Hay, Straw, wood chips,..help me decide

[Dar]

I know there has been a lot of talk on what to use for bedding...

Currently I am using wood chips but it is getting to expensive.

I can get hay for $1.90 a bale but i remember that either hay OR straw can cause a crop impaction but i cant find the thread

any suggections?

 

[lux_interior]

I use straw.... and some wood chips... I don't remember which causes the compacting though... hopefully someone else will have the link

 

[vnploveschickens]

I use pine shavings in the coop and nesting boxes. I also sprinkle & mix a little DE to keep the odor and smell down.

Good luck

 

[HennysMom]

hay and straw get too wet for me here, and they like to eat it...so I stick with pine chips; they are $5.49 for a huge bag of top bedding. Using DLM I dont have to replace the bedding that often and usually go through a bag every 2 months or therebouts.

Hay / straw here is pricier than pine bedding and attracts mice as we need to keep it indoors since if it stays outside, it gets wet; wet=moldy and not good for the birds.

I'm sure others will chime in however.

 

[natalie1136]

I like wood chips and straw. It makes it so much easier to clean the coops. I add fresh bedding when needed. I try to alternate the bedding.

Natalie

 

[gritsar]

I use pine shavings on the floor of the coop and hay in my nestboxes. Never had a problem.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

I've used both pine shavings and hay before as bedding for chicks, whichever is easier for me to haul in my car. In the nest boxes I use pine shavings.

Straw has too course of a texture to use as bedding for chicks. You can use it for older birds just fine.

 

[cybercat]

hay is a food source do not use it as bedding. Straw is the bedding. Why not do a mixture to help with costs. I am planning on wood pellets and straw for our coup when finished. After fall I will be adding leaves also to help defer beding cost for winter.

 

[geareduplyn]

Forget everything else. Use wood pellets. Are cheaper in the long run because they will keep your coop fresh and dry for a greater duration.

 

[Dar]

hmmm

this is great I love the difference of opinion..

HUGE square bale of compressed wood chips cost me ~$5.00

but the problem I am having is
1) they kick to much out and i am left with bare spots on the floor

2) when they poop it is kinda awkward to take it out without it falling appart. I take it out to help control the flies

3) I am spending upwards of $50 a month in bedding for 10 chickens (maybe I am spoiling them I want them to have plush clean floors to walk on. They roost at night so its not like they "sleep" on it