Sand or pine shavings for winter?

[GabrielleC]

Our coop is about 7’x6’ with a 12’x12’ run. We have a roosting bar with a PDZ sand tray underneath. This has been great for easy daily clean up. We have a sand floor. The run is a dirt floor and a lovely dirt bath in 1 corner. I know once winter hits even with polycarbonate on all the run windows that their outdoor time will be limited. My concern is do I put pine shavings on the floor or not. I clean my coop once a day. With the shavings I won’t be able to clean up all the droppings which will lead to ammonia smell. It bothers me to have animals/birds living in their own feces.
Hence my debate. We live in Northern MI. The coop has good ventilation and is insulated.
I am looking for advice. Thanks!

 

[GabrielleC]

Sorry I somehow attached all kinds of photos. Only meant to attack the coop and run

 

[Echelontheory101]

Our coop is about 7’x6’ with a 12’x12’ run. We have a roosting bar with a PDZ sand tray underneath. This has been great for easy daily clean up. We have a sand floor. The run is a dirt floor and a lovely dirt bath in 1 corner. I know once winter hits even with polycarbonate on all the run windows that their outdoor time will be limited. My concern is do I put pine shavings on the floor or not. I clean my coop once a day. With the shavings I won’t be able to clean up all the droppings which will lead to ammonia smell. It bothers me to have animals/birds living in their own feces.
Hence my debate. We live in Northern MI. The coop has good ventilation and is insulated.
I am looking for advice. Thanks!

Im up in New England so I have similar snow fall and temps as you, a little over 150 inches a season and negative temps most of jan/February. Im doing just sand in the coop and run but I have 2 zero clearance cozy coop panels mounted behind the roost bar, it doesn't heat the coop at all but it just takes some of the chill off while they roost. If the sand is dry and not muddy it will be chilly to the touch on their feet but wouldn't hurt them. If its regularly muddy i would go shavings of some kind.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

If the pine flakes make it so you’re concerned about ammonia smells, get a bag of zeolite. There’s an expensive (small) chicken version, but this is the same thing. Sprinkle it on the bedding periodically. It absorbs moisture. Zeolite clinoptilolite is the specific chemical: OMRI listed organic. Available at Tractor Supply, etc. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6515299/

Also, consider installing poop trays under any popular roosts that collect a lot of droppings. Line the poop trays with the zeolite for easy release.