Is there any reason to put shavings/straw on the coop floor?

[Lord_Maren]

My coop has a removable metal sheet for a floor. When I was coop training my first chickens I put shavings on the bottom, but then stopped because they were sleeping in the shavings instead of roosting. I just never started again because it's easy to clean when it's just plain metal (I use a big masonry scraper). Is there any reason I should be using shavings or straw again?

 

[ChicNmom]

How high is their roost? You don't want them jumping down onto a hard surface.

 

[Lord_Maren]

How high is their roost? You don't want them jumping down onto a hard surface.

Not high. Less than a foot.

 

[SourRoses]

When they jump down, a poo covered surface will be slick leading to potential injuries... and the moisture from their poo overnight will contribute to a humid coop environment and flow of gases like ammonia.

In that sort of setup, I would go with the horse bedding pellets made of compressed, super dehydrated pine. I just use it straight without dampening the surface as suggested. By making it a couple inches deep, the pellets don't roll around and create their own tripping hazard. Or you can lightly mist the surface as they suggest.

Shavings are okay, but I wouldn't suggest straw to anyone. It's likely to mold when it gets damp and cause respiratory issues.

 

[aart]

My coop has a removable metal sheet for a floor. When I was coop training my first chickens I put shavings on the bottom, but then stopped because they were sleeping in the shavings instead of roosting. I just never started again because it's easy to clean when it's just plain metal (I use a big masonry scraper). Is there any reason I should be using shavings or straw again?

Pics would help here.
Do you live in a cold climate?

 

[texsuze]

IMHO...go with shavings--easy to obtain (feed stores, TSC),easy to store (bagged), easy to clean (cat litter scooper), clean, clean-smelling, does not mold (if clean your coop daily, right?). I've used shavings for 14 years in my chicken coops, mainly because I had horses and used it in their stalls.

Please don't just leave the metal floor as the only point of contact for your chickens: slippery when they jump down from roosts regardless of roost height, cold in winter, hot in summer. Pine pellets can absorb but imagine jumping down on top of hard, unsoftened pine pellets--think about it. Recipe for bumblefoot and other accidents. Do right by your chickens and given them a soft landing place. Does it really matter where they roost at night, so long as they're healthy?