Ground of the Chicken Coop, Pine Shavings, Saw Dust or Just Soil?

[Habib Ikram]

Instead of Saw Dust or Pine Shavings, can I just put my coop on the soil of the garden? So that the chickens can just poop on the soil and i can just switch the soil.

 

[birdwrangler057]

It doesn't really matter, but if you have a garden it would be better for just soil so that you can use the manure as fertilizer.

 

[Howard E]

Even with coops with dirt floors (like mine), it is always better to have some type of organic litter on the floor. Litter works like a baby's diaper and for the same reason. Without litter (bare soil), you can expect a nasty, smelly mess.

The litter used can be a variety of things like wood shavings, pine needles, tree leaves, hay, straw, etc. but there should be some and the deeper you can make it, the better. Start with 6 inches with hopes of building it to about a foot.

That litter, once fully saturated with the droppings then becomes a potent adjunct to your garden areas. Organic matter plus a high dose of nitrogen.

 

[birdwrangler057]

I agree, I always sprinkle a little hay over the bare ground in my coop to stick to the poop.