Dusty Straw

[StrawberryMoon]

My local feed store is out of almost all kinds of bedding. All that's left is compressed straw in bags. They were labeled for chicken bedding. I got some today and I just put it in my coop and holy chicken, it's so dusty! I was coughing quite a bit after spreading it around. I know it's not good for chickens to breathe that dust so I opened up the removable wall I have for summertime ventilation and encouraged the chickens to go outside while the dust cleared. But more dust will just get stirred up again later from all their scratching! Is there anything I can do to mitigate the dust?

 

[aart]

Eh, I wouldn't worry about it too much.
What's your location/climate?
Humidity will dampen (literally and figuratively) it down some.

Knowing more about how you manage your bedding might help garner better suggestions. Are you adding or totally changing it out?
What have you used in the past?

 

[GC-Raptor]

Yeah, I've use compressed straw for over a year. I love it. It's dusty when I put it down and spread it around. But after that I don't have dust flying around from chickens stirring it up. . GC

 

[StrawberryMoon]

Oh good! I was concerned they would get respiratory infections. It's a warm, rainy week here. 40 degrees and damp.

Deep litter method. I mixed what was there thoroughly and then spread a layer of the straw on top.

 

[AmyCat98]

I use hay or dried alfalfa for my chickens and they seem to love digging around in it.

 

[AmyCat98]

 

[AmyCat98]

She's watching you............