Help with coop flooring/bedding/cleaning!

[Dancie123]

Hello all,
I have 5 chicks/young chickens which I acquired this spring, and my wonderful husband has built me a "home" for these chicks.
I actually saw a picture of someone's coop on this site, and the coop was "loosely" based on it.
It isn't quite finished, I plan to have some nesting area/boxes and some more roosting space built into it.

My biggest concern is what to put in the bottom of the coop - I have read that people use pine shaving, sand, etc. and I am not sure what I should try first.

They have been in the coop for about a week, and I have just been spraying any "droppings" out with a hose, but obviously that won't work for long.

I have already notice a slight smell, so this weekend I want to get the proper material in there so I can keep it as clean as possible.

Any recommedations?

Also, I heard that cedar shavings are not good for chickens, although to be honest I did use them for bedding material when I first got the chicks for several weeks.
They haven't been in cedar file a while, but I HAVE noticed them sneezing a bit...
Other than that they seem pretty healthy.

Thank you!!

Pic of my mostly finished coop:

 

[loveourbirds]

I prefer pine shavings, but you may like chopped straw. pine shavings are more absorbant but, straw seems to decompose faster. straw is usually easier to clean up off the ground too.

if its possible, I would just move that coop. keep fresh grass to the chickens and they will do better.

 

[Dancie123]

I had a small coop (which you can see out to the lef side) which I moved around so they could have fresh grass, but I am unable to move the new coop. It is way too big.

 

[loveourbirds]

looking at the pictures I would use chopped straw. in your case I prefer the deep litter method. here is a link: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/70/deep-litter-method

someone else may have a better idea. I used to keep chickens they way you are now, deep litter worked the best for me.