Best Bedding Options??

[skatcatla]

I'm using wood chips right now as well. So far they've been working ok..but its only been about a week so I don't have much to go on! That's a great idea about getting them from the gardener..I need to ask mine about that.

What about grass clippings from the lawn? Would that just break down too quickly do you think?

 

[LindaN]

If you don't have your grass clippings piled up too much, they should work well. The issue with grass clippings is that if they are spread too thickly the layer underneath can get smelly and slimy from anaerobic decomposition. Or at least they do here, in our fairly humid environment. Maybe in SoCal where you have drier weather it wouldn't be a big issue.

We dumped out a mower bag full of clippings last week onto the wood chips outside the run, then let the chickens out for their afternoon constitutional. They LOVED the grass clippings. They didn't eat much, but really enjoyed scratching around in them. Since the clippings were spread out by the chickens, they didn't get smelly at all.

I'm sure you could add grass clippings without a problem, just don't dump anymore than would make a 1/2 inch layer when spread out.

 

[Farmer_Phil]

I've heard that cedar shavings are toxic, what about hedge clippings are they better or worse?