Bedding/Nesting Material Storage Ideas

[Magoo1957]

Ok, cool. That looks like a really nice chicken coop!

just a side note....along with stacking the hay bales on pallets, you can also put down a tarp first, lay the bales on it, pull up all 4 sides then bungee cord the sides together.....just to keep water off the lower end of the stacked bales.

 

[BARobbins]

Hey y'all!

It's me again Hope everyone is having a good morning. Well, I have some questions regarding bedding/nesting material storage for my coop. Okay first things first: We started our chicken coop back in February of this year. The base foundation of my chicken coop is dirt, BUT....Since February, there has been multiple layers upon layers of different materials put down on the coop floor on top of the dirt. So, the "deep litter" method has been established. Some material I have put done has been straw, sand, etc, before finally deciding on using the pine bedding as the layer on top. It seems to work better for my coop, and I realize that the "deep litter" method that I have established since February, may be the main reason for the pine bedding success. I keep hay in the nesting boxes only, and as I said, recently I put pine chip bedding on the whole entire coop floor, including the floor under the nesting area. My question is: What are the best ways of storing these materials until they are needed? I have been putting the hay and pine bedding under our carport, but when it rains, some of the hay gets damp, as our carport is open at the bottom, not because it's unfinished, but it's just that kind. I know that's not good that it gets damp because it can cause mold and mildew, which is a no-no inside a chicken coop, and I have stored it on my front porch before, but I don't like the mess it creates there neither. I don't have the hay inside any kind of container or anything, I just have it setting on the concrete foundation of my carport, so it gets everywhere and makes a mess, even worse when the kittens decide they want to sleep or play in it. I was thinking of maybe getting one of those big, tall, plastic trash cans that have a good-sealing lid that has the wheels on the back part of the can???? What are y'all's thoughts or input on this? Anyone ever tried that? I am wondering whether or not, even with it sealed, will it still have enough moisture or create moisture to where it creates the mold/mildew anyway?, Especially in the summer/hot months....would putting it in the shade be enough where it wouldn't have/create moisture? I do have a small little shelter in the back fenced in area where we keep our dog, Haus, and it's not very big at all, but maybe big enough to maybe connect it to a part of the outside of the coop as sort of a lean-to type thing. It was used originally as a little shelter where the previous home owner put a feeder for the deer so they could watch them. All it is now, is just a small shelter. Probably about the width of two hay bales side by side, and maybe two hay bales end to end long. It's not very big at all, but it's not being used really for anything, except maybe the dog to lay under, but he has a dog house, so I was thinking of re-purposing it for maybe something to store my hay under? If that would work? Not sure, as the mildew/mold issue comes to mind. I could get my husband I guess to close in the bottom of it, and makes some sort of door at the top to shut out the elements? idk, let me know y'alls thoughts on this issue, because I've got to come up with something better than how it's being stored currently. I want it to be where no elements and especially no spiders/bugs are able to get into it. Also, I live in Southern Georgia, and it gets pretty hot and HUMID in the summer months, and we get PLENTY of bugs! Bugs, which I don't mind if we didn't have....especially those pesky little mosquitoes!

Also, if any of you read my previous post concerning having the bantams in the coop with the rest of the flock, everything seems to be fine. They have their little "tussles" (between the bantams more or less) every now and then, but nothing really serious. Thank you everyone for the feedback and advice!


Sincerely,

Your Fellow Fluffy Butt Flock Moma

We bought a molded outdoor closet that was just the perfect size to fit the tote we keep a straw bail in. Installed a few shelves to hold the wood chip tote and feed tote. Top shelf for small seasonal things and medicines. Works awesome and organized keeps the mess to a minimum as well as not unwanted guests.
good luck!