Pine chip alternatives

[RoosterFredsmom]

Hi All!
Is there an alternative to pine shavings for coop litter? I unfortunately have developed allergic dermatitis to the pine shavings. Yes, I wear gloves, but I still end up with a rash and sometimes almost burns on my skin from the pine wood. I was thinking straw or some other hay type, but wondered what else there could be.

 

[Boise-girls]

I use hemp. It's more expensive, but stays put better than chopped straw, so I'm not sure it's that costly in the long run. When I was using straw on top of a vinyl floor covering, the hens would skid when they came off the roosts, even though the roosts were pretty low. That doesn't happen with the hemp. They also kicked a lot more straw out of the coop.

However, I think the chickens preferred the straw! They loved to dig around in it; not so much in the hemp. I still use chopped straw, wood chips, compost, fallen leaves and so on in the run.

 

[RoosterFredsmom]

I use hemp. It's more expensive, but stays put better than chopped straw, so I'm not sure it's that costly in the long run. When I was using straw on top of a vinyl floor covering, the hens would skid when they came off the roosts, even though the roosts were pretty low. That doesn't happen with the hemp. They also kicked a lot more straw out of the coop.

However, I think the chickens preferred the straw! They loved to dig around in it; not so much in the hemp. I still use chopped straw, wood chips, compost, fallen leaves and so on in the run.

Where do you buy the hemp?

 

[Boise-girls]

Amazon. You may be able to find it locally, depending where you live. This is what I get -
Old Dominion Hemp. Like I mentioned, it's kind of pricey, but seems to last a while if you keep the poop picked up.

 

[3KillerBs]

Straw has been used for animal bedding for as long as humans have grown grain and kept animals.

There's also ground corncobs, hemp, and locally-available things like pine straw and rice hulls.

There's an active thread right now about shredded paper as bedding.

 

[RubelliteRose]

Between hay and straw, I would choose chopped straw. We sometimes add hay to the run and it seems to hold moisture longer than straw. 3KillerBs also mentioned some great alternatives. We use pine needles in part of our run and love them. They don't hold on to water and don't mat down.
Another option that some people use, is sand in the coop. We have a portion of our run as sand and I have mixed feelings about that, but I love the sand/ pdz mix that we use on our poop boards.

 

[Rangergord]

I hate pine shavings too. Hardwood chips and pellets are another option. Depends on what is available and cost effective. Also what do you plan to do with the manured litter? I garden so I prefer straw and wood chips with my manure.

 

[RoosterFredsmom]

I hate pine shavings too. Hardwood chips and pellets are another option. Depends on what is available and cost effective. Also what do you plan to do with the manured litter? I garden so I prefer straw and wood chips with my manure.

When I clean their coup, I put it in the flower beds.

 

[CanadaEh]

Is there an alternative to pine shavings for coop litter? I unfortunately have developed allergic dermatitis to the pine shavings. Yes, I wear gloves, but I still end up with a rash and sometimes almost burns on my skin from the pine wood. I was thinking straw or some other hay type, but wondered what else there could be.

fall leaves that people bag and put on the side of the road. Preferably smaller kind or shredded/mowed over.

When cleaning, they go to the run where they compost pretty quickly once being rained on. The compost goes to garden.

 

[RoosterFredsmom]

Straw has been used for animal bedding for as long as humans have grown grain and kept animals.

There's also ground corncobs, hemp, and locally-available things like pine straw and rice hulls.

There's an active thread right now about shredded paper as bedding.

I have started using hay.