Peat Moss for coop bedding?

[sproink]

So wait,
Sphagnum peat: good or not? My last post (3 minutes ago) pointed out that Storey's recommends Peat Moss.
My babies are loving it, but if it contains horrible things I'll change to something else. Pine gives me asthma and makes my horses sneeze, so I can't imagine its GREAT- for chicks anyway.
No cedar, and newspaper is squirrelly (don't know where to find those these days anyway), what else is good?

I am using a bit of kiln dried alfalfa and have horse silage (forage) available. The hay probably has miles of mites.
Can I put diatomaceous earth in with everything to discourage mites or any other possibilities?

I know there is no definite answer, judging by the back-and-forth, but surely there must be a baseline. For example:
Peat from Irish bogs is bad (obviously).
Sphagnum is bad (had no idea)
Sphagnum peat from Canada is ok if it's been heated to kill spores.
Large peel pine ok, dusty pine bad..
Cedar: bad unless keeping moths from your sweaters and as building material.

I'm new, so I'll point out that I say everything with an enthusiastic smile and usually a chuckle, so I'm NEVER trying to be ugly. I am, however, a librarian and like to collect *as much information as I can shove into my little brain*.

I do mark up my Storey's book with information for the forum. It's astonishing how much collective knowledge we all have.

 

[PAjess]

Take a look at the article I posted above. Peat moss is bacteriostatic and they claim Canadian peat moss is sustainable. I can provide more information if you have any questions!
Thanks,
Jessica E

Here is part of another article:

Don’t Confuse Sphagnum Moss With Peat Moss
By Gerry Hood
President, Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association
You may have read about a fungal disease call Cutaneous Sporotrichosis, a chronic infection identified by skin lesions. The fungus that causes this disease has been found in several kinds of organic material and, because in extremely rare cases this disease can cause death, gardeners are rightfully concerned about protecting themselves from contracting it. Unfortunately, however, some of the information circulating about how gardeners can contract this disease has been inaccurate. It confuses two separate products; one of which is known to carry the fungus and one of which does not.
One of the materials known to carry the Sporotrichosis fungus is sphagnum moss. Most frequently used by the floral industry to line wire baskets, this product is frequently being confused with sphagnum peat moss, a soil conditioner known for its ability to bind sandy soils, loosen clay soils and retain water. The difference is an important one. While there have been cases of Sporotrichosis resulting from handling sphagnum moss, there have been no cases as a result of handling sphagnum peat moss. Sphagnum moss and sphagnum peat moss are not the same product, as many avid gardeners know.
Sphagnum moss is the living moss that grows on top of a sphagnum bog. The fungus sporotrichum schenckii is known to live in this growing moss.
Sphagnum peat moss is the dead material that accumulates as new live material grows on top and exerts pressure on the peat moss below. The fungus is not know to live in the levels of a sphagnum bog where peat forms. Harvesters of horticultural peat moss remove the top few inches of the live sphagnum moss and only harvest the peat from the lower layer.

http://www.peatmoss.com/blog/using-peat-moss/concerns/sporotrichosis/

 

[Talonstorm]

About the mites - I have read that using food grade diatomaceous earth (both in the bedding and dusting the birds) can help eliminate mites. I know that I managed to rid the house of fleas by using it to dust the dogs and shaking it on the carpets, letting it sit for a bit, and vacuuming it back up. Just a thought, it might be an alternative to the pesticides if you are so inclined. ;-)

 

[sproink]

Hi PAJess and Talonstorm (Talonstorm has to be my favorite handle ever),
@PAjess I did read the article which was a little confusing. I ran away and did a bit of research. The important things seems to be to make sure that whatever we use, it should be warm and dry. I know: duh.
What it does that is different from wood shavings seems to be 2 things (totally from observation): 1. the chicks are on bedding with more uneven texture, building their balance and 2. encouraging the scratching instinct.
@Talonstorm
Diatomaceous earth is one of my favorite things. It's a mainstay in my barn. My older hens get dusted in it once every 6 weeks or so (maybe more this wet summer), I put it in bedding.

I'm not as paranoid any more.

Thanks!

 

[pamandtony]

I have been using the peat moss so I guess I will stop-glad i I came across this! I just had issues with 2 of my girls seemed like a respiratory issue. Will replace with something else. What about sand? Or top soil?