When I first got my chickens I used pine shavings as bedding and really liked it. I use the deep litter method and I never had problems with odor or wet bedding as long as I kept up with it. That wasn't hard to do because it was relatively low maintenance.
DW and I decided to try straw because it is so much cheaper than shavings. We bought 30 bales for $1 a bale. It was nice at first but I learned quickly that it constantly has to be thrown out and fresh straw put in. I can't use the deep litter method that I had previously been using. The straw just doesn't have the same absorption as the shavings did. My coop is damp and "gooey" and doesn't smell good after a very short time.
Tomorrow, I'm going to go buy about 100 cubic feet of pine shavings. It's time to get back to what worked for me.
DW and I decided to try straw because it is so much cheaper than shavings. We bought 30 bales for $1 a bale. It was nice at first but I learned quickly that it constantly has to be thrown out and fresh straw put in. I can't use the deep litter method that I had previously been using. The straw just doesn't have the same absorption as the shavings did. My coop is damp and "gooey" and doesn't smell good after a very short time.
Tomorrow, I'm going to go buy about 100 cubic feet of pine shavings. It's time to get back to what worked for me.