Alternatives to wood shavings?

[swga]

I never had a problem with ants in the rice hulls, but you could always add some DE just in case.
I got them from the local feed store (Buck Moore), so other feed stores probably carry them too
Another benefit of rice hulls is that they are absolutely soft and wonderful for the chickies to dust bathe in- mine loved rolling around in them!
Also no splinters when you are cleaning out the coop...

 

[OldGuy43]

I never had a problem with ants in the rice hulls, but you could always add some DE just in case.
I got them from the local feed store (Buck Moore), so other feed stores probably carry them too

You got ants from your local feed store?

Sorry, just couldn't pass on that one.

 

[swga]

Ah, I guess I oughta read over what I wrote before I post!

 

[mtnviewfarms]

I use a combination of dry leaves, pine straw, wheat straw and wood shavings ( husband is a woodworker so plenty of those ) - I use this combo on the floor of their coop, covered run, and nest boxes and just make sure to wipe my feet off very well before going back in the house.

 

[dretd]

I usually use the large-size wood shavings (my feed store carries both fine and coarse). I tasked my daughter on cleaning the coop last time and she accidentally used the recycled paper 'shavings' I use for my horse stall. I was unhappy at first, but it actually compresses together better than the wood shavings so I may switch over. its about $6.95 a bag that's maybe 8 cf compressed. Just a titch more expensive than the pine.

I might have to check out the wood pellets, sounds interesting.

 

[Muffin14143]

I never had a problem with ants in the rice hulls, but you could always add some DE just in case.
I got them from the local feed store (Buck Moore), so other feed stores probably carry them too
Another benefit of rice hulls is that they are absolutely soft and wonderful for the chickies to dust bathe in- mine loved rolling around in them!
Also no splinters when you are cleaning out the coop...

Yes, I do use DE in the coop, as well as a natural cleaning solution that kills mites each week when I clean the coop. That should hopefully keep unwanted "guests" away from my coop.

 

[Alli Lea]

I have been using coffee chaff. It's free at most coffee roasters (I just called around to see if any coffee shops in town roasted their own beans). It's very fluffy (sometimes floats away) and clumps with the poop.

 

[Crisses]

I use sand on the floor and shredded newspaper in the brood box...I will probably swap to hay soon in the brood box. But sand rocks...no pun intended

 

[skysky43]

I use the pine needles and leaves we rake up around the yard as a floor cover.

 

[pollitaroja]

i use pine shavings i buy at Shells feed store.Never have problems I have 14 hens. The only 2 things that stuck to my shoes is poopoo and mud lolol