Bedding hacks

[agold23]

What does everyone use for bedding to save?

I've heard sand, pine shavings, hay, dried leaves and shredded newspapers.

Looking for everyone to put in their backs to help everyone save some time and a few bucks as we creep closer to the winter months!

We recently switched to pine shavings which I much prefer to straw we’ve used previously. Makes the coop smell a lot better and it’s easier to spot clean under the roost. All I do is grab the shovel and put it in a yard bag. I’ve never heard of grass clippings being used but that certainly would work

 

[RoyalChick]

Does using piles of leaves bring “bad” bugs into the coop? I always worry about mites.

Not that I have experienced - watching those chickens tear into that leaf pile it feels like nothing living could possibly survive. There is something about a pile of leaves that releases their inner dinosaur. Stand well back and enjoy the fun!

 

[WIchickMama]

Does using piles of leaves bring “bad” bugs into the coop? I always worry about mites.

Good question, I never thought about this.... Makes sense though.

 

[saysfaa]

Does using piles of leaves bring “bad” bugs into the coop? I always worry about mites.

I thought of that but decided the advantages outweigh the risks. It is a guess because I didn't find much info on how big the risk is.

https://www.newlifeonahomestead.com/chicken-mites/ ... "If you live in an urban area and the flock is confined to a coop and run, common sense would tell you that the birds are better protected from mites than say, free range flocks. But, that does not seem to be the case."

Good dust baths and not overcrowding seem to be big factors in avoiding mite infestations according to many sources. And old fashioned whitewashing.

 

[RoyalChick]

I thought of that but decided the advantages outweigh the risks. It is a guess because I didn't find much info on how big the risk is.

https://www.newlifeonahomestead.com/chicken-mites/ ... "If you live in an urban area and the flock is confined to a coop and run, common sense would tell you that the birds are better protected from mites than say, free range flocks. But, that does not seem to be the case."

Good dust baths and not overcrowding seem to be big factors in avoiding mite infestations according to many sources. And old fashioned whitewashing.

I am with you. Avoid over crowding and make sure they can bathe.
Knock on wood, I have never had mites in my flock. I am not convinced leaves is any worse than just hanging out on the grass (which mine also like to do). Chickens are forest floor creatures so I figure leaves are kind of their natural habitat.

 

[3KillerBs]

Because I live in the US southeast I have an abundant supply of pine straw free for the raking. And it's easier now because DH bought me a new used lawnsweeper.

I add things as they come available. I don't think I would like any of them by themselves nearly as much as the mix.

Yes. I am convinced that a mix of materials is superior to any one material used alone.

Are people putting fresh grass clippings in? Or wait til the dry?

Half and half. My lawn sweeper works best if the clippings are not quite fresh but not all the way dry. In my climate and with the ridiculously good drainage we have (it's called "The Sandhills" for a reason), I don't worry about mold -- I just pitch it over the fence in clumps and let the chickens kick it around.

Does using piles of leaves bring “bad” bugs into the coop? I always worry about mites.

My run is unroofed so wild birds have access if they want it. Therefore I don't worry about the yard waste. The birds are in the environment and exposed to what's in the environment anyway.

Chickens are forest floor creatures so I figure leaves are kind of their natural habitat.

This.

 

[Happy hen lover]

I use pine shavings in coop and nest boxes with a pile of plastic bag strips under roost to collect poo. I throw dried leaves and grass clippings and kitchen and garden scraps in run area. I did wheat straw once never again! That layer caked like a brick and stopped my fluffiness of the run.
I think I'll use rest of straw to stuff a scarecrow for decorating for fall.!

 

[rosemarythyme]

The only bedding I pay for is hemp, specifically to go under the coop roost for easier scooping (as it sifts out well). The rest of my coop is wood chips, and during clean outs the chips simply get raked into the run to join the rest of the deep litter in the run.

Otherwise all my bedding is free and taken from my property - wood chips from branches, dried short cropped grass from the lawn, trimmings from the veggie garden, dried leaves (which I store up each fall). Actually saves me money as I'd otherwise have to pay to have all this extra material picked up.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

I find with mites and mold, moisture is the enemy. If things in the coop are dry, you’re typically ok…so I choose bedding accordingly.

I use pine shavings in my coop and hay in the nest boxes. For me they’re absorbent and inexpensive, and both make good additions to the compost pile once they’re soiled.

 

[Chicnbones]

I use sand in the run only and shavings in the coop. I bought nest bedding from Amazon but my girls don’t like it…. I guess I’ll just put shavings in for nest bedding.