Horse bedding pellets

[Squawkers]

I am think about switching to this bedding and wondered what people thought. My main concern is that the chickens will eat them (I know chickens are going to taste any bedding, I mean eat a lot of it) they look a lot like pelleted chicken food, so that makes me wonder if they would confuse them. The picture I saw had no size reference though, so maybe they’re huge and no concern there. I know a lot of people use them, so obviously that isn’t really common. It was just something that I wanted to double check. Also, my coop is about 4x6’ about how many coopfulls would I get out of one 40lbs bag? Thanks!!!

@Debbie292d

 

[cavemanrich]

I heard of concerns regarding chickens eating the bedding pellets. So let me comfort your mind some. Chickens do choose what they want to eat by taste.
How do I know
When I was at the farm store,, I purchased my Regular ALFlock pellets, and also got some Rabbit Pellets, as well as All Stock pellets.
The rabbit pellets, are intended for Rabbits. The AllStock, is intended for any animal you may have on your farm.
So I offered dishes of the Rabbit pellets, and the AllStock pellets to my chickens.
Chickens totally refused the Rabbit food. They nibbled slightly on the AllStock pellets,, but only when they ran out of Chicken pellets.

So conclusion is.... If it does not taste good to chicken,, they don't eat it.
I also have some of the horse pellet bedding. I use it in my Kitty Litter boxes. This way, I dump the contents into compost area.

I use Hay for my coop bedding. Often during summer, I will dry my grass clippings, and use those.

So if you go with the Horse pellets,, Place a layer of an Inch on floor. Use a kitty litter scoop, to scoop out the gumdrops. Your pellets will last surprisingly long.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Squawkers]

I heard of concerns regarding chickens eating the bedding pellets. So let me comfort your mind some. Chickens do choose what they want to eat by taste.
How do I know
When I was at the farm store,, I purchased my Regular ALFlock pellets, and also got some Rabbit Pellets, as well as All Stock pellets.
The rabbit pellets, are intended for Rabbits. The AllStock, is intended for any animal you may have on your farm.
So I offered dishes of the Rabbit pellets, and the AllStock pellets to my chickens.
Chickens totally refused the Rabbit food. They nibbled slightly on the AllStock pellets,, but only when they ran out of Chicken pellets.

So conclusion is.... If it does not taste good to chicken,, they don't eat it.
I also have some of the horse pellet bedding. I use it in my Kitty Litter boxes. This way, I dump the contents into compost area.

I use Hay for my coop bedding. Often during summer, I will dry my grass clippings, and use those.

So if you go with the Horse pellets,, Place a layer of an Inch on floor. Use a kitty litter scoop, to scoop out the gumdrops. Your pellets will last surprisingly long.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Thank you!! That’s good! I would love to be able to scoop the poop out!

 

[Squawkers]

How often should I clean the coop? I know a couple people here that use them only do it once a year. I’m a big neat freak and couldn’t do that. I’m thinking once every 1-2 months? Or is that overkill?

 

[Sefirothe]

How often should I clean the coop? I know a couple people here that use them only do it once a year. I’m a big neat freak and couldn’t do that. I’m thinking once every 1-2 months? Or is that overkill?

These wood pellets had been in the 6x8 coop area with 5 and then 9 chickens for just about 10 months at the point this pic was taken. I even brooded 5 chicks in an open bottom cage on the floor of the coop from day 1.

I never scooped or cleaned or added anything to the floor during that entire time. I think I started by dumping either 4 or 5 bags of the wood pellets from TSC on the floor.

No smell ever at any point unless some had just dropped a fresh cecal poo

Edit to add that I also have a poop board under the roost that gets cleaned either daily or every other day. But a couple of the chickens insist on roosting on the lip of it with their butts over the floor so it doesn't catch all the poo.

 

[Squawkers]

These wood pellets had been in the 6x8 coop area with 5 and then 9 chickens for just about 10 months at the point this pic was taken. I even brooded 5 chicks in an open bottom cage on the floor of the coop from day 1.

I never scooped or cleaned or added anything to the floor during that entire time. I think I started by dumping either 4 or 5 bags of the wood pellets from TSC on the floor.

Thanks! Is there any difference between the horse bedding pellets and the wood pellets? If so, which would you say is better?

No smell ever at any point unless some had just dropped a fresh cecal poo

 

[GracePoultry]

I don't think I'll be of any help but we used to have a pet bunny living in our dining room and I used wood pellets in her litter box. never had a problem with her eating them and she once tried to eat a battery so there's that. (she was fine)

 

[Sefirothe]

Thanks! Is there any difference between the horse bedding pellets and the wood pellets? If so, which would you say is better?

From what I'm told actual wood pellets meant as fuel for a wood burning stove are more solidly compressed and don't break down to absorbent sawdust as easily. It's so they burn more cleanly.

Wood pellets meant for horse stalls are not so solidly compressed and do break down for better waste absorption.

 

[NagemTX]

I use this for my indoor brooder, my garage brooder and now my pens. It's great for keeping the dust down. Babies do fine on it even my bantam babies.

 

[Mamilo]

Stove wood pellets are often made from many kinds of leftover wood, versus horse bedding pellets which are made with pine only. Horse bedding pellets are also less dusty when they break down and are more absorbant.