straw (hay) or wood chips in coop

[Judy]

After I put a 1x4 across the bottom front of the nest, they stopped kicking hay out, though they still will kick pine shavings out. But it depends on the chickens. I've read of people having the opposite experience. Hay IS a bit messy.

 

[debid]

Quote:
Ditto this!

And straw works VERY WELL if it's shredded. My dad has a wood chipper/shredder and we ran a bail of straw through it to get my coop set up. A $4 bale of wheat straw yields two yard waste sacks full of packed litter and as a bonus, there are always some wheat heads in the bale that give the birds kernels to scratch for.

 

[PHarris985]

I use sand, no smell easy to clean. Just scoop it like cat litter.

 

[Luvmyducks]

Can you use corn cob for ducks?

 

[Bob's Leaning Coop]

Try it in there brooder and see what you think. That is where I first used it. I thought if I didn't like it, it would be easy to clean out. I pay 6.99 a bag at TSC it comes in a 50lb bag. One bag covers a 4'X5' brooder box real well and stays dry. TSC carries two types of pellets one is pine and the other is corn cob.
Rob

 

[PucciChick]

I was wondering if you could use alfalfa? It sounds like wood shavings might be more sanitary?​

 

[4 the Birds]

You can use Alfalfa as it works the same as hay. As mentioned, hay and stray tend to clump and be a hassle for cleaning. I use straw and hay in the nesting boxes since they stay pretty clean and dry. I have found pine chip bedding to be a great choice.

 

[Creed Bennett]

I use shredded junk mail and news paper. Between me and my parents we have plenty to shred. Oh yea...It's free too!

 

[phelpcd1]

I have only had chickens for 3 weeks now (4 hens) so i'm no experienced expert............but I have hay in my coop and a mix of straw and mowed grass clippings/leaves in my run. I go out every morning and rake over the run to turn it...........and I also use a kids plastic rake to sift around the hay in the coop. I've not noticed any clumping or smells at all so far.

 

[BigRedNZ]

Cheap and compostable is what I recommend. Our compost is rocket fuel now and the wood chip/shavings we use in our coop add a good carbon component to the kitchen and green waste.