So talk to me about substrate. What kind of bedding do YOU use in your coop. Some people use sand, pine chips, straight up dirt etc in their coop. My concern with pine chips is 1) cost 2) clean up 3) a giant compost pile full of almost nothing but pine chips. Sand seems good. But I am concerned about how easy it is to clean...straight dirt seems like the worst option as the poop builds up and I would step in major bad. And the run currently is dirt- I do not want to line that with sand but nor a bunch of chips. Leave the dirt? I have read all over BYC on this. There is no clear choice. You guys share my climate so I thought I would ask what you all do. TY :D
I use pine shavings in the coop. I have seen people putting tubs under the roosts, so the chickens poop into it at night. They then dump the pans into the compost bin. If you use the pans, you won't have to change the pine shavings too much. I have a wooden floor with linoleum in my coop. Yours with a dirt floor can use sand and the tubs.
The post I read said to use plastic shoe boxes from the dollar store.
I will be interested in seeing what you set up 
Ron
Ron
Is this a Hobby or a way of Life? Chickens: Australorp, Barred & Partridge Rock, Hatchery & Heritage RIR, Golden Comet, Marans, Easter Egger, Silver Gray Dorking, Basque Hen, Partridge Penedesenca, Olive Egger and UofA Blues
Ron
Is this a Hobby or a way of Life? Chickens: Australorp, Barred & Partridge Rock, Hatchery & Heritage RIR, Golden Comet, Marans, Easter Egger, Silver Gray Dorking, Basque Hen, Partridge Penedesenca, Olive Egger and UofA Blues
I love taking pictures of my chickens! 
We thought at first that it would build up faster than we could use it and we'd have to haul some of it away! Much to our surprise we've found that our 4 Chooks 
have dug thru it so many times that they keep it not only compacted but they have also shredded it while scratching for worms and bugs making it into manageable rich looking compost! 
So far so good for us!
~David
