First Post! Need some advice on Litter preferences!

[AyeUpChuck]

Extremely excited! I have a mix of large heritage breeds which are all 1-5wks, though I have three FBCM chicks coming on Tues. We're in the middle of building a really large coop, 4'X16' with aN 8x16 enclosed run and an exterior yard that measure 25' x 35'. I was wondering what people prefer for litter. I've read a bit about DLM but is there a preferred brand of pine shavings? I have unlimited access to free hay, which is what I've been using and the girls love it but they're still in brooders. I feel like straw in part of their "run" will be more ideal?

 

[Judy]

Welcome to our forum!

I've never heard a brand of pine shavings mentioned. A number of us simply buy what TSC (Tractor Supply Company) or what their local feed store sells.

However, I promise you, if I had an unlimited supply of hay I'd be using it. Any litter has some disadvantages. I'm going to move your thread over to Managing your Flock, which hopefully will get you more responses.

 

[chicky_mommy]

Always in the past i have used straw for nest boxes, and pine shavings or sawdust for the rest of the coop. Most people use what ever is available for the lowest price at their local feed/farm store.

It was recently recomended to me to use sand rather than sawdust, haven't decided weather or not to try that just yet.

The biggest recomendation I can make is that when you are buying your shavings/dust/sand you keep in mind how much you will use at a time and how much space you have for the storage of it, because when shavings and sawdust get damp they mildew and mold, and that makes them usless as bedding.

 

[kittycooks]

Straw will mold if it gets wet. Sand makes a great base for the chicken run. It dries out the droppings and keeps the chickens feet dry. Free straw would be a good choice in your coop, but it can be dusty as it breaks down. I buy wood shavings for the nesting boxes at petco, I'm in Minneapolis so don't have the farm stores people mention. Don't use cedar due to the aromatic oils, Petco has aspen shavings.

That sounds like a wonderful chicken set up.

 

[the-bird-man]

i use straw in my run and shavings in the coop and it is working very well so far and also when i have them i throw leaves in the run too.

 

[chicky_mommy]

AyeUpChuck ... i don't know where you are, I'm located in CT and for most of NewEngland you can put a "run" out doors and use natural ground for most of the year and "straw the run" in the winter so they don't get too cold. i would think for most of the rest of the country it would work the same way.

 

[ghillie]

I use straw in the nest boxes, wood shavings in the coop and the run is dirt. I throw in a leaf or two of hay or straw into the run from time to time to give them something to play in.....

 

[AyeUpChuck]

I'm in Beavercreek, OR just SE of Portland. It's really wet in winter and spring so these recommendations are extremely helpful!

 

[cobrien]

I'm in the SF Bay area and have a covered run with sand on the bottom. For years I had an uncovered run with bare dirt - I'm loving life with the new set up. I pooper scoop the run every day but I don't even consider it cleaning - more like "harvesting" as I do with the eggs, because I put the poo in my compost bin and my garden is very happy.

 

[aussieheelr]

on the wood floor coop we use soft shaving mix or aspen shavings (Better for the compost) and in the dirt floor coop we use straw, but it's only there for the winter to add insulation... Not to mention I get a little giggle when I go into the turkey coop... "Turkey in the straw but I don't care..."

Simple thing for simple minds