- Jun 22, 2011
- 11
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Fellow chicken-fans!
Well, our run and coop is in the middle of being built but I can't make up my mind whether we should use deep pine shavings or sand.
I've been trying to research online and on this forum, and can't find any place which lists the advantages and disadvantages of each. Some people claim this is better and some claim that. So I thought of making a list of the advantages and disadvantages of both in order to help me and other new chicken owners make up their minds. From what I've read I can think of this so far, please correct or add things to the list to make it better!!!
DEEP PINE SHAVINGS:
Advantages:
-needs less cleaning and maintenance (just rake it every now and then, and change it about once a year)
-keeps chickens warmer in winter
-can be used as compost if u have garden
Disadvantages:
??????
SAND:
Advantages:
-keeps chickens cool in summer
-less likely to have flies and bugs ( Is that right???)
-can be used as grit so don't need to buy grit
Disadvantages:
-needs regularly raking or scooping out poop
-heavier to transport
I've read contradicting views on which one is less smelly.... Any conclusive evidence out there?!
And if my lists are correct it would seem that Pine shavings win out over sand, but I've noticed that a lot of people on this forum prefer sand, how come????
THANKS FOR UR HELP!
Well, our run and coop is in the middle of being built but I can't make up my mind whether we should use deep pine shavings or sand.
I've been trying to research online and on this forum, and can't find any place which lists the advantages and disadvantages of each. Some people claim this is better and some claim that. So I thought of making a list of the advantages and disadvantages of both in order to help me and other new chicken owners make up their minds. From what I've read I can think of this so far, please correct or add things to the list to make it better!!!
DEEP PINE SHAVINGS:
Advantages:
-needs less cleaning and maintenance (just rake it every now and then, and change it about once a year)
-keeps chickens warmer in winter
-can be used as compost if u have garden
Disadvantages:
??????
SAND:
Advantages:
-keeps chickens cool in summer
-less likely to have flies and bugs ( Is that right???)
-can be used as grit so don't need to buy grit
Disadvantages:
-needs regularly raking or scooping out poop
-heavier to transport
I've read contradicting views on which one is less smelly.... Any conclusive evidence out there?!
And if my lists are correct it would seem that Pine shavings win out over sand, but I've noticed that a lot of people on this forum prefer sand, how come????
THANKS FOR UR HELP!