving deep I’d think you’ll be fine.

 

[Charlie0928]

Straw is terrible bedding /nest material, it doesn’t absorb at all and gets slippery when wet . My girls kicked it over a 2 inch edge from the nesting boxes ..

Hay is food to many animals , I wouldn’t want my hens eating it.

I’ll stick with sand .... love my sand . Great in nesting boxes , broken egg? Scoop it , poop in box? Scoop it .

Dust baths ? No problem it’s everywhere,

Good luck

what type of sand you're using?

 

[Noellereagan]

Personally I don't use either one I use pine shavings for bedding and nesting material. It composts beautifully and absorbs messes much better. It also breaks down and makes fantastic compost.

And masks odors pretty well.

 

[happylittlehens]

I use pine shavings in summer and straw in winter. I’ve heard chickens will eat the hay and can end up with an impacted crop. Plus straw is cheaper and better insulating!