bedding alternative to straw

[Melky]

Really omg they eat almost everything

I know right! The funny part is one would act like got a worm with newspaper strip and take off running and the others would chase wanting some too.

 

[m1chelle1]

i do use sand inside my actual chicken coop. its easy to clean (like a litter box) and it is anti microbial and is an excellent cost saver. Id highly recommend for areas that have milder weather. I live in zone 8b (subtropical)

 

[m1chelle1]

Here is an article on type of sand can use: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/using-sand-in-your-chicken-coop.47795/

Good resource

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Really omg they eat almost everything

This is why it's always a good idea to provide grit for chicks day one! Not only will it help them process anything they really shouldn't eat, but it promotes healthy gizzard growth and function.

 

[Saaniya]

This is why it's always a good idea to provide grit for chicks day one! Not only will it help them process anything they really shouldn't eat, but it promotes healthy gizzard growth and function.

Yes i give them grit I have some tiny but they are granite pits
But somehow I wonder if grit sometime injured them inside?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes i give them grit I have some tiny but they are granite pits
But somehow I wonder if grit sometime injured them inside?

No. Grit should not injure them, it is used in the gizzard and is essentially ground down smoothly before it passes through the intestine.
During necropsy I have found grit (crushed granite) in the gizzard and maybe 1-2 pieces when I examined the intestines (these were on their way out).
The grit in the gizzard was still fairly sharp/rugged and angular. The ones in the intestines were very smooth and worn down - easy to pass.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum! Glad you found us!

I'm a bit confused why your mum is sleeping on straw? Do you mean you have an adult house chicken or maybe baby chicks in a brooder in your house? I'll assume you have chickens in your house and your mum is going to visit. If I am wrong please correct me.

Chickens and chicks give off dander. That is bits of skin and down that break off and float away. Some people are allergic to dander. Chickens scratch a lot. They can shred most bedding into dust with their scratching. When chicken poop dries out chickens can turn it into dust with their scratching. These are the things you are dealing with.

We use all kinds of things for bedding in brooders, cops, runs, or nests. Wood shavings, wood chips, hay, straw, sand, dirt, Spanish moss, shredded paper, carpet, the list goes on and on. Someone can always come up with a reason any one of these won't work but others use them successfully. We are all unique, different things work better for different ones of us.

I don't know what is unique about you or what situation you are dealing with. I'd guess chicks in a brooder in your house but that's only a guess. Can you lock that brooder in a room and seal it up as best you can to keep dust in there? Can you brood outside, many of us do even in below freezing weather. You may need to change bedding really often. Without knowing what is going on and what you are working with it's hard for me to make specific suggestions that apply to your unique situation.

 

[MissChick@dee]

If the chickens are in the house it’s probably the dander from the chickens your Mom is reacting too.
It gets everywhere on everything and keeping out of the air in a confined place is next to impossible. Do you plan on transitioning your birds outside??

 

[Saaniya]

No. Grit should not injure them, it is used in the gizzard and is essentially ground down smoothly before it passes through the intestine.
During necropsy I have found grit (crushed granite) in the gizzard and maybe 1-2 pieces when I examined the intestines (these were on their way out).
The grit in the gizzard was still fairly sharp/rugged and angular. The ones in the intestines were very smooth and worn down - easy to pass.

Chickens system is way too interesting

 

[Al Capon]

help! my mum is staying and has asthma so I need to take out the straw-what can I put down in her house to sleep on

I hear crushed corn cob is nice, she might find that comfy.