Deep bedding.

[Teresa D]

Do you have to put food in deep bedding so the chickens churn it up???

 

[MarkJr]

Do you have to put food in deep bedding so the chickens churn it up???

I don’t. Mine have been coming in from free range to stack all of their pine shavings in one corner. Few hours later they have it piled in the opposite corner.
I think the bugs (earwigs and the like) are finding its warm and dry and migrating into the bedding from outside. Cannot prove it though.... no evidence.

 

[Teresa D]

I don’t. Mine have been coming in from free range to stack all of their pine shavings in one corner. Few hours later they have it piled in the opposite corner.
I think the bugs (earwigs and the like) are finding its warm and dry and migrating into the bedding from outside. Cannot prove it though.... no evidence.

Thank you for the reply. I'm thinking about putting crickets in.

 

[MarkJr]

They’d go nuts over them I’m sure!

 

[drinkoj]

We throw in some chick treats and mealworms inside the coop from time to time, just make them think about turning the bedding for us a little more.

 

[3KillerBs]

I use a handful of scratch or whatever to encourage them to dig around. Just a couple times a week though, not daily.

 

[Teresa D]

Thanks for the replies. I am concerned about the amount of dust. I do have vented/gabled ceilings all the way around the coop so they do get fresh air. I have heard that they can have respiratory issues if there is a lot of ammonia but I'm wondering if dust with the deep bedding has respiratory side affects.

 

[3KillerBs]

Thanks for the replies. I am concerned about the amount of dust. I do have vented/gabled ceilings all the way around the coop so they do get fresh air. I have heard that they can have respiratory issues if there is a lot of ammonia but I'm wondering if dust with the deep bedding has respiratory side affects.

Dust in inevitable with chickens. Most of it is dander from the chickens themselves rather than from the bedding.

Generous ventilation is the best prevention for dust-related issues.