Good (and cheap) alternative to wood shavings?

[paddock36]

Quote:
I agree I bought from the feed (Seminole feed) store last year for $4.00 (on sale) and I still have an almost full brick of shavings.

 

[Tanichca]

Oh, OK feeds has it? Wow, i didnt know so many places sold shavings... Thanks y'all!

 

[mkearsley]

You could also check out hay or straw prices. It doesn't take much straw to fill a coop. We bought a huge bag of pine shavings from the feed store (about 20 lbs) for something like $5. You'll probably need to ask for it, since they usually don't keep it in the store.

 

[moonlyghtegirl]

Pine shavings at Tractor Supply are usually about $5.00 for the large compressed bundle, Ace hardware marks theirs way up, last time I looked - same product, was $8.00

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Quote:
X2 A HUGE bag of shaving runs about 8 bucks here. And I mean huge.

 

[darkmatter]

I use lawn clippings from the riding mower bagger and also have raked up pine needles by the wheelbarrow load from under the long-needle pine trees. If you have access to a wood chipper I've found that weed stalks and corn stalks make excellent litter.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I agree, PINE NEEDLES make great bedding, and you can't beat that price! We don't have enough on our property, so we take empty feed bags & a big rake and go to the local park. I have even been using it in the nest boxes, and in the brooder boxes too.

 

[kenman]

Just a suggestion, but I contacted my local high school wood shop and asked what the did with their saw dust and shavings. Now I pick up, on average, two big garbage bags per week. Works great for me.

 

[The Tinman]

If you can not find a FEED STORE in the phone book look under GARDEN CENTERS. You can also go to Walmart has the big bales(3cubit feet) for like 7 bucks.

 

[mandelyn]

You can find alternate sources of wood shavings, from wood shops and the like. We got ours when I was a kid from a wine rack maker. You only have to ask what type of wood it is to make sure it won't be harmful, like Cedar, can cause respiratory issues.

TSC had it for $4.99 a bale yesterday, so I stocked up. Usually it's $5.99. Petsmart is a rip off on most things.

Oh! Also check craigslist for people that supply "shavings" to horse farms. Ask about coming out and filling up your own big black garbage bags. You might score a deal. Wouldn't hurt to check out a pinup board at a tack store, to get contact info on shaving suppliers. They deal in it by the truckload, but you might be able to get a couple bags for cheap if you go out there.

I like the "flake" size that TSC sells, it's too big for my idiot birds to eat. They have a fine and a "flake"... my birds will act like the fine is food or something after they kick it into their food bowl.