Newbie- Bedding Recommendation for two chicken (California with pool nearby)

[LittleChickenMom]

Hello fellow chicken parents,
We need your advice!!
My husband and I have two chicks (5weeks old-silkie and serama) who live in a bird cage in our house for now. We live in california where termite is a serious problem and we have a giant pool (backyard mostly pool). We have concrete area that we will put a chicken coop on. We have the following questions.
1) we are considering straw for bedding. Is there any other bedding/litter option that you recommend? (We didn't think pine shavings were a good option due to termite). Also, considering a deep litter method.
2) we read that sand is also a good option. Would you think that will be an issue being near the pool??

Thank you in advance for your support. We enjoy reading a lot of things on this site. So informative!!!!
Have a fabulous day!

 

[Tandrae87]

Following! I always like new ideas and we also have a pool that takes up most of our backyard so I would like to have things that work well with that.

 

[Alaskan]

The problem is that fluffy bedding is easier to keep clean. So, wood shavings and sand are easier to clean than hay or straw.

Both hay and straw tend to matt up and form poo sheets... of course with only 2 tiny hens, it might be OK.

Since you do have only 2 hens, I would look into PDZ, sometimes known as stall dry.

Also, make all coop and run edges WAY higher than potential bedding height to help keep bedding where it belongs. And, put in a doormat of some kind to fully clean off feet when you leave the coop or run. You could also leave "coop only" clogs inside a decorated mailbox hung on the run, to keep tracking mess to a minimum .

 

[LittleChickenMom]

The problem is that fluffy bedding is easier to keep clean. So, wood shavings and sand are easier to clean than hay or straw.

Both hay and straw tend to matt up and form poo sheets... of course with only 2 tiny hens, it might be OK.

Since you do have only 2 hens, I would look into PDZ, sometimes known as stall dry.

Also, make all coop and run edges WAY higher than potential bedding height to help keep bedding where it belongs. And, put in a doormat of some kind to fully clean off feet when you leave the coop or run. You could also leave "coop only" clogs inside a decorated mailbox hung on the run, to keep tracking mess to a minimum .

Thank you!!!! That's very helpful!!! really appreciate your response.

 

[aart]

I would look into PDZ, sometimes known as stall dry.

FYI.
Sweet PDZ(pure zeolite) is a different product than 'stall dry'(various products with slightly different names and ingredients).

 

[LittleChickenMom]

FYI.
Sweet PDZ(pure zeolite) is a different product than 'stall dry'(various products with slightly different names and ingredients).

Thank you!!! I did search both. Sweet PDZ seems pretty awesome but expensive. Haha.

 

[aart]

How big is your coop/run.....and how close to the pool?

 

[LittleChickenMom]

How big is your coop/run.....and how close to the pool?

Coop/run is about 5.5 feet by 2 feet. The distance from the pool is about 9 feet away!

 

[Alaskan]

FYI.
Sweet PDZ(pure zeolite) is a different product than 'stall dry'(various products with slightly different names and ingredients).

Thanks... I thought that last I had looked, the stall dry had the same ingredients, but it has been years now... probably misremembered.

 

[aart]

the stall dry had the same ingredients, but it has been years now

It's hard to find the ingredients, and there's 2-3-4 of them out there.
Mostly DE, lime, clay.... IIRC.... one might have had some zeolite.