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I like these for absorbing water. I use them after heavy rain to get rid of puddles.You can get it at a farm store. They are about $8 for 40#. I use them in the brooder too. Yep, they sit on them.
It's hard to actually deter bugs with any bedding, if mites are an issue in your territory, using some sort of natural or chemical insecticide once a month, cleaning out the bedding, nest boxes, etc... is about all you can do. Provide a good dust bathing spot too, a good dust bath goes a long way.What about hemp bedding (if I can find it) or coffee grounds. Would either of those work to deter feather mites, red mites, or northern fowl mites?