Can straw get wet?

[Jurassic Wolf]

Is it okay if our chicken's straw bedding gets wet? Their new coop doesn't have a roof and we are using straw for the bedding. Last night it rained and the straw got a little wet. The chickens didn't seem to mind it at all. Tonight its going to rain so we put a tarp over it. Obviously in the winter we will keep the tarp over it whenever it snows, but is it dangerous if we don't cover it in time and some gets wet?

 

[Hencraze24]

yes, straw gets wet and can smell horrible. I'd just use pine shavings instead. however, for the actual run, throwing straw on the ground is a joy for foraging

 

[rosemarythyme]

Risk with wet straw is mold.

Why doesn't the coop have a roof on it? Even an open air style coop should be fully enclosed and roofed for protection from weather and from predators. You're really going to struggle come winter with just a tarp, even moderate rain can be enough to collapse a tarp.

 

[Hencraze24]

Risk with wet straw is mold.

Why doesn't the coop have a roof on it? Even an open air style coop should be fully enclosed and roofed for protection from weather and from predators. You're really going to struggle come winter with just a tarp, even moderate rain can be enough to collapse a tarp.

I agree

 

[Gray Farms]

Straw retains moisture and molds.

 

[Jurassic Wolf]

sorry for clarification by coop i meant run

 

[Jurassic Wolf]

also the top of the run has hardware cloth on it, just when it rains if goes right through (obviously)

 

[rosemarythyme]

If it's just rain, let it fall through (you'll very quickly get tired of having to add a tarp every single time moisture falls from the sky).

I would not use straw as the main litter component. A base of wood chips (preferably aged) or untreated mulch is a better option, less risk of mold and won't retain moisture the way that straw would.

 

[Jurassic Wolf]

ok thanks is the black mulch from Home Depot safe for chickens? also is it comfortable enough for them?

 

[rosemarythyme]

ok thanks is the black mulch from Home Depot safe for chickens? also is it comfortable enough for them?

Do you have a link to the product? With mulch you mainly want to make sure it hasn't been dyed, I think that's the main treatment.