Straw or pine shavings in coop?

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mommy of two

mommy of two

Chirping
6 Years
Apr 5, 2013
155
8
83
We have been using pine shavings in the coop but the chickens make such a mess with them! I see in pictures in books and pictures on here that people are using straw/hay (not sure which one), but I heard that was bad to do! I would like to use straw/hay but don't know if its ok. Also will some one tell me the difference in straw and hay?
 
My friend used sand that came with MITES. Be careful with sand. She is having a tough time getting rid of them. I like hay but have also read that it's not the best for the coop however it's good in the nest box. I'm using pine shavings mixed with rice hulls which are very absorbent. Anything you choose will have to be changed often so as not to encourage all of the undesirables that flourish in spring/summer. Good luck!
 
mommy of two said:
We have been using pine shavings in the coop but the chickens make such a mess with them! I see in pictures in books and pictures on here that people are using straw/hay (not sure which one), but I heard that was bad to do! I would like to use straw/hay but don't know if its ok. Also will some one tell me the difference in straw and hay?
Click to expand...

the short answer: hay is feed, straw is bedding. hay tends to cost more, and can be made of various grasses and/or alfalfa. straw is often the leftover stalks from grains and isn't really edible like hay is.

as for bedding for coops, i don't know much about straw. i use shavings, but i know exactly what you mean about the mess. it is everywhere.
 
chickiegal said:
My friend used sand that came with MITES. Be careful with sand. She is having a tough time getting rid of them. I like hay but have also read that it's not the best for the coop however it's good in the nest box. I'm using pine shavings mixed with rice hulls which are very absorbent. Anything you choose will have to be changed often so as not to encourage all of the undesirables that flourish in spring/summer. Good luck!
Click to expand...

sickbyc.gif
Eegads! Mites in sand!!
 
I use sand in my run, and pine shavings in my coop. I am however switching over to sand in the coop this week. I drilled holes in a dust pan, and just use it as a pooper scooper. I am a neat freak so I scoop every morning when I let the hens out into the yard. I treat everything heavily with DE, so I haven't had a problem with sand. The sand is much cooler to the touch then shaving, which helps here in AZ, and I don't have to worry about it getting wet from my misting system.
 
My husband doesn't really want to use sand but I wouldn't mind it! How deep do you put the sand?
 
We've been using pine shavings for several years and while it is messy,I've found nothing that works quite as well. We use a modified deep litter and a poop board under the roost. The poop board gets cleaned daily and the shavings get changed about 4-6 times a year and we have no smell or other problems.
 
We are using pine shavings right now but it is sooo dusty and messy in there from them. Does any one else have any more info on the sand?
 
mommy of two said:
We are using pine shavings right now but it is sooo dusty and messy in there from them. Does any one else have any more info on the sand?
Click to expand...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/444759/got-sand-you-should
here is a long thread

Sand is dusty too, as the chickens make a lot of dust from their bodies and this accumulates. However, I have found that in our wet Pac.NW weather during the winter, it is the only thing that I can use (or sweet PDZ) due to mold issues and heavy fog turning everything wet inside the coop.

I would say to always wear a mask when raking out the coop, no matter what the substrate.
 

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