Pine Needles OK???

[maizey]

Yay! Thats good news for me..

CarolsCucks: I know just what you are talking about, we have tons of run over pine needle poof balls in our neighborhood.... what will the neighbors think when they see me out there gathering it up:/

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

I have 3 big pine trees in my yard that right now are shedding like crazy. I use pine needles in the coop, nest boxes, and on part of the run floor (other 1/3 is completely sand for dust bathing and better drainage where the ground dips) Like others have said - if you have pine trees pine needles are free, easy to move (light weight) and clean. They don't harbor pests such as fleas and mites, don't soak up water like a sponge like shavings and stuff does, and they smell wonderful! I much prefer the pine needles to pine shavings.

 

[Chicklette 1]

I've just been dumping them in a pile now that I have a little base and the chickens spread it for me. They seem to love digging through it.

 

[HaltaLotta]

The summer drought made it very difficult to get straw for the hen-houses this fall. So I'm trying to use pine branches cut small. Does anyone have experience with this? This is fresh pine, not (unfortunately) pine-needles. But I can't imagine there being any problem - what do you think?

 

[aart]

The summer drought made it very difficult to get straw for the hen-houses this fall. So I'm trying to use pine branches cut small. Does anyone have experience with this? This is fresh pine, not (unfortunately) pine-needles. But I can't imagine there being any problem - what do you think?

I'd avoid fresh(green) pine....sap will get everywhere.
Dead pine branches cut up would be fine...but still, watch for sap.