Pine pellets

[FortCluck]

Has anyone used pine pellets in their coop?

I'm using pine shavings from TSC, but I'm not sure if I like them. Before doing the pine shavings I was using hay, but I'm not sure if I want to go back to it. The pine shavings I truly do not like because they get tracked everywhere. The hay stayed inside the coop and not all over my shoes.

I'm head to TSC today after an appointment so any advice would be great .

I'm also having chicks hatch on the 31st so whatever I get today will be used in their brooder.

 

[so lucky]

I think pine shavings works best in the brooder, but I have mixed thoughts as to what to use in the big girl coop. I used straw for years, and didn't really have any issues with it. But this summer the smell and flies were a big problem, so I started putting down PDZ under the roosts, and scooping the poop out with a kitty litter scoop every couple days or more if needed.
But with winter coming, I am thinking about switching back to straw for the little bit of warmth/coziness that provides. I don't really worry about flies and odor in the winter. I have a problem in my coop with the bedding getting wet when it rains from the south.

 

[FortCluck]

I think pine shavings works best in the brooder, but I have mixed thoughts as to what to use in the big girl coop. I used straw for years, and didn't really have any issues with it. But this summer the smell and flies were a big problem, so I started putting down PDZ under the roosts, and scooping the poop out with a kitty litter scoop every couple days or more if needed.
But with winter coming, I am thinking about switching back to straw for the little bit of warmth/coziness that provides. I don't really worry about flies and odor in the winter. I have a problem in my coop with the bedding getting wet when it rains from the south.

I live where it's humid and wet, it's actually raining like crazy too. We are heading into winter, but I did have issues with flies in the summer. The pine shavings helped with flies and I cleaned our coop every week. I might have to try that PDZ, I'm sure they have it at TSC.

I do know that people say hay works better than straw because straw doesn't suck up moisture too well due to a waxy film on it.

 

[DobieLover]

I agree it's annoying that the shavings stick to your shoes. I have a dedicated pair of cheap coop shoes that I don't bring in the house.
The pellets won't offer anything in the way of cushioning the impact when chickens jump off the roost. I'd also be concerned about the chickens eating the pellets.
I like fluffy litter. However, I have poop boards under the roosts that get cleaned each morning. I also fluff the shavings with a rake twice a week. I'll probably only clean the shavings out once or twice a year.

 

[FortCluck]

I agree it's annoying that the shavings stick to your shoes. I have a dedicated pair of cheap coop shoes that I don't bring in the house.
The pellets won't offer anything in the way of cushioning the impact when chickens jump off the roost. I'd also be concerned about the chickens eating the pellets.
I like fluffy litter. However, I have poop boards under the roosts that get cleaned each morning. I also fluff the shavings with a rake twice a week. I'll probably only clean the shavings out once or twice a year.

I have a pair of rain boots I keep by the front door that I wear out there. I just hate how it gets tracked everywhere.

 

[Kholts]

I’m no use when it comes to using them in the coop for chickens but I will say they are amazing in the cats litter box! No ammonia smell from the cats unless you leave the boxes way too long in between cleanings.

I imagine they would work well smell wise with the chickens. Any excess moisture may break them down into saw dust faster than you would expect.

 

[so lucky]

The little experience I have had with hay is that it seems to smell bad if it gets damp. Of course, this may depend on what grass the hay is made from. I am looking at using wood chips for the run, which can become a quagmire in rainy weather. But I need to find a source for them that doesn't have dye or other chemicals in it.
I think my biggest problem is that I have one or two chickens too many. When you get extra chicks thinking you will lose a couple, or have to rehome cockerels, and they all live and they are pullets after all. (I know, I will whine about anything!)

 

[feathermaid]

I used stall pellets all the time when I had horses and loved them, they work fantastic at absorbing moisture. I do prefer regular shavings in the chicken coop though, and large chunky wood chips in all uncovered run spaces (it's the only thing that keeps the mud away in Oregon rainy winters).

But I absolutely hands down love pellets as brooder bedding. It's what I always used for my first batches of chicks but this last spring I used shavings (because everyone else did -and I was out of pellets) and I could not believe what a complete mess it was! I just couldn't stand it after several days and went out and bought pellets and completely changed out my brooder. The pellets are heavier and don't get flung everywhere as easily, and the water actually stays clean for longer than 5 minutes. Raising the feeder and waterer up on bricks helps to keep chicks from pooping in them too.

I tried the platform thing, but it didn't help much:


so much better with pellets:


This was only for a couple weeks... I finish brooding outside in the coop for easy integration.

After brooding, the pellets can be useful as a bottom layer in the coop or run. If you have wet areas, it'll get soaked up real quick and the pellets turn to sawdust. I just have never decided to keep using them as the sole bedding, shavings cover a much larger area and are softer to start with.

I can also say that poop boards and sweet pdz are a lifesaver! I wouldn't manage my coop any other way now that I've discovered how easy maintenance can be.

 

[igorsMistress]

I use pellets and flakes both. The pellets are great but will turn to sawdust when wet.

 

[aart]

The pine shavings I truly do not like because they get tracked everywhere.

Where are they getting tracked to?
Umm, wipe your feet?

My coop is in a large shed and I usually only go into actual coop once a day, then I push back shavings to stand on the vinyl while cleaning poop boards....and to redistribute shavings. I also wear rather smooth soled shoes so they are easy to wipe off and don't gather detritus like deep treads might. Some shavings do get tracked or scratched out of coop into shed storage area, but I just sweep/scoop them up once in a while.

Seeing pics of your coop and run, inside and out, might help garner solutions.

Also....
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!