Hay vs. Straw

[ThisoldNHhen]

I bought a bale of hay by mistake for the chicken run, will it be okay to use? I was just going to put it down once ground freezes to keep their feet off the cold ground.

 

[Alaskan]

I bought a bale of hay by mistake for the chicken run, will it be okay to use? I was just going to put it down once ground freezes to keep their feet off the cold ground.

Some are against the weed seeds in hay... . I have never had a problem.

 

[Xouie]

My birds (chickens, quail) LOVE alfalfa hay. They sit, nest, burrow, scratch, and just play in it. Plus it smells better than straw IMO.

 

[aart]

I bought a bale of hay by mistake for the chicken run, will it be okay to use? I was just going to put it down once ground freezes to keep their feet off the cold ground.

It should be fine, if rationed out in thin layers.
Watch when snow melt happens tho, might get moldy.

 

[StinkyAcres]

If it gets warm and the hay gets compacted it will easily grow mold. Also, when I threw hay in my run last winter, my chickens ate the long strands which resulted in crop issues.

 

[sdm111]

Mold and smell. Hay sucks up moisture and holds it unlike straw which repels it.