Hay, straw, sand, pine shavings... what do you use in your coup?

[A_Fowl_Guy]

How frequent do you have to clean out your coup using straw? I like that straw is cheap, because this run I’m building isn’t cheap lol.

I clean out twice a year. First in the spring then right before winter.

 

[chub_the_chick]

I use wood shavings they don't mold, smell, and are not very messy!

 

[chub_the_chick]

I use wood shavings they don't mold, smell, and are not very messy!

 

[Eggscaping]

A good friend who is visiting us today and has 8 chickens swears by hemp bedding. She says it takes the longest to get smelly, and says it goes months longer than other kinds, which "stink a lot sooner". Anyone else have experience with hemp bedding?

 

[Ms Clucky]

Pine shavings

 

[blackandtan]

Flax is soft and absorbent and CHEAP, I think it’s very similar to hemp

 

[WindingRoad]

We’re finishing our coup this weekend. We bought an old farm house which had an already built coup. So... we’re fixing the coup up to make it safe from predators. We added some new windows, we’re attaching a run, and laying some cheap vinyl flooring over the existing hardwood floor for easier cleaning. The question remains- do I use hay, straw, sand, or pine chips/shavings? What do you use and why? I’m new to raising chickens. I’ve read sand in nesting boxes helps keep the eggs cleaner. I have a while before my girls start laying. Our coup is 25’x10’x8-6’(slanted roof). Ideas? I will have about 26 chickens total. I’d like it to be cost effective and healthy for the girls. Thank you

I used straw at first but didn't like it. No reason really just didn't like it. I saved it for outside in the winter for them to get outside. But I covered it up with a tarp and didn't keep it shoveled so haven't been able to get to it for awhile. We have about 3-4 FEET of snow on the ground right now. So I went to pine shavings. I put a layer of DE down instead of sand. Sand freezes because it's wet even if you don't think it is. Not a thick layer of DE just enough too see it down. Then I put down the pine shavings and top that with PDZ.( PDZ is a odor controller and it works great). I love the smell of the pine shavings. What can I say I live in the Pine Tree State. But bedding is like anything else some people like one and not the other. You'll probably have to try some out and see what you like. Good luck. I clean out my coop every time it get warm enough to, which hasn't been many times this winter. Maybe once a moth but that's just me. I can't stand unfrozen poop in the coop. And when I put down the new pine shaving boy does it smell good. When the temp stays below freezing I just keep adding.

 

[Chicka_deee]

I use pine shavings they work amazingly!

 

[aart]

Thank you! We plan on building a few compost piles. I’ll definitely be using them to manage the poo and bedding. I’m hoping the run will be large enough we don’t have to use anything to manage poop. My thought was... the bigger I make the run the more it will mimic free range, maybe the grass will survive! Plus the girls will be semi wild and free! We’re starting out with a 25’x10’x6’ run. We will be adding an additional 75’x20’x6’ all inclosed. It will attach to the 25’x10’x6’ run. There are a lot of hawks around here. I’d love for them to free range but I just don’t trust the amount of wildlife that could attack them. Thank you for the warm welcome. I’m located in central Ohio, USA.

If you want to make garden soil in your compost piles,
I'd advise you avoid larger wood chunks or even shavings,
unless your going to manage the piles to keep them hot.
Wood takes long time to fully break down and will 'steal' nitrogen from your garden plants if turned into the soil.

Not sure even a 1750sqft run will save the grass with 26 birds.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Welcome to BYC @AnimalmomSarah! Happy to have you join our flock. I use pine shavings. Here they are cheaper than straw. And as Aart said, it may take a little longer for your flock to destroy the grass, but they will. Good luck on your chicken adventure!