Any reasons to not use straw in coop?

[Raubkatze]

I picked up straw for my brooder boxes, and have A LOT left over. So, I put it in my coop, and well, I kind of love it. Cleaning it out required just a muck fork and the whole bottom of the coop came in one pull. Replacing it I just grabbed a flake and spread it back out instead of wrestling with a bag of shavings. The chickens seem to enjoy scratching around in it. Originally I was just doing this to use up what I had, but I think I might stick with it unless there is some glaring reason I shouldn't. I have a Nestera coop, so the coop is all plastic.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I love straw in the coop for the reasons you mentioned. However, it is not uncommon to end up with a bale full of mold or mites. That is basically the only downside. As long as you can find clean bales and you can keep it from getting too wet in the coop go right ahead!

 

[5Australorpasaures]

Straw for us, worked for Grandmom so never thought of fixing it. When the coop is changed out straw goes to compost heap.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Straw works great in the coop. I found out the hard way not to use it in the run though. When it gets wet it becomes a super slimy mess. Which, as mentioned, is good for compost but not for trying to feed the chickens when you’re in a hurry before work haha

 

[Raubkatze]

Straw works great in the coop. I found out the hard way not to use it in the run though. When it gets wet it becomes a super slimy mess. Which, as mentioned, is good for compost but not for trying to feed the chickens when you’re in a hurry before work haha

My run is untreated wood mulch around the coop and grass further out. Eventually when they learn to eat grass and kill that off, I'll likely mulch the rest of it.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I ended up getting big untreated wood chips after the straw debacle. It might have worked well in summer but I tried it in the late fall.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Originally I was just doing this to use up what I had, but I think I might stick with it unless there is some glaring reason I shouldn't.

Whatever you use in your coop (straw, hay, dirt, sand, wood shavings, wood chips, dried leaves, grass trimmings, etc.) it will work great for some and not at all for others. Our coops, flocks, climate, and management techniques are so different that it should not be a surprise that it works differently for different people. Same thing applies to the run though that is a different environment.

For this and most other questions on this forum I suggest you trust your eyes. If it works for you then it works for you. If it doesn't work, try something different.

 

[Raubkatze]

I ended up getting big untreated wood chips after the straw debacle. It might have worked well in summer but I tried it in the late fall.

Mine are loving the wood chips. They are dust bathing in them, scratching around in them… I thought they would go crazy for the grass and dirt, but maybe after spending 8 weeks in the brooder on top of pine flakes it’s more comfortable for them.