Depends on where you live, landscape and other issues. I use a dirt floor coop. Just my preference.
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I also think ventilation is a key factor that needs to be taken into accountI live in Sussex in the UK nice to meet youYour coop sounds very well planned and you have taken everything into perspective about the coop . well done. My computer won't let me see your pics though :-(
Good idea about the pine needles, might warrant a trial.Okay, I've tried quite a few different beddings. Here's my take on all of them.
Pine shavings:
-Pros: Dry, antibacterial, fragrant, good for compost
-Cons: Dusty, messy, expensive (for those who can only get it from feed stores), hassle to clean out
Straw:
-Pros: Poultry love to play in, cheap, good for compost (especially if broken down well)
-Cons: Not very absorbent, possibility for mold, hollow straw can harbor pests, can get matted, dusty
Paper shavings:
-Pros: Free (all from a paper shredding), good for compost
-Cons: Messy, possibility of mold, can get matted
Sand:
-Pros: Odorless, easy clean up with chickens only, aesthetically pleasing, exfoliates bird's feet
-Con: Expensive, fits through cracks on coop floor (money down the drain), pointless with ducks, retains no heat in winter, can harbor bacteria.
Pine needles (dried):
-Pros: Free (if you have pine trees), fragrant, exfoliates bird's feet, poultry love to play in, easy to clean up, doesn't mat, good for compost, not hollow so it doesn't harbor pests, doesn't seem to mold, not too dusty
Cons: Best to harvest off of ground when dry (so if it's been raining, you're out of luck)
So obviously, my latest experiment on bedding has been pine needles, and I don't have a single complaint yet!
I also tried deep bedding this winter, in hopes to generate heat, but I didn't notice it at all. I used straw, hay, and some pine shavings every once in a while, all layered on top of each other. When spring time rolled around, It was about 1.5ft-2ft deep in some places, and took my whole day off to clean out. And though it didn't smell terribel before I disturbed it, when I started digging into it, holy cow, it was rank! So I probably won't be doing that next winter.
For my nest boxes, I've used pine shavings, straw, hay, and dried grass. My favorite is actually dried grass, and that's free, too!
When I clean out my coop, I use lots of DE and Sweet PDZ on the floor, roosts, nest boxes, and poop boards before I lay my bedding. Cuts out all the smell and keeps the pine needles extra dry!
Just my experiences! Hope it helps!
Pine needles (dried):
-Pros: Free (if you have pine trees), fragrant, exfoliates bird's feet, poultry love to play in, easy to clean up, doesn't mat, good for compost, not hollow so it doesn't harbor pests, doesn't seem to mold, not too dusty
Cons: Best to harvest off of ground when dry (so if it's been raining, you're out of luck)