dried leaves for litter

[Oblio13]

We use leaves, mostly oak, beech and maple. I don't have a handy pic of them in our coop, but here's one of the brooder:

 

[SeaChick]

Our run is covered and we've used dried leaves to good effect. It probably helps that they stay dry, though, as mentioned previously.

 

[Their Other Mother]

I'm using Alfalfa leaves from my horse hay. I always have an abundance on the ground around the hay stack in the barn. My gosling seems to love it and eats the leaves too. I even put it in the brooder and the chicks seem OK with it too. I've also used it in my hens nest box.

I try to look at it like this: If I lived 200 years ago, on a homestead what would I use? Probably anything on hand that we know would not really harm them. I could be wrong, I'm not a Vet and the thing about leaf mold might be an issue I would really watch but my Great Grandfather just used Straw.

 

[JessicaGrant]

I found this post searching for coop bedding ideas and I wondered if anyone has used dried leaves successfully for winter bedding (or if anyone has used them and had a problem with them!). I am a little worried about what the leaves might harbor, and how to keep them dry through the winter, but I live in New England and leaves is something we have plenty of. Thanks, BYCers!

 

[ibpboo]

I would go ahead and use the leaves that you have so many of. No matter what kind of litter you use it will get wet in winter and possibly grow mold, so there is no greater risk with leaves. If you use them inside, just change them as needed as you would any other type of litter or bedding!

 

[HickChick Wannabe]

I'm in the same situation, Derby! We have 2 huge oak trees and I want to use the leaves for bedding for as long as they last. I've been using them in the brooder for 3 weeks now- so far, so good! Of course, this year, dh wants to buy a chipper/shredder, shred all the leaves, and rototill them into the soil.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

Quote:
Not to mention the parasites that wet leaves breed. Fleas, Mites, Lice, Ticks, Mosquitoes... you name it!

 

[HickChick Wannabe]

My plan was to store a bunch of dry leaves to use when everything's wet and use leaves from an outdoor pile when everything is dry. Then I'd add enough leaves to the coop floor to keep it clean and dry. Add scratch for the chickens to aerate it and voila! That's the plan anyway...

 

[Oblio13]

Quote:
Not to mention the parasites that wet leaves breed. Fleas, Mites, Lice, Ticks, Mosquitoes... you name it!

I've been using nothing but leaves for a solid year now and haven't had any of those problems.

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
Not to mention the parasites that wet leaves breed. Fleas, Mites, Lice, Ticks, Mosquitoes... you name it!

I've been using nothing but leaves for a solid year now and haven't had any of those problems.

Maybe different states have more moisture and humidity and could create those problems . I know where we live in South Louisiana , we have alot of humidity and very damp ( SO CALLED ) winters .