bedding options

[nellynelly]

i have been using sawdust from a chainsaw for bedding. it worked great, but unfortunately we have run out. i am trying to figure out a replacement material. hopefully something else that is free.

what are people using for bedding? anything creative? failed experiments to avoid?

was thinking about using dried tree leaves. maybe letting grass clipping dry out, and using that.

thank you

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Dried leaves works for a free source. Some people in warm and/or arid climates like sand. IMO it gets too humid and cold here for sand. I think it would turn to stone in winter. Pine shavings is the best thing to use. Don't use any hardwood shavings or sawdust because some of the fungus and molds can cause respiratory disease. Grass clippings can get moldy too, as does hay. I use grass clippings, straw and leaves in the run but not in the coop.

 

[chfite]

It is hard to beat the pine shavings that you buy in a bale at places such as Tractor Supply. Clean, reasonably free from dust, and made for this specific purpose. The compressed bale has quite a lot in it, with the deep litter method, it lasts a long time. When it is time for cleaning, just shovel it into the compost pile.

Chris

 

[nellynelly]

besides in hamster sized packaging, i have not seen any pine shavings for sale here. but that is besides the point, i don't want to buy anything. besides dried leaves, anything that people have used? how about shredded cardboard?

thanks

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Cardboard would probably work as long as it's kept dry. It wouldn't hurt to try sand.
Around here the pine shavings that chfite was referring to are found at feed stores that sell things for horses. The shavings are intended for horse stall bedding so the bales are large.

Are small flocks of chickens popular in Bogota?
I know they're everywhere in Costa Rica, Mexico and throughout the Caribbean.

 

[nellynelly]

not many chickens in the city itself (i have not seen one). it is a pretty dense urban place, with not many yards. you do see allot in the countryside. ours are kept at the farm (outside of the city). we have about 50 hens (30 production reds and 20 mutts).

pine is not really grown here commercially, so i would be buying imported shavings, something i don't want to do.

ideally, i find some local byproduct that is dry and absorbent. i tried coffee chaf before, but did not like how light it was, one flap of the wings and the entire coop looks like a snowglobe.

 

[nellynelly]

or i need to buy a wood chipper......make my own bedding.

 

[DuckiesGarden]

I use dry grass clippings and straw(chopped) in my coop. Straw on the floor and the grass in the nests. We have a huge yard (3 or so acres) that we have to cut once a week at least so I've got a good enough supply of the grass clippings that I can change it out twice a week. I throw pine needles in too when the trees shed and I always throw my fall leaves in the coop yard and in the front "scratching" room in my coop.