I have always used this method, granted I live in the Pacific Northwest. I use pine shavings and straw. I don't think it should put out that much heat. It is nice for the winter, it keeps the floor and coop comfortable. I have no heat source. The temps got down to 9 this winter and no problem. Also in the evening when I lock the girls up I throw some scratch around the coop floor to keep things stirred up. Good luck. I think you will be happy with this method.
Ohhh ok I see what you're saying. That makes sense. Do you think that will be enough roosts for 5 chickens? Two 3'8 long roosts?
The usual recommendation is 1 linear foot per chicken, which would mean 5 feet total for 5 chickens.
It is pretty up around pilot mountain. I live south of surry county about 30-40 minutes north of Charlotte. I wish we would of moved farther north around Grandfather mountain when we moved from Fla in 1996 but I still love NC. Our weather usually gets down to around 16f for about the coldest in the winter but doesn’t stay in teens. To me Fla was hot humid n miserable. My parents moved us when I was 14 from Cleveland OH, I loved the weather n seasons in OH.
I live in desert Southwest where it gets to 118 or higher in summer (about 7 months of heat) I found wash bottom sand works in my run and only shavings in nesting areas. We were blessed with a infestation of chicken ticks that was so bad we burned two coops to ground and started over (spared chickens of course) those critters love hay and hate shavings so shavings is what I do. Deep litter not so good with our long very hot summers…sand keeps cool, drains well and works like clumping kitty litter! Swamp coolers, boot trays with frozen bricks and water, lots of shade and misters outside over boot trays help keep small livestock alive in summer…good luck!
I’ve been keeping chickens for 18 years & I’ve tried straw at one point but now exclusively use pine shavings in the coop & clean out the poop almost every day (& place it in a trash can (when full) & move it to the compost pile..(in their nesting boxes I DO use straw with Diatomaceous Earth sprinkled on (keeps the flies & bugs away) Diatomaceous Earth in their coop on the pine shavings as well, that DE keeps the smell away & the crawling & flies away! Then in their “cage” I use straw & I did add a roof to it ( but it still gets damp during rainy season).. I muck out the straw/poop mix every 6 months or as needed (depending on number of chickens I have). That mixture goes directly on top of my garden (usually in spring & fall).. my garden thrives & worms galore!! Then my “girls” like to free range in the compost piles & garden.
I have discover the "hemp" material and it is great bedding for the coop. It is pretty much dust free. After weekly clean, I spray with a little water to create the fresh scent and my 5 chickens love it. It appears to be expensive, but it is long lasting, very fine grate, and doesn't require too much depth during the summer months. It is t-riffic.
