Is Hay Good for Chicken Bedding, Or Not Good?

[MPLSHens]

I've heard that you are supposed to use straw rather than hay. I could be wrong however.

 

[Chickenz1]

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I don't know..I'd think hay is easier for them to eat on if they are inclined to, and I notice my injured rooster apparently is eating some of the hay.. I have never seen straw for sale anywhere..

 

[smfamf]

I realize that I am new to birds, but I think hay is actually easier to maintain than other beddings. I have tried the pellets, shavings and hay. It has been so much easier to use the hay. We get it extremely cheap (free due to DH job) and it cleans so much faster. But this is just my opinion.

 

[Chickenz1]

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Well, I like hay on top of dirt floor (the ground) so that moisture that makes it through the hay drains into the dirt, and anything else can be picked up with the hay..No shoveling or scraping required..Running clear water on the dirt every so often keeps the dirt from reeking..
My whole place is sort of low, so when it rains a lot, the pen floors automatically get watered down pretty good..

 

[Chickn chick 46]

I use chopped up straw for nest boxes and a mix of chopped straw and shavings on the floor. I tried hay one time and found it to not break down in the compost very well.

 

[RockyPhoenix]

i heard you werent supposed to use it because it is too dusty and if it gets we it will pack together and it isnt fun to clean but if you change the beding very frequently you shouldnt have too many problems...but its better to just use it in nest boxes.

 

[kuntrygirl]

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i am in the same boat as lalaland. i agree. i prefer hay. been using it for many years and no problems at all and i have a large flock of birds.

 

[sundance]

I use hay in both the coop and the nests. I also use de on both. I have 2 small pieces of tin i use under the roosts to catch the poop then I put it on my compost pile for next years garden, the other hay I just rake out and add to either garden or c/P thats all i have ever used is hay. and I usually go thru a hay cube every couple months. marrie

 

[Chickenz1]

Rather than start a new thread, I'm going to try asking a different question here..
Does anyone have any clue how much water 1 chicken a day should drink?
An ounce? 2 ounces? More? Less?

 

[ChooksChick]

I use hay and have decided I like it far better than anything else we've used. I also use food grade DE on it. I use poop boards under the roosts so I don't have very much turnover- the hay gets cleaned quarterly or thereabouts.

I have water use vary dramatically. It depends on how hot, windy, wet, dry, cold, etc. the weather has been. Right now I'm going through a lot of water and have to change it out 2x daily, since they try to get their feet in it to cool off.