Alternatives to wood shavings?

[ozexpat]

rice hulls work for me as they are free and easy to get.

a friend of mine has a tropical hardwood furniture shop so i get a couple of sacks of mahogany shavings for the nest boxes

 

[josowen14]

If you have no allergy, and have access, peanut skins make great bedding for chickens, and other livestock. They also make a beautiful mulch for the garden

 

[sweetmsmisty98]

I live in Washington state, I want to try the sand but I am worried that it will become to cold for them in the winter, I have a heat lamp out there when its cold but I am not sure if that will be enough to keep them warm. I am so sold on the sand , the pine shavings are messy and dusty and a pain to deal with. I am so ready to go to the gravel place and buy a half a yard of sand. I also have 2 ducks that share the coop will the sand be ok for them also?

 

[willy546]

Yea! Another rice hull lover. Been using them for 10+ years, first my horse then a year ago my chickens.

 

[kathychick]

We just don't have rice hulls here in Ohio. The next time I drive south to visit my son, he said we can buy rice hulls to our hearts content at their feed store.
The heck with a t-shirt or coffee mug - I am bringing back rice hulls for souvenirs!

 

[willy546]

Great choice, something you can really use.

 

[kbh82310]

Anyone have any luck keeping ducks on sand?

 

[flybyedandy]

we use paper shreds which are more absorbant than wood shaving but you need to have a way to dispose or recycle them. we live in country and just make a big pile of the shreds/poop and in the fall till the pile into our garden which has worked wonderfuly

 

[willy546]

Nice alternative, I don't collect newpapers. Will keep it in mind for the future.

 

[Wendee]

It doesn't need to be newspaper. Shredded bills, old wrapping paper, old files, and envelopes.