chickens in the coop are not digging in it?

[bosoxbratt]

Hi there not sure this is the right place for this Q or not but thought i would give it a shot. We have 16 hens and when they are in the hen house/coop they don't tend to scratch the straw in there to mix it up? Is there a way to get them too? We have tossed some goodies in there hoping they would kind of scratch around for it but it doesn't seem like they have at all.
We are going to be doing the deep litter method and I heard it was important for the chickens to kick it around? TY for any advice

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

you may need to get rid of the straw and go with pine shavings or pellets mine scrtch in the pine shaving cause that what I used in the brooder and they scratched in it in there.
besides the pine shaving make it easier for mine to scratch in.
YOu do realize you still need to turn it, I hope the chickens only do a little to turn turn it.

 

[bosoxbratt]

Ty for responding yep I realize we have to turn it as well just wondered why they were not doing it in there but will in the run outisde

 

[patandchickens]

Is this whole (not chopped) straw?

Straw mats down pretty badly, usually. Try turning it yourself, you may discover WHY the chickens haven't been

If you want them to scratch it over, you may need to use shorter-staple straw or chopped straw, or something else like shavings.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

Mine scratch outside more so then they ever do inside of the coop the only pl;ace I have found them to scratch at in the coop is around the feed bucket, that is only because they can't reach it to scratch in it with their feet so if they do it outside I wouldn't worry about them doing it inside and no the floor doesn't matter I have a dirt floor in mine and they still don't do it,well that is unless I don't let them out for a few days when it is raining or something then they scratch up a storm inside.