Alternatives to wood shavings?

[lcammack]

I have to agree with all of the people using animal bedding pellets. They last forever. We use poop boards under roosts filled with stall-dry and clean every other day or so, and pellets on the coop floor. With having the poop boards to catch everything under the roosts, we only need to replace the pellets once to twice a year. So for about $25.00 worth of pellets for our 10' x 10' coop with 24 chickens in it (they free range everyday) that will last one year is only about $2 per month worth of bedding. We so sprinkle the pellets with DE because the chickens love to dust bath in them when they start to break down into the softer bits. We use them in our chick brooders also, because they don't get in the water like shavings do since they are heavy. And don't worry about the chickens eating them, they are much bigger than pelleted chicken food.

 

[earlybird10842]

We use straw, but I'm considering switching.

 

[adgcountrygirl]

I'm betting you'll have the same problem with rice hulls. They're fine and light, almost cottony. Same is true of cotton hulls. Have you considered straw? There is a difference between hay and straw.

Even if you can't find the brand of wood shavings that I use I think any of that size would work for you. From your description of the problems that you're having I believe that your problem is not with wood shavings themselves, but the size of shavings you're using.

I agree with this... I use the finer shavings for the nest box only, and the heavier shavings for the coop floor. I only toss the finer shavings on the coop floor when they have been used in the nest box for awhile first. Also, I don't use shavings on the floor at all during Summer, because it is way too hot in North Texas to use anything that holds heat! Sand is a great alternative for Spring and Summer if it is really hot where you live!

 

[tgooberbutt]

I use sand....ordinary playground sand that is (literally) dirt cheap at Home Depot. It sucks away the moisture from poop, and I use an industrial-strength metal kitty litter scoop to clean out the poop into a compost bin. I free range the chickens in the day, so they don't really kick up any dust in the coop.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I use sand....ordinary playground sand that is (literally) dirt cheap at Home Depot. It sucks away the moisture from poop, and I use an industrial-strength metal kitty litter scoop to clean out the poop

x2 Works great!!! I buy mine from the feed store.

 

[fish]

I use Sugar cane mulch, it smells great and my chickens love it. I don't like hay and get rashes and very itchy. other wise what about shredded paper.
Robyn

 

[questions543]

I use regular river sand. I switched from shavings and this has been my best chicken decision yet! clumps just like kitty litter nearly no moisture, buy the right tyupe of sand no dust and they can scratch for dropped pellets in the sand

 

[jessie15273]

I use the wood pellets and shredded newspaper in addition to small flake shavings. Sand is going in the new big coop

 

[Barry Michelle]

Your local well driller can get Gravel Pack from fine sand to pea gravel in 50# bags. A little more $ but lots of options that are okay for drinking water so should not have many allergic reactions. I have a dirt floor in my coop. I spread straw but leave areas for the chickens to scratch/play in the sand. I even have 5 nest boxes on the ground.

 

[smalltown girl5]

I use a tarp under where they perch I can take it out easy and throw the droppings in the garden or where ever I can also spray it clean. I then only use wood shavings in the nesting boxes. There is just the coop floor where we keep there water and food.