Bedding in the barn

[Cap53f]

Our chickens will be in the barn in a 10x25 enclosed room with a wood floor. What do you recommend using as bedding in this large of an area? Thanks.

 

[Percheron chick]

Is this a permanent chicken coop? You will want to cover the floor with blackjack or some type of flooring to protect the wood.
A few 2-3 small bales of straw or hay will cover the floor. If you prefer shavings, 5-6 bags are needed. If you want free, start collecting bags of leaves, pine needles, shredded paper, grass clipping, wood chips...

 

[Cap53f]

Thank you so much. Planned on it being permanent but never thought of protecting the floor. Thanks!

 

[Dragonwolfmastr]

I agree, although straw isn't the best idea because it holds in water and parasites. And cedar shavings should not be used around chicks because they can be toxic.

I use pine needles in the run, and shavings in the coop.

It should be easier to clean that barn with shavings on the floor.

 

[Percheron chick]

But if the barn is being used for other things as well (hay and tack storage or a work shop) dust from shavings will drive you crazy.

 

[3KillerBs]

But if the barn is being used for other things as well (hay and tack storage or a work shop) dust from shavings will drive you crazy.

Chickens create a great deal of dust just from their feathers. It's better to not have chickens share an area with anything you're not willing to have get dusty.

 

[aart]

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture
-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.
-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.
-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.
- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.
-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).
There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.
That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 7 years.

 

[Cap53f]

I agree, although straw isn't the best idea because it holds in water and parasites. And cedar shavings should not be used around chicks because they can be toxic.

I use pine needles in the run, and shavings in the coop.

It should be easier to clean that barn with shavings on the floor.

Thank you sooo much!

 

[Cap53f]

Chickens create a great deal of dust just from their feathers. It's better to not have chickens share an area with anything you're not willing to have get dusty.

Perfect, thanks. Not much else going on in the barn.

 

[Cap53f]

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture
-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.
-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.
-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.
- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.
-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).
There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.
That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 7 years.

Thank you so much for the tips.