Choosing bedding

[sundance]

I use hay and sprinkle DE over it good to keep down the odor and pests Also easy to take the pitchfork and clear it out for the garden. marrie

 

[Chick_a_dee]

I use Peat Moss for my brooder... It's something like $6.00 for a 3 cubic foot bag... My brooder is 4x4 and I haven't even used a quarter bag. It smells great, the chicks just scratch their nasties into the peatmoss, and then after we throw it in one of the many compost bins we have (One for pet waste, One for Veggies and food scraps, Etc Etc).

 

[SandraMort]

Ew. My husband wants to know if we can use wood pellets as bedding... then burn them for heat.

 

[ravenfeathers]

Quote:
LOL!! i'm sure you can. the question is: would you want to? maybe if you had a dry place to store them while the poop dessicated a bit. or an outdoor furnace.

Chick_a_dee, i've got my brooder all rigged up with peat moss, too. i think i paid a bit more for my 3cu. ft. bag (over $7, i believe), but it doesn't take much in a brooder. i'd use it as a permanent coop bedding if i could get it cheaper. it's great stuff. and before anyone jumps in to (rightly) point out that peat is a nearly non-renewable resource, i'd like to say that i agree, but i see a lot less waste in using it as a bedding substrate, composting, and using it as soil amendment than just sprinkling it willy-nilly on lawn and garden like so many folks do.

 

[spottedtail]

Collecting leaves in the Fall works for bedding.
It breaks down well in compost too. Free for the raking. I'd avoid walnut/butternut leaves though.

Straw does work too, but it's slower to break down and will cost money.

spot

 

[derby]

I've been using leaves. I live in the woods, so I have plenty. Once a week, I rake in about 8" worth. By the end of the week, the birds have scratched them and compacted them into little bits which I have just left in place so far. About 4 weeks and no problems yet (fingers crossed behind back).

Derby

 

[SandraMort]

why?

Quote:

 

[Gloria]

Here is another thread you can check out. I just started it a couple of days ago.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=73778
I hope I did that right. If not the title is "Which is better pine shavings or straw".

Hope this helps,

 

[ravenfeathers]

Quote:

those trees produce a toxin called juglone from all parts, but is most readily produced in the roots. i know that you shouldn't use black walnut shavings with horses because of toxicity. according to this site, toxicity in the leaves will break down in two to four weeks, but i'd rather be on the safe side and avoid them altogether, personally.