So what do you use and think is best for them (sorry if you posted that earlier - I cannot see that)?I’ve unloaded literally thousands of bales of hay and straw on deliveries drawing blood up and down my arms and dug shavings out of a lot of bags but let me tell you there is a world of difference
Between a bit of a scratchy stalk or even a bale with a few thistles in it vs large solid and pointed stakes of wood covered in a thousand jagged splinters that get caught in an animal's coat and feathers and cause cuts and abrasions. Sure they have scales, but poultry get sore feet all the time. As keepers I think we should always be aiming for more than ‘just fine’ but that’s my opinion.
I use leaves in run and coop. They are free and I always have a couple of bags drying off in the garage, and then I use pine shavings, shredded paper, or white pine needles in the nest boxes. The shredded paper is that unbleached, un-printed packing paper and it is super absorbent if an egg is ever broken in the nest box.