Poll. Shavings or straw in nesting bixes?

I use pine shavings only because I like the smell a little better

 

I use pine shavings because they are so easy to keep clean and they do smell good!

People use straw but I don't like it because it can harbor mites and other crawlies in the hollow stems. Plus, when it gets yucky it gets ... yucky! It pastes itself together and is harder to clean.

 

I use pine shavings ONLY in nesting boxes and through out the floor of the coop .


no flies and no smell


and chickens will scratch in the shavings and cover up poop under roosting areaa . NEST BOXES are completely on oppoiste wall from roosting area and 18 inches off the floor .

 

Pine shavings are clean, don't clump up, can be fluffed up daily to keep the nest soft, don't seem to harbor insects especially with DE added and smell good. When I change the nest boxes I just throw the shavings onto the coop floor. My girls have been great about keeping their boxes clean - they use them for egglaying only.

 

Straw...it's cheaper. We have a lot of chickens. Can pine shavings be cheaper than straw? Anyone got a hook up?

 

Quote:what are you calling ALOT of ?????

 

I use pine shaving in my nesting boxes and on the floor of my coops.

 

Pine shaving here too.

 

I always used pne shavings, but I have a hen that always gets into the barn, into the hay or straw and lays her egg. So I put straw in one nest and she is happy.

So I use both to keep my ladies happy.