Why hay?

[SunHwaKwon]

I tried straw before for my chickens nest boxes and some of the run and had bad luck with it, plus I read the hollow stems can be a hiding/breeding ground for mites (which I did have problems with), so I'm hesitant to use it again :/

 

[yarrowhouse]

We started with shavings, and moved to straw. I don't remember why we switched, but it has worked perfectly fine.

 

[telandra2]

I've done shavings/straw layers the last 3 winters but am going to try wood chips (free from Chipdrop) this year and straw. The straw is to just give them something soft to snuggle into when it's extra cold. It's also lighter for half frozen mucking out. The pine shavings compress and don't compost over winter getting soggy during melts. I'm hoping woodchips will offer better drainage when frozen and thawed.