Bedding for coop?

[Silkiehen]

I am almost done building the coop! It is a dirt floor and I don't want the deep litter idea! I was thinking about saw dust shavings or regular shavings. I will have around 20 chickens in there. It also has a run attached. Any ideas welcome!

 

[missnatalie]

What about straw

 

[cmonkey4]

In my opinion, pine shavings are best. They are cheap, have little dust, and are very absorbent.

 

[AngryRooster]

In my opinion, pine shavings are best. They are cheap, have little dust, and are very absorbent.

Pine shavings are great! Sand works too, though I wouldn't recommend it during the rain season.

 

[Silkiehen]

In my opinion, pine shavings are best. They are cheap, have little dust, and are very absorbent.

It wont hurt if they eat a few? They will be ready to go into the coop in a few weeks!

 

[cmonkey4]

It wont hurt if they eat a few? They will be ready to go into the coop in a few weeks!

If they are over 2 weeks, they shouldn't eat the bedding.

 

[soratos]

Even my older girls eat the pine shaving a little bit. I haven't had a problem ever with impaction. My current 4 chicks have been on pine shavings since we brought them home.

 

[Silkiehen]

Even my older girls eat the pine shaving a little bit. I haven't had a problem ever with impaction. My current 4 chicks have been on pine shavings since we brought them home.

Ok, Thank you!

 

[EmeraldSkye]

Do you live near a rice-producing area of the country? I'm in California and am able to purchase rice hulls. I love it in the coop. I can sift out the poop using a regular cat littler scooper if I choose. In the covered part of the run I'm using pine shavings, and I put out a flake of hay in the uncovered part for them to scratch through and find the wheat seed heads. The hay also protects their feet from getting muddy if it rains.