Best Type of Bedding Options! Help!:)

[janelle18]

Hi !!
We are currently finishing up building some pens in our barn for our chickens/chicks. I have another coop (see link on my profile) where i use sand as the flooring in the coop.. I like this alot because it is easy to clean.. plus my chickens have a run so they don't spend much time in there. The new pens are in our large barn, and will eventually be breeding pens.The chickens will be on a rotation so each group will go outside for a day every 5 days. THAT being said, they will be spending alot of time in their pens! WHAT is the best kind of bedding to use? The floor are concrete right now.. the options i am considering are sand, pine shavings or straw ( if you know of a better option let me know!)

I am looking for an economical option... I have horses, and i go through shavings with them and it is expensive.. but they also are a much bigger animal.. how long do you leave shavings in a chicken pen with say 8 chickens before having to replace it all ( if you pick it out)?

I hope this all makes some kinda sense

and i can get some opinions!!
THANKS

 

[whitlockj85]

You could use the "Deep Litter" method with pine shavings. It is incredibly practical if you have a garden or other compost need. Our coop is in progress, but that is the direction we are going.