Best Coop Bedding?

[LapisLazuli]

What is the best coop bedding for a small coop?

 

[CluckerFamily]

I use pine shavings on the floor of my coop.

 

[3KillerBs]

I use a mix of materials in my 4'x4' coop, mostly pine shavings but today I tossed in about 2/3 of a Gorilla cart of mixed pine straw and dry leaves.

IMO, pine shavings last longer than straw but I have used straw in the mix from time to time.

 

[LapisLazuli]

What is the best for a 2x4 bantam coop and run in the winter?

 

[neo71665]

I use rice hulls but I get them free

 

[3KillerBs]

I use rice hulls but I get them free

Free bedding is good bedding!

 

[aart]

What is the best for a 2x4 bantam coop and run in the winter?

Pics or coop and run please?
Northern or Southern IL?
IIRC you're north but add to your state.

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture
-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.
-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.
-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.
- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.
-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).
There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 7 years.

 

[KarynVA]

My coop houses 3 chickens and I use pine shavings and chopped straw. I turn it once a week and encourage the hens to mix it up daily (by giving scratch and mealworms inside the coop). I don't have any unpleasant smell and it's super easy to maintain. I don't use poop boards and I very rarely scrape poop.

 

[Lightning Bob]

I like Koop Clean from Lucerne Farms. It’s perfect for nest box and the coop floor. It absorbs moisture, controls odor and ammonia and mixes well with the poop to build up a great deep compost layer for spring mulching.

 

[Nutterbutterdiablo]

Free bedding is good bedding!

I am wondering where you can get your rice hulls? In the US? Thank you!