experiment with bedding

This may sound silly, but I thought I would give this stuff a try. I typically use chopped straw mulch in the coop and run and the results have been pretty darn good with little dust and minimal cleaning as I only have to turn it over once every couple of days with a small rake. It lasts for a long time and there is no smell, except that of hay. It stays really dry no matter how long between cleanings. The price is comparable to using wood chips. I pile it in deep.
As I was looking up more products from Lucern Farms in Maine, I discovered this. http://www.lucernefarms.com/feeds_GOLD.shtml
Yes, it is for horses. The interesting thing about this stuff is that it is chopped hay with soybean oil in it making it almost dust free. The price is the same as the chopped straw mulch I have been using.
I just cleaned out the coop and put a bag of this stuff in there. It does not seem oily at all. It looks just like the chopped mulch I've been using. The girls just discovered it and are out there scratching up a storm. They really like it. Now, after all this scratching, I will get a good idea of how dust free it is. The other thing I noticed is that it is heat treated, eliminating mold spores.
I'll post results when time goes by enough to tell if it has made any signifigant difference.

This is the stuff I usually use. I love it.

Very interesting. I would think the diverse grasses would be really good for them too as they peck out the seeds and stuff from it. I'd be interested in hearing your review. I usually put hay or straw down in my run during the winter months. I may consider giving this a try if your birds really seem to like it.

I'm not sure if this particular brand is available in Texas, but you can check their site to see if there is a dealer near you. Most horse hay feed contains molasses. This particular one does not.
If you can't locate a dealer near you, just look for chopped hay or straw. Landscapers use it to keep grass seeds in place, and gardners use it in their gardens. It is nicely chopped and works well for the chickens to walk around on. It's sooooooo much better than wood chips!

Ok, it has only been one day so far, but with 5 birds scratching away in the new stuff, there is not one speck of dust yet. I think I'm going to like this stuff!

Interesting!

Ok, Day three. I just went out there and turned the bedding over a bunch of times trying to raise some dust. No dust at all. This is a 4 x 5 coop with 5 chickens. So far so good!

I wonder if I can find some of this stuff in Texas

Thanks for posting this. I might have to look out for it. Mostly I am looking for materials suitable for DLM and compost after their initial use.

Check the dealer locator on the site. If there isn't one near you, perhaps there is a local business that makes the same kind of horse feed with no molasses but added soybean oil instead. This product also says on the bag that the dust has been removed.

The closest dealer is 26 miles from me. Humm. If it's that good, other stores will be carrying it eventually. Do you think it could attract rodents?