little coop question

[Ducksandchickens]

I’ve heard though that sand and pine shavings mixes together is good

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Good idea, maybe the perches are too high for them to go on ? Since they’re big hens

If you are referring to the OP's coop - the roost bars are almost the same height as the nest boxes, so not too high - too low and narrow.

 

[JDN]

Shredded printer paper seems to hold more moisture but it blows around less too...and it’s free for many that work in an office...

 

[aart]

Here’s the best bedding material you can use

Straw and Hay
Sun-colored straw, with its sweet, earthy smell and springy texture is what many new chicken keepers reach for to line their coop and nest boxes.

2. Pine Shavings
A popular and prudent choice for litter is pine shavings, found at many feed-supply stores, big-box stores and even pet-supply stores. Pine shavings dry fast, are inexpensive and don’t break down quickly, making them an ideal bedding material. The mild pine scent is inviting, though it does fade over time.

3. Cedar Shavings
Speaking of a pleasant aroma (and that’s a rare topic indeed where chickens are concerned!), an alternative to pine shavings is cedar shavings. There’s much debate as to the strong aromatic nature of cedar shavings and their effects on chickens’ delicate respiratory systems, and it seems the jury is still out. To play it safe, I recommend avoiding the use of cedar shavings with very young chicks confined to a brooder.

However, many chicken keepers have used cedar shavings with success in their coops with adult flocks, so long as the birds have other areas to inhabit besides the coop. If you opt for cedar shavings, they’re easy to find at pet-supply stores but are a little more expensive than pine; they do really smell great and work as a natural insect-repellent.

4. Sand
Sand, when used as coop bedding, is an excellent and very clean choice for those who have the time to devote to it. While expensive initially, compared to the alternatives listed here, sand as bedding in the coop need only be replaced once or twice a year if diligently cleaned and contained.

Sand dries very quickly and can be turned over with a rake to employ the deep-litter method (discussed below) or scooped with a cat litter scooper when used in small coops. Sand is the flooring material of choice for outdoor runs that are exposed to the elements frequently: It doesn’t break down, it dries fast and it doubles as a great material for dust baths. Your chickens will love it, as mine do. Be sure to use builder’s sand (found at home-improvement stores), as sandbox sand is too fine and tends to clump.

5. Grass Clippings
If you have enough, grass clippings are one viable coop bedding option, but they have a few disadvantages. Clippings tend to retain moisture and break down quickly. They also dry, shrink and smell. If you opt for grass clippings in the coop, be sure they come from a yard that hasn’t been sprayed with pesticides, fungicides, herbicides or other chemicals. Chickens will pick at anything and everything in their coop–bedding is no exception, especially if there are bugs in it!

6. Shredded Leaves
This is an option if the leaves are finely shredded so they dry quickly. Whole leaves take a long time to break down and are susceptible to harboring moisture, sticking together and matting. Wet leaves make a slippery surface that could lead to splayed legs or bumblefoot, especially in younger, growing birds.

7. Recycled Paper
A host of reclaimed and recycled manmade materials, such as shredded newspaper or shredded office paper, are options. While they are free, use them with caution. Ink can be toxic to chickens, and office paper is heavily processed and treated. Glossy paper—the kind found in magazines and fliers—also contains a large amount of ink and can create a matted and/or slippery surface.

Where did you paste this from @Mckennas poultry ...got a link?

 

[aart]

We've been doing a thin layer of sand then pine shavings, but this is a mess. Is there a better way?

Maybe use one or the other....depends on how you want to handle manure management.

Here is one of the best pre fab coop mods I've ever seen:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1134399/help-hens-roosting-in-nest-boxes/10#post_17749535

What is your climate?
Adding your location to your profile is most helpful for better answers.

 

[Mckennas poultry]

Where did you paste this from @Mckennas poultry ...got a link?

I have it down in my “notes app” when I was just starting with chickens I did my reasearch and put it all into notes. I don’t remember how I got it. But does it really matter?

 

[Mckennas poultry]

Where did you paste this from @Mckennas poultry ...got a link?

Do you want that information that I posted down ? Just copy and paste what I said. Don’t know why you’d want a link when it’s already there

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Where did you paste this from @Mckennas poultry ...got a link?

@aart It was easy enough to find the source.

https://www.hobbyfarms.com/7-coop-bedding-materials-and-how-to-choose-the-right-one-3/

@Mckennas poultry It matters because you need to give credit where it is due. It is referred to as citing sources. Otherwise, it looks like you wrote this up yourself.

 

[Mckennas poultry]

@aart It was easy enough to find the source.

https://www.hobbyfarms.com/7-coop-bedding-materials-and-how-to-choose-the-right-one-3/

@Mckennas poultry It matters because you need to give credit where it is due. It is referred to as citing sources. Otherwise, it looks like you wrote this up yourself.

how could I “give credit where it is due” when I didn’t know where I got it from ? As I said it was in my “notes” app.

 

[Mckennas poultry]

I have it down in my “notes app” when I was just starting with chickens I did my reasearch and put it all into notes. I don’t remember how I got it. But does it really matter?

@aart It was easy enough to find the source.

https://www.hobbyfarms.com/7-coop-bedding-materials-and-how-to-choose-the-right-one-3/

@Mckennas poultry It matters because you need to give credit where it is due. It is referred to as citing sources. Otherwise, it looks like you wrote this up yourself.