Official BYC Poll: What type of COOP bedding do you like best?

[Kiki]

Well..... seeing as you asked so nice.

 

[HENS-and-MARES]

I use shavings in my chicken coop, however I answered straw, and hay as well because it makes good bedding in my goose stalls.

 

[ilfordcurly]

We're not allowed to have dirt, must be a hard surface floor. Mine is concrete sheeting with deep litter over it. Grass clippings currently. Will add wood mulch when its free.
Clean it out twice a year.

 

[Jennifer Wilson]

Wood shavings for now but we are about to try sand. I have heard so many great things about it that I figure why not.

 

[CSolis]

Where are my dirt lovers?

Down here in lower Alabama... Converted an old 20 x 20 chain linked dog pen into a chicken coop. I do throw in grass clipping, stuff I've pull from the garden too, but always leave a bare area for them to take a bath in.

 

[cecimich]

I just discovered coffee grounds and I'm hooked. Much better than sand, which I used to use, and smells great.

 

[Phoenixxx]

Hay hands down. Shavings and straw take forever to decompose, and I need the litter for my gardens. Hay is also the cheapest; the only thing cheaper is autumn's fallen leaves, which I use when available. Grass clippings are no good, unless dried first (hay). I know hay can be problematic, but I can count on one hand the cases of impacted crop over the past ten years of 50-200 chickens at any given time

 

[Sarah C]

Straw in the winter - sand in the summer. I can soak sand to help wash out the poop and it keeps the ground cool

 

[Padmewasmurdered]

Where are my dirt lovers?

The “downstairs” to my coop is dirt. I rake it once a week. I do sprinkle DE after I rake as well. I only have 3 ladies so maybe that’s why it works so well for us...It was beautiful green grass for about 2 weeks when we first set up.

 

[mbailey78]

I have a wood floor covered in a thick linoleum so I answered “other”. In the winter I add pine shavings (change it out as necessary) so the floor isn’t so cold. In the warmer months I don’t cover the linoleum with anything. So easy to clean!