CoopBedding

[12Chicksand1Lady]

What do you think is the best coop bedding method?

I want yo use sand.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

I deep litter with straw.

 

[Brahmachicken240]

A deep litter of straw, hay and wood shavings.

 

[staceyj]

I use shavings but I have a small coop. It works for me.

I have sand/dirt in my run though.
I like it.

 

[IamRainey]

I use alder or pine shavings.

 

[12Chicksand1Lady]

My husband's family has always used the deep litter method with straw.

 

[12Chicksand1Lady]

I deep litter with straw.

Is there any negatives with doing it this way?

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Is there any negatives with doing it to to this way?

None that I see. I compost the straw/feces and use it in my garden after a year. I clean out once in the spring and once in the fall.

 

[feathermaid]

I use several different beddings according to where and what exposure the bedding or ground will receive.

Inside my coop I use pine shavings on the floor and excelsior nest pads in the nest boxes. Under the roost bars, I built a poop tray filled with Sweet PDZ to catch the droppings. The benefit to this method is that the floor shavings remain practically unsoiled... I've had the same shavings (shown here) in my coop now since last May and I only need to change them out once a year.

The tray is smaller and much easier to maintain than the entire floor, just scoop it out daily like cat litter and place the droppings in my compost bin. The PDZ contains natural zeolites which helps neutralize ammonia fumes and odors, it's fully compostable and also dries out the poo much faster than plain sand.

I also use shavings in the outdoor covered part of the run and keep adding new shavings throughout the year to "freshen up." It's not exactly deep litter, but it's a similar concept. As long as that area stays dry, there are no issues. For the outdoor area exposed to rain and weather, I use a thick layer of chunky wood chips. The rain rinses them clean for the most part, but I also turn and rake the chips occasionally. They'll take much longer to break down than the shavings, so I don't expect to change them out for at least a couple years. After that, they should make a really good mulch for my landscaping. This system has held up very well over the last year and our extremely rainy winter, with no mud problems at all.

My coop is raised about 20" and I filled that area underneath with plain sand, thinking that would be a good spot for dust bathing. But my chickens much prefer using the dirt floor under the shavings in the covered run. They also took over a large flower pot in my backyard so I just moved it to their run and keep filling it with untreated potting soil after they kick it all out.

My system may seem a bit complicated, but it's actually easy to maintain and I like that it's a fully sustainable "circular" way to rotate new and old bedding, while creating excellent compost for my gardens every year.

 

[12Chicksand1Lady]

I use several different beddings according to where and what exposure the bedding or ground will receive.

Inside my coop I use pine shavings on the floor and excelsior nest pads in the nest boxes. Under the roost bars, I built a poop tray filled with Sweet PDZ to catch the droppings. The benefit to this method is that the floor shavings remain practically unsoiled... I've had the same shavings (shown here) in my coop now since last May and I only need to change them out once a year.
View attachment 1722573
The tray is smaller and much easier to maintain than the entire floor, just scoop it out daily like cat litter and place the droppings in my compost bin. The PDZ contains natural zeolites which helps neutralize ammonia fumes and odors, it's fully compostable and also dries out the poo much faster than plain sand.

I also use shavings in the outdoor covered part of the run and keep adding new shavings throughout the year to "freshen up." It's not exactly deep litter, but it's a similar concept. As long as that area stays dry, there are no issues. For the outdoor area exposed to rain and weather, I use a thick layer of chunky wood chips. The rain rinses them clean for the most part, but I also turn and rake the chips occasionally. They'll take much longer to break down than the shavings, so I don't expect to change them out for at least a couple years. After that, they should make a really good mulch for my landscaping. This system has held up very well over the last year and our extremely rainy winter, with no mud problems at all.

My coop is raised about 20" and I filled that area underneath with plain sand, thinking that would be a good spot for dust bathing. But my chickens much prefer using the dirt floor under the shavings in the covered run. They also took over a large flower pot in my backyard so I just moved it to their run and keep filling it with untreated potting soil after they kick it all out.

My system may seem a bit complicated, but it's actually easy to maintain and I like that it's a fully sustainable "circular" way to rotate new and old bedding, while creating excellent compost for my gardens every year.

I really like what you are doing. Maybe i could do something similar.