Straw or pine shavings?

[gootziecat]

You're probably right, SpeckledHen. Shavings are probbaly better. I got my sawdust free for the hauling and used it in my barn stalls as well, so it was practical for me. Because of this, I don't have much experience with shavings except what was mixed in with the sawdust. However, in defense of it, I will say it stayed fairly dry and I could stir it or take out the dirty/wet spots and it would last for some time. I suspect the same could be said for shavings.

 

[echix]

STRAW IN THE COOP IS BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!

It is not the "water" or the "waterer" that get's it moist it is the chicken poo... it is moist and lots of it make the straw matty... like mashed potatoes!! BAD BAD BAD...

The humidity doesn't help! No matter what you put on the straw it won't work (don't care what anyone else says!!)

Use pine shavings. Tosses better, lighter, absorbs the poo better and can be dried with stall-dry or DE or whatnot.....

It is like litter in a hampster's cage. VERY fluffy and keep it "tossed" every 2-4 days!!!

Otherwise, you'll find you're creating MORE WORK FOR YOURSELF.

BTW I realize some barns have straw in them but this is not the same thing - putting straw under a roost and using it for the chickens only is bad. Straw in a barn goes everywhere and is not CONCENTRATED with CHICKEN POO!!!!

Think about it... mashed potatoes on hay = wet hay!!! YUCK- SOUR - NASTY!!!

 

[greginshasta]

Well, perhaps despite the best advise of my friends here, I went with the straw. The floor space being covered is only about 6x6, and if the straw doesn't work out it can go to the compost pile. No big deal.

But alas, it was indeed chicken moving day, and the birds are in their new home. Tomorrow I will take more photos, weather allowing (snow forecast), and update my gallery. but in the mean time, here's a couple shots.

Looking in the door:

All the birds on the roost with the poop box below:

Look closely at the white leghorn. Camera shy? Perhaps. But too curious to not bend over and look back at me between her legs.

 

[rooster-red]

Very nice greg!

 

[lyndatu]

Hello

Better bedding?

Straw does well in coop, but, pine shavings still work best. You can use straw if you're out of money, but if you have money, I think you should go for pine shavings because it really is the best there is.

Good luck with the coop!