Hay or Pine shavings???

[babyblubbs]

Hello!! i’m brand new here and i have black silkies (2 months). they’re ready to move out to the coop but before i do, what should i put on the ground - leave as is with grass, hay, or shavings? should i also put anything in the actual nesting area? thank you all for your help !!

 

[CluckerFamily]

Pine shavings in the coop works. No need to put anything on the ground in the run.
Wait to put anything in the nesting boxes until they are close to laying an egg.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
Pictures of your coop and run will help here, and your approximate location.
Many of us use bagged pine shavings in the coop, and some mix of shavings, wood chips, and plant materials in the run. Hay or straw by itself can be a mess, but included in a mix, will work out.
Mary

 

[wamtazlady]

I only use pine shavings in the run during the winter. Sometimes I will mix in some hay and leaves. I use it as it always seems warmer in the run in winter. I think it is due to some composting going on. Three sides of my run are covered in clear vinyl for the winter so there is probably some greenhouse effect happening also.

I use fake grass squares in the nesting boxes. Seems to work better for me than pine shavings. They tend to scratch the pine shavings out.

 

[noahs_flock]

@babyblubbs - my silkies LOVE their hemp bedding... odor free. I have sand in their run so I can clean with litter shovel but they also like to dust-bathe in my mulch beds when free-ranging.

 

[babyblubbs]

Welcome!
Pictures of your coop and run will help here, and your approximate location.
Many of us use bagged pine shavings in the coop, and some mix of shavings, wood chips, and plant materials in the run. Hay or straw by itself can be a mess, but included in a mix, will work out.
Mary

Hi! I am in northeast florida, our winters aren’t too severe. i’ve attached a picture of the coop.

 

[drinkoj]

80% Pine shavings and 20% leaves, grass clippings, shredded paper.

 

[drinkoj]

Pine shavings in the coop works. No need to put anything on the ground in the run.
.

I would disagree, as the location of North Florida gets a good bit of rain and drainage could become an issue after the chickens destroy the grass in the run.

 

[3KillerBs]

I'd leave the grass until the chickens destroy it (it won't take long), then start building up a mix of various kinds of dry, organic material -- wood chips, wood shavings, straw, pine straw, fall leaves, or whatever else comes to hand.

I personally wouldn't use hay simply because, being animal feed rather than animal bedding, it tends to cost more. But I do use well-dried lawn clippings.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I’ve used straw, but it’s a lot dustier and more prone to mold than pine shavings. In addition, hay and straw are hollow tubes which make excellent hiding spots for mites and things. In many ways pine shavings are superior to straw, and especially hay.