We are currently using straw as the bedding. Is this okay? Is wood shavings better? How often do you clean out the coop?
How big is your coop?
What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture
-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.
-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.
-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.
- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged
ramial wood chippings are best IMO.
-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).
There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.
That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 5 years.
I recently switched to hemp bedding and I love it! It is very low in dust. I was quite surprised.
Will be curious to see how much 'dust' builds up over time.
Mines getting deep under the shavings, last changed them all out last summer July....wonders how much is pulverized poop and how much is degraded shavings.
Not sure I can swallow the cost of hemp.
