Do I need bedding on the coop floor ?

[crowe66]

That coop is super clean!!

 

[Loving my girls]

That coop is super clean!!

I find it very satisfying to lean the coop.
Coop - Clean for 1 hour and it looks like new,
House - Clean for 2 days and it still needs more

 

[StinkyAcres]

If I was to go for bedding - would oak sawdust/chippings be okay to try it out ? I would have to fork it up a bit first to get rid of obvious dust. It’s just that I have masses from hubbies play room, sorry workshop

I would not use sawdust as it's too dusty. Nor would I use coarse chippings as they would be too sharp. Screened shavings are best.

 

[Sono]

I use fine pine shavings in their nesting boxes ( easier to clean when needed ) and I use coarse pine shavings on the floor, its still soft but chunky to deter them from laying on the floor ( nesting in corners ) which one still does anyways. I clean my coop out as needed but with the 6 I have now its twice a year that I completely remove everything and replace it with new ( or sooner if it starts smelling ) I just cleaned mine out last week to prepare for winter, next month it will start cooling down and I will start the deep litter process (adding 2 bags of shavings to the floor ) to give them warmth. The water jug was filled and usually lasts 3 months in the summer and hasnt froze on me in the winter yet even with sub temps last year. The feeder lasts 1 to 2 months depending on the season and how much scraps they get as well. I dont use a poop shelf, except a deflector over the nesting boxes, but in the spring all the bedding and box shavings gets raked and turned into the run to compost while new is added in the coop. I still need to hook up my gutter system to fill the water jug so I dont have to drag a hose out to fill ( unless its a dry season ) By my set up has worked great for the past 4 years now.

 

[aart]

Lots of different beddings people use in the coop,
lots of different 'cleaning' regimes.
Do what makes you happy, as long as it your birds are healthy why change it/

 

[Sono]

I would not use sawdust as it's too dusty. Nor would I use coarse chippings as they would be too sharp. Screened shavings are best.

coarse shavings are fine as they are feathered on the leading and ending edges is why they curl, the sides are blunt, nothing to hurt them.

 

[Borders3]

Why change what is working for you? Your poop board is not that high that they will damage themselves landing, it's worked thus far but I would only have the one roost on it so that it's in the middle of the board. I went with a 2x4 length of wood flat side up. They all huddle together at night so it looks like I could get another dozen in there . I use hemp bedding on the poop board about an inch deep what they scatter on the floor I leave, so we have gathered a layer on the floor about 4 inch deep over the last 5 years. They only go into the coop to lay and sleep so not a lot of mess to clean up. If it ain't broke don't fix it.