? about coop bedding

[lambchicks]

I have 10, 8 wk old chicks in a 8 x 4 coop. They are out in the yard most of the day. Secured inside at night. Right now they have cedar shavings as bedding material. How often should I change this? I have had to add some DE because we have had so much rain here lately.

 

[gritsar]

In close quarters cedar shavings can cause serious respiratory issues in chickens. You're better off going with pine shavings.
You might want to do so reading up on the deep litter method. Just use the BYC search feature, keywords: deep litter method. I turn my shavings a couple of times a week and do a complete coop clean out every couple of months using the DLM.

 

[lambchicks]

Thanks for the info.

"brainless border collie?" I have never heard of such a thing!

 

[lambchicks]

Thought I might also add, my coop floor is solid.

 

[vnploveschickens]

Don't use cedar shavings. In an enclosed area, they let off toxic fumes.

I don't use the deep litter method. I use pine shavings on the floor and nesting boxes. I sprinkle with a little DE and mix into the shavings. I clean out the coop once a week. For me, this works well.

 

[lambchicks]

OK, I was wrong it is a pine shaving. Thanks for the info.

 

[Mahlzeit]

When you clean out the coop depends on how messy it gets. If they are only in there during the nights it won't get as messy as it would if they were in there all day. You don't want it to build too much but I don't clean mine weekly.