Opinions please

[addicted2chicks]

I looked it up here but had found alot of different answers. We are trying to decide what to use on the floor of the coop. We have a newer cement floor and are wanting something that is feesable and safe for the chickens. Thinking straw or hay? What is the good and bad with each?
Will probably use DE sprinkled on it also once I get some ordered. Thanks

 

[chickensioux]

Our flooring is treated lumbar, we cover it with pine shavings. We can sweep up the poo and not have to dispose of all of it. We have straw in the nesting boxes. This method seems to be what has worked best for us.

 

[Mahonri]

We have a linoleum floor. Sweep and mop it every week. Put down a little DE with pine shavings.

 

[gritsar]

We have a painted wood floor. Pine shavings on the floor, hay in the nest boxes.

 

[ksalvagno]

You want hay for eating and straw for laying on. Hay will mold if left on the ground too long. I'm brand new to chickens so I have no idea if they eat hay.

Karen

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
My hens peck at the hay in their nest boxes occasionally, more out of boredom while sitting there waiting to lay their egg; kinda like magazines in a doctor's office.
I change the hay in the nest boxes once a week. Throw it out the coop door and the cows come running. Recycling at its best.

 

[LightenUp]

What does DE refer to?

Robin

 

[Omran]

Quote:
I have cement floor too and believe it or not or what I ever used is plain old dirt, yes I get a wheelberol full of dirt and spred it inside and keep on raking the poo out, my coop never ever smell , the only thingg you have to spray it with some water once and a while to keep dust down.

 

[aidenbaby]

I, too, am using shavings over linoleum. It's a small coop soI canclean it really easily. My poor kids think I'm building them a playhouse. I'll be building that next. LOL I'll owe them that at least.

DE=diatomaceous earth