Ideas for coop bedding needed

[purslanegarden]

For my 3 pigeons, which I am just raising them for fun and education, I'm re-using a coop that was originally intended for chickens (the chickens are gone now). The coop is on bare ground, and I use straw for the bedding. This worked fine for chickens, who will move the straw around as they kick and scratch. Because they tend to scratch everywhere, including moving straw back to another spot that they just cleared up, the straw itself always looks like it is covering the ground just fine.

But for the pigeons, because they fly around the coop, the drafts created by their flying has tended to move the straw over to the edges of the coop. As a result, bare ground has been exposed all over the center of the coop.

I could add more straw but I fear it would just get moved again to the edges. I also thought of wood mulch. It won't be as good at hiding pigeon poop but it could still be moved and cleaned in spots as necessary (eg where they perch, that part will probably have the most poopage and just that part could be cleaned up).

But I worry that the mulch is not very even footing for the pigeons whenever they do walk on the floor of the coop. Even I can feel the unevenness of walking on wood mulch so imagine what their little feet will experience.

Are there any other ideas of bedding that might be used, including another way to use the straw, if someone has any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

 

[ScramblesNflosMom]

Maybe try sand. Pigeons do need a grit. Mine like sand paper on the ground to keep their beaks and nails trimmed, plus that's flat. There's also a safe sand you can get for chickens etc, but you can't use regular walmart or playground sand. Since pigeons are ground eaters, less bedding is actually best.

 

[Kusanar]

I keep my pigeon on pure Sweet PDZ, he can use it for grit, it absorbs any ammonia, and I can kitty litter scoop it to keep it clean.

 

[cavemanrich]

If you want a layer to stay put, try using hay instead of straw. Straw seems quite light and the hollow straw may be easier to be blown around. Of course if your layer of straw is thick enough, then no bare ground will be exposed. Hay, since is thinner strands may stay put in a thin layer better than straw.
I assume that you don't feed your pigeons off the floor. I always fed mine from dishes or bowls. If some feed drops into straw/hay,,,, Its not going to break your bank.
Sand is a good option as well. Easily scooped out gumdrops. Get the concrete grade from a cement supply yard. It is a course variety. Sweet PDZ is also fine like Kusanar suggested.
I use PDZ as a base layer in my coop and loft. (about 1/4 to 1/2 inch) I cover that with hay.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Hokum Coco]

other ideas of bedding that might be used,

This link and my comment to buddy will tell you what I think of his idea. I have been raising birds for decades and out side of a wire grid and drop pit method (expensive) this is the best I stumbled upon.

Ronald MacKinnon 5 minutes ago
I placed a tarp over the floor area before laying down my wood pellets. You should try it buddy I know you would be as happy with my addition as I am now that you put me wise to the wood pellet properties.
I think pellets are what I will be using in my nest bowls this year.

 

[jak2002003]

I have kept pigeons for many years and experimented with many different beddings for the floor.

Here I recommend the 2 best ones....

1. No bedding with a wooden or concrete base which you scrape clean. this should be easy with you only having 3 birds.

2. Several inches of sand. Provided you coop is dry and rainproof this is the very best option in my opinion. You can rake it over, it dries out the pigeon droppings, feathers collect into the coop corners where they are easily picked / brushed up.

You can sieve over the sand with a basket to collect the dry pigeon poops every week or so.

 

[purslanegarden]

thank you everyone for your input. i will look into those options.

I feed the birds in bowls, as well as using methods to reduce the wasted feed (eg a certain kind of food bin design).