Bedding suggestions

[WitchesFullMoon]

What is the best to use for bedding in coops? Currently I'm using straw but wanted to know if there is something better to use

 

[Ozarkhomesteader]

In the coops i use a mixture of straw, hay, wood shavings, grass clippings, and leaves. Basically whatever i have on hand. The hay is stuff that drops on the ground from the goats food, leaves whenever i have to rake somewhere, grass clippings if i mow and the goats don't eat it, shavings if i didn't use a whole bag up in the chicken brooders. With bedding i pretty much do whatever i can to make it cheaper because i just use so much of it to keep things clean, and i hate having to pay for it all the time.

Oh, if you use grass clipping though, let them dry for a day or two before putting them in. Green grass inside the coop is pretty gross as it starts decomposing pretty fast.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Check on Craig's list under farm and garden/hay.
In our area anyway, last years hay bales are dirt cheap!
Our last score was 4 round bales for $5 each. $20 bucks gave us bedding for our Sows, nanny goats and 3 hen houses for countless months. Of course we are on a large scale, but you get the picture. Before that we were buying squares for $1 as pc.
Bedding and coop floor for our birds is important because they poo all over it. It makes for easy poo removal. Sand floors are fine but raking out hay and shoveling dirt? I think we made the less labored choice.
With the hay, just throw in a pile or two and when you come back, your birds already spread it out for you.
Mine are so helpful.. Hehe!
Best regards,
FC

 

[igorsMistress]

I just use pine shavings and hay gets mixed in there from the nest boxes. I don't have leaves from my trees or I would use those.
I get the shavings at the feed store. $9 did the coop floor in march and I will be adding another bag this weekend.