Poll. Shavings or straw in nesting bixes?

[MoonbeamQueen]

pine shavings also. They don't clump and aren't stinky. I only need one large compressed bag to cover my coop floor and fill my nest boxes. Costs about $6 at the feed store.

 

[spencereb]

WOW...

Guess I need to go get me some pine shavings!

I never tried them...I only use straw..and with good luck, so far.

Thanks,

-Spence

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

I use hay.

 

[adeledamate]

Pine shavings definitely. They're great in my compost. A large bag costs about $10.00 and lasts more than a month for my small coop.

 

[panner123]

Quote:
Right now I have abot 300 hens, 20 roos and 500 to 600 chicks (can't get a good count on them). I think that counts as a lot. And pine shavings are cheaper. Not the orginal cost but over the long run. I will explain this, there is not the watse in the nest boxes as with straw. Any shavings you dump from the boxes can be put on the floor of the coop. Shavings are much easier to clean up. They compost a little slower than straw on the down side and you need to test the composted shavings before putting in the garden. More acid in them. I do have a few hens that WILL NOT nest in the shavings and really don't like straw. So the grand kids have to search the yard for their nest, usually under some bush. Save money and time cleaning, use pine.

 

[bkterry]

We have been using straw but only because that's what's been easily available. Where do most of you get your pine shavings from and what is the average cost???

 

[LinckHillPoultry]

Straw. It is just so much easier when cleaning, you can get everything out with a pitch fork.
Shavings are impossible to get every little one. And they are such a pain when they are wet.

 

[Robin L]

I have used both but I use more straw/hay because
1. I can get it closer to my home
2. Helps the local farmers
All winter I only used 3 bales of straw, it cost $9 for all 3 bales and I only had to go 1 mile. To get the shavings its 12 miles one way, costs $10 and lasts 1 month. Gas now comes into play because Im not working ouside of my home. Never had any bugs from it.

 

[Justino]

i use shavings because idk i just think theyre better


isnt there a type of shaving thats bad for chickens? i think its cedar right?

 

[LinckHillPoultry]

Also forgot to add, straw and hay are both a lot easier to get over my way, we hay our own fields, so I have been using hay recently, but only because all the farmers around here are completely out of straw.

I know where I could get shavings for free, but I don't bother.