Hay vs. Straw

[kimthom66]

I have horses, so I usually have quite a bit of used or spent hay laying around but do not keep straw? Is it ok to use a little hay in the nesting boxes? Or does it have to be straw? I usually put shavings in the boxes first. I am getting a brand new coop in a few weeks and I wonder what to use on the floor inside the coop? I tried sand in my old (leaky coop) and it was horrible after it got wet. So I am either using shavings or straw in the new coop? Can I use sawdust?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Sawdust, especially if hardwood isn't a good idea for coop bedding. It can get a fungus if it gets wet that cause health issues.

In the nest boxes, which shouldn't get wet, the hay will work fine. I sometimes use dried grass clippings, pine shavings, dried leaves. I like excelsior mats the best.

 

[Rocky Rhodes]

I have horses, so I usually have quite a bit of used or spent hay laying around but do not keep straw? Is it ok to use a little hay in the nesting boxes? Or does it have to be straw? I usually put shavings in the boxes first. I am getting a brand new coop in a few weeks and I wonder what to use on the floor inside the coop? I tried sand in my old (leaky coop) and it was horrible after it got wet. So I am either using shavings or straw in the new coop? Can I use sawdust?

I am not an expert, but I do know that you shouldn't use sawdust in your coup. I have my coup covered to keep it dry, if it gets compacted, I till it up with a little lime and add some spagnum moss to help prevent compaction. I use coarse pine shavings on the floor of the coop and bermuda hay in the nests. I think hay or straw is fine, whichever is easiest to obtain. The most important thing, in my opinion, is whatever you choose you should change it regularly. I rake out my coop every spring and fall, till with spagnum and lime and change nesting materials about every 2 weeks or as needed. Chickens, especially young ones can get choked on sawdust.

 

[kimthom66]

My old coop was leaky, but my new coop will not be! I will probably use pine shavings in there.
I had used sand in my partially covered run last spring, but I have heard pro's and con's about sand in a run? I read somewhere to add sawdust (from my horses stalls, cleaned of course) in the run and I am trying that? it is only partially covered so it does get wet from time to time.

 

[Rocky Rhodes]

My old coop was leaky, but my new coop will not be! I will probably use pine shavings in there.
I had used sand in my partially covered run last spring, but I have heard pro's and con's about sand in a run? I read somewhere to add sawdust (from my horses stalls, cleaned of course) in the run and I am trying that? it is only partially covered so it does get wet from time to time.

Keeping your coop and run dry will solve a lot of problems not the least of which is flies and odor. I have no experience with sand in the coop, but it sounds like it might get a little nasty and smelly. I have my coup and run dried in and I open it up and let them free range when I am home. This works pretty good for me.

 

[donrae]

I'm also a horse person first. I've used loose hay in the nest boxes for years. Lose hay also goes in the floor of the coop and/or run when we clean out the hay barn for a new batch. Folks will swear a bird will get an impacted crop from eating hay, but I've never had an issue. For the coop bedding I do a deep litter of pine shavings, grass clippings, leaves, whatever dry organic stuff I can find lol. It all goes in, then gets cleaned out once a year or so and put on the garden.

If your birds don't free range, take a bucket of manure and drop in the run from time to time. Great entertainment! The chickens love scratching through it.

 

[meralgia]

I keep angora rabbits and they always kick some hay and droppings out of the cages on the garage side. I have buckets under their cages to catch as much as possible, but some always ends up on the garage floor. I'm guessing it would be okay to put that in the enclosure for them to scratch in... I mean the rabbit droppings are generally processed alfalfa. That wouldn't be dangerous for them to eat, right? I often put the used hay/manure on my gardens but thought it might work in the chicken run...

 

[Folly's place]

I agree with Donrae, that's what I do here. My coop has an old concrete floor, with stall mats on top, and shavings. The nest boxes have shavings covered with either hay or straw. The run is broken up concrete, with shavings or whatever on top. Mary

 

[4 the Birds]

I have horses, so I usually have quite a bit of used or spent hay laying around but do not keep straw? Is it ok to use a little hay in the nesting boxes? Or does it have to be straw? I usually put shavings in the boxes first. I am getting a brand new coop in a few weeks and I wonder what to use on the floor inside the coop? I tried sand in my old (leaky coop) and it was horrible after it got wet. So I am either using shavings or straw in the new coop? Can I use sawdust?

Pine chips and hay are ideal for the nesting boxes. If you only use chips then they tend to get kicked out a lot. The hay is great since it can be rounded into a nice nest. I put carpet remnants on the nest bottoms which works great.

Pine chips are generally the best for the coop flooring since it is easily removed. Hay and stray will work but tend to get really dusty. I will use a little straw in the outside run from time to time.



Nest with pine chips only.... A a board lip on the front of the nest to keep in eggs and nesting material.

 

[Davaroo]

I have horses, so I usually have quite a bit of used or spent hay laying around but do not keep straw? Is it ok to use a little hay in the nesting boxes? Or does it have to be straw? I usually put shavings in the boxes first. I am getting a brand new coop in a few weeks and I wonder what to use on the floor inside the coop? I tried sand in my old (leaky coop) and it was horrible after it got wet. So I am either using shavings or straw in the new coop? Can I use sawdust?

Two problems exist with hay:

1. It often contains weed seed, so if the nesting ends up in the compost, well... Undesirable volunteers may appear in your gardens, etc.

2. Hay is prone to dusting, mold and fungus due to the high content of organic fines it contains. This leads to the bane of chickens everywhere: respiratory problems.

Hay leavings will likely be okay, once kicked around, separated and well dried. The dregs and left overs, straight from the bale - thats the stuff to be cautious with.