Do you use sand or wood shavings in your coop? (MAP ON FIRST PAGE OF THREAD!!!)

[Intheswamp]

aart, I guess I didn't cover all my bases when I stipulated it being in the coop... I'm more interested in the floor of the coop. To me roost boards are separate appliances of the coop structure. Thanks for the input, I'll add yours mentally as a cold/wood-shavings vote.

 

[Intheswamp]

Ok, southern hot and humid region folks, I need some input from ya'll...

 

[Blooie]

Didn't vote because I use both in the 'cold' region.
1/2" deep sand (and PDZ) in the roost boards sifted out every other day and pine shavings on the floor totally changed out once/twice a year.

Sand as a main bedding seems wonderful, just scoop all those poops out-viola!.....
......but.....eventually it becomes saturated with pulverized poop 'dust' and when damp stinks to high heaven.
Then whatcha gonna do with all that stinky sand?

If very small coop, might work......or maybe in very arid climates.

Same here. I'm in Northern Wyoming, considered very cold, and I use a little bit of pine shavings but mostly dried leaves, chopped up corn stalks, garden and lawn waste, etc.

 

[MeepBeep]

No vote cast, I live in the 'cold' region and I use all sorts of organic matter for the floor coop, wood shavings, leaves, straw, hay, grass clippings, corn husk, weeds, left over vegetable stems and what not that they don't eat, heck there is even some soil, sand, ash and what not in mix as they have a tendency to empty their dusting pool regularly... Also lots of dried bread crust, as they seem to always leave that behind...

 

[aart]

aart, I guess I didn't cover all my bases when I stipulated it being in the coop... I'm more interested in the floor of the coop. To me roost boards are separate appliances of the coop structure. Thanks for the input, I'll add yours mentally as a cold/wood-shavings vote.

Floor beddings can differ in management when you use roost boards...might want to add that to the poll.
You can't just look at one aspect, but the big picture and how everything works together.

Maybe solicit folks from the southern state chat threads to come and answer your poll.

 

[Intheswamp]

Hmm, maybe I should've written "litter" rather than "wood shavings"...too late, now, though. I can see a good mix of materials being in there...and that variety adding spice to the chickens lives.

aart, I can see where the "whole" has to be considered if roosting boards or pits are utilized. That would be some good details for people to add in comments. Thanks for the continued feedback. And I will take your advice on bumping up the southern groups for input!