Hay in coop

[jwatts]

Is hay o.k. for chicks on the floor of there coop?

 

[ChickenGirl3]

hay is OK but wood chips are so much better!

 

[MadHatcher]

I've never heard of anyone else doing this, but we use dry oatmeal. It absorbs all smells, keeps the chicks fluffy and warm, and it's OK if they eat it. Also it's cheap!

 

[drdoolittle]

Take it from me, hay is so, so horrib;le to have to clean out of a chicken coop------well, at least if you're trying to use it for the "deep-litter method". Oatmeal sounds interesting, although it's not cheap around here at all. I'm using wood shavings from now on.

 

[Lady EE]

I hear aspen shavins are best, but pine is fine, only never use it with chicks. Cedar is toxic. I don't think hay is good either. Overall I think it's aspen.

 

[MyShunshyn]

Sand,

We have used sand in our brooder and plan on sand in the coop......... absorbs moisture... dries out poo so it can just be raked up and taken to the compost.
a free source of Grit and Dust Baths, and the Chickens seem to love it.

So far Sand it is for me!

 

[jimz1]

I've been using pine shavings with my chicks since i got them. No Problems and it absorbs very well!

 

[joneus]

does anyone use shredded paper?

 

[forestrymom]

What about sawdust? We have TONS of it, and dh wants to use it in the chicken coop and goat barn, but I'm skeptical. Its pine and fir mixed.

 

[jimz1]

I read on here that sawdust wasn't good for chicks but I don't know about chickens. My sister used to use it in here goat barn though. Seemed to work good.