Recommendations on coop bedding, nesting material and run floor material

[BitterrootChickenLady]

Hello,

What I currently do with my coop is the deep litter method with hemp. Recently I tried using just one bag of hemp to see if I preferred cleaning more frequently, but after a month it smelled really bad; it didn't when I was using 3 bag of hemp and the deep litter method. I was a little grossed out by the concept, but it never smelled. However, 1 bag of hemp is about $100, so it's $300 every time I change it, which is 2-4x/year.
For their nesting boxes I've been using nesting pads, but they're about $40 for 10. Some of the chickens soil in them, so I have to clean them the best I can and then just toss and replace. It gets expensive. I was thinking of use straw, but not sure what the best options are.
In the run floor I have mulch and I HATE IT! It doesn't break down and it just smells horrible. My chickens free range so it's not like they're confined to the run constantly. I don't know what to do for the run floor. Just dirt? Bedding?

My question is, what can I do for bedding/nesting/run that would work the same but is more affordable? Would pine or aspen be fine? Should I just stick with hemp (which I really like). What should I use in the nesting boxes? Run floor?

Thank you for any guidance!

I do not have a chicken coop/run yet, but i jave spent about 20-30 hours researching everything, so we can build and plan well. I am reading that construction sand is great in chicken runs. You can use a shovel sifter, like a giant kitty litter scooper, to sift out the chicken poo. The sand will absorb and clump it. It's less costly than what you are describing.

 

[RoyalChick]

I do coarsening shavings in the nest boxes and tip them on the coop floor if they become dirty (eg if someone sleeps overnight in the nest box).
On the coop floor I use leaves that I get free from the trees in the back yard. I also add some shredded paper and bits of cardboard from time to time.
All this works its way out into the run which gets damper than the cool so it rots down faster once it is in the run.
I don’t ever clean it out but I do sometimes rake out under the roosts if a big poop pile is developing.
Important to know I have a dirt floor in both coop and run so worms and soil bacteria are constantly cleaning up for me.

 

[CluckkyKrista]

We use pine shavings (and it helps that the hubby makes plenty with his woodworking). We haven’t added more than a sprinkling layer every month or two and so far I’m amazed that the coop doesn’t smell. I do occasionally open it up to grab a couple scoops of the poopiest bits for dry/browns in our compost tumbler (chicken poop is so delish for the garden). So, maybe that’s also reduced the build up a little but we’re going on 6 months and it’s so far seems reasonably clean (as far as poopy coops go).

 

[FourintheRun]

Hello,

What I currently do with my coop is the deep litter method with hemp. Recently I tried using just one bag of hemp to see if I preferred cleaning more frequently, but after a month it smelled really bad; it didn't when I was using 3 bag of hemp and the deep litter method. I was a little grossed out by the concept, but it never smelled. However, 1 bag of hemp is about $100, so it's $300 every time I change it, which is 2-4x/year.
For their nesting boxes I've been using nesting pads, but they're about $40 for 10. Some of the chickens soil in them, so I have to clean them the best I can and then just toss and replace. It gets expensive. I was thinking of use straw, but not sure what the best options are.
In the run floor I have mulch and I HATE IT! It doesn't break down and it just smells horrible. My chickens free range so it's not like they're confined to the run constantly. I don't know what to do for the run floor. Just dirt? Bedding?

My question is, what can I do for bedding/nesting/run that would work the same but is more affordable? Would pine or aspen be fine? Should I just stick with hemp (which I really like). What should I use in the nesting boxes? Run floor?

Thank you for any guidance!

I really like the deep straw method in the coop, turning it every few days and then taking some out into the run and the girls move that around over their dirt floor. Very minimal cost or smell.

 

[RobochickofLubbock]

Hello,

What I currently do with my coop is the deep litter method with hemp. Recently I tried using just one bag of hemp to see if I preferred cleaning more frequently, but after a month it smelled really bad; it didn't when I was using 3 bag of hemp and the deep litter method. I was a little grossed out by the concept, but it never smelled. However, 1 bag of hemp is about $100, so it's $300 every time I change it, which is 2-4x/year.
For their nesting boxes I've been using nesting pads, but they're about $40 for 10. Some of the chickens soil in them, so I have to clean them the best I can and then just toss and replace. It gets expensive. I was thinking of use straw, but not sure what the best options are.
In the run floor I have mulch and I HATE IT! It doesn't break down and it just smells horrible. My chickens free range so it's not like they're confined to the run constantly. I don't know what to do for the run floor. Just dirt? Bedding?

My question is, what can I do for bedding/nesting/run that would work the same but is more affordable? Would pine or aspen be fine? Should I just stick with hemp (which I really like). What should I use in the nesting boxes? Run floor?

Thank you for any guidance!

Find some free pallets and put down with chicken wire on top of it. Then use water hose to spray all the poop away. This is the method i use plus spray down the coop with vanilla and water-smells prettier. This eliminates having to buy bulk chips or hay. I have 8 X 20 coop - so I put the entire floor in raised pallets. It works for me.

 

[arazla]

@RobochickofLubbock I've heard that wire is hard on chickens feet, especially when they jump down from the perch. They also can't really scratch the floor. But maybe fine mesh cloth would be less so or one can add a layer of straw as well? https://www.mypetchicken.com/blogs/faqs/what-is-good-chicken-coop-flooring#:~:text=Wire coop flooring is bad,is hard on their feet.

Coop and run bedding materials are controversial, with experts like the Chicken Chick claiming sand is the only rational answer and scientifically proven, while on the other end you have people like Lisa Steel of Fresh Eggs Daily stating straw is the only natural choice, citing other science experts in her favor. So it's good to do research and see what seems valid and makes the most sense for your flocks.

I currently have a combination. Sand on poop boards directly underneath the perches and a mix of pine shavings and straw on the coop floor (seems to compost better when mixed, but both have their downsides - pine is more toxic, but smells better, straw can be eaten and cause impacted crop). In the run, I favor the natural dirt, but also sprinkle with a mix of straw and leaves. We have tons of maple trees where I live and they shed like crazy in the fall. We finally figured out that rather than rake up all the leaves and take to the green materials dump, we can save a lot of it and keep replenishing the runs through winter. It does break down quickly, but it's probably less toxic than pine shavings and less likely to get stuck in the crop. There could be some problem that I'm not thinking of with it though. We do still sprinkle in pine shavings occasionally as well however.