Cheap source of litter for using in deep litter method?

[3forfree]

I keep night crawlers during the spring and summer for fishing, and I use shredded paper for their bedding, there's a place I drive by that has BAGS of it on the curb every trash day, so I stop and take one when I need it.

 

[darkmatter]

Lawnmower baggings and pine needle/cones rake up.

 

[bald egg]

My 6x8 coop can be covered with 2-3 bales of pine shavings that cost $5-$7 a bale. This is cheap, clean,dry and mold free. They are changed twice a year and replenished a few times a week. I clean the dropping boards then sprinkle a small bucket of shavings from the floor on the boards. Then put the same amount back into the coop. Some in the nest boxes, some on the floor. They smell nice and keep things clean. Free isn't always "cheap", you do get what you pay for.

 

[PHILMAN]

Quote:
My chickens would eat pine shavings thinking its a treat . every time I clean out the nesting area they peck at the shavings.
CRAZY CHICKENS !!LOL

 

[Tracydr]

Quote:
Do you get a newspaper? Leaves? I use pine needles from my never ending supply and then I feed a flake of alfalfa hay every week. They eat the leaves and the stems get mixed in the litter.

 

[Tracydr]

Quote:
Are your pine cones shredded or do you just throw them in? I'm finding the pine cones take forever to break down and are a tripping hazard when I walk through the coop, also don't break down well in the garden. I wish I could easily sift them out but can't figure out how.
I have a shredder but running the pine needles and cones through the shredder seems like it puts a load on the shredder. The cones seem to go through easily but again, involves sorting.
I end up sorting by hand, very tedious.
I need some sort of pine needle/pine cone sorter.

 

[MedChicken]

I just raked up the leaves in the yard and I'll be putting those down tomorrow when the chickens go out to free range. I caught some of the hens eating the shredded paper, so I think that will have to be on hold for a while to avoid crop problems. Once the weather warms up again and the grass starts growing, I'll use the grass clippings from the mower. I definitely prefer using stuff that's already being generated in our yard to going out and buying something!

Thanks so much to everyone for the tips!

 

[nurse_turtle]

Check with local lumber yards for free sawdust.

 

[luvtheladies]

I know not everyone has a sawmill close by but I get all the sawdust I could ever want for free. Only catch is the guy that owns the mill made me promise to never bring it back. lol I get enough to put about 5 inches down in the coop and my 20x50 run. I just keep turning it and adding more to it when it composts on down. I sure do like my sawmill.

 

[MedChicken]

That's a great idea! I found a local sawmill, and I'll call them after the holiday.