Bedding

[Everett Kaser]

Gecko chick: Go to the top of the page and use the search field (not your browser's search field, but BYC's own search field) and search for "deep litter method". You'll find LOTS of articles referencing it. This one starts right off with a pretty good description, and then continues with LOTS of discussion of it.

 

[altair]

I've always been a sawdust girl but for this winter am trying sand in our 14x9 coop. I currently don't have drop boards in yet (I will) and have been using a kitty litter scoop and rake under the roosts but I like I can quickly get rid of their waste and whatever disease/parasites it may have out of there. On that same vein I like having the ability to examine the poop to see its consistency, even each bird by knowing where they roost so I can monitor changes. Birds are good at hiding symptoms but they can't hide their manure.

In addition I love sand for composting because in my area there's nothing but crappy clay.

 

[robbie1970]

I have tried straw and shaving s in my nest boxes they scratch it all out on the floor any ideas how to stop this they lay on the floor not in the boxes

 

[Free Feather]

Does the nesting box have a lip? Try putting fake eggs in their, closing them in the coop for a few days, or put curtains on the boxes. Worked for me.

 

[robbie1970]

I have tried fake eggs ans real eggs they end up on the floor to my hen house is open boxes have about a 3 inch lip you will have to explain the curtains a little

 

[Free Feather]

 

[Free Feather]

It makes it dark and more like a hidden nest. But if yours are laying on the floor, they must not care about privacy.

 

[YRuthie]

I've heard two schools of thought on cedar shaving strait from the saw mill.Some say is OK others say no. I'm a newbie too... what are your thoughts?

 

[yellowchicks]

I've heard two schools of thought on cedar shaving strait from the saw mill.Some say is OK others say no. I'm a newbie too... what are your thoughts?

I am a newbie, too. So better safe than sorry due to my ignorance, I stayed away from using cedar to construct my coop or as a bedding material.

 

[Everett Kaser]

re: Cedar

Think about "cedar chests" or "hope chests," which are always lined with cedar. The reason they do that is cedar contains substances that are toxic, and the fumes keep bugs out, thus protecting any materials you store in the cedar chest. Will it kill your chickens? Maybe, maybe not. But do you want to unduly stress and weaken your chickens? Probably not.