Straw questions...

[KettermanHillCoop]

I'm looking to get a some bales of straw for multi-purposes. One...to surround the run that runs under the coop for insulation/wind breaker for winter. It will not be covered so it will be getting wet. Will I then be able to use that same straw on the run floor or not?

 

[SonoranChick]

If it could get wet, I would not reuse it for the run floor. It could grow mold which your chickens might breathe/ingest.

 

[Howard E]

Rather than straw (which is the crop residue after harvest of cereal grains like wheat, oats, barley, rye, etc,) consider using grass hay instead. Best is cheap, old, coarse grass hay. You might find that on Craigslist. About $3 a bale. It can get wet in the bale, and start to compost, but can still be used in the run later on. Mine are running around on the rotted remnants of bales I set out last year about this time. They are doing a pretty good job of shredding and scattering them for me.

 

[RollTideChicken]

I do this exact thing with straw bales, but I don't use them in the run. I till them into my garden in spring. By the end of winter mine are pretty well composted. I do use straw in my run and it gets wet, so maybe using the old bales in the run wouldn't be bad but it'd be one of those things you'd have to experiment with.

 

[Fairview01]

If you want to see chickens enjoy life don't spread the straw out. Simply break the bale and the straw will separate into individual sheaves. Toss as many as you think they need to get coverage in the run and let them do their thing and spread it for you.

I use wheat straw. There is some wheat heads and a lot of weed seeds in my straw. Once the figure this out the straw will keep them busy for almost a week while they search for every seed in the straw.

 

[SonoranChick]

I agree, my chickens think it's Christmas when we get a new bale of hay. We throw a few flakes in for them to till and they have fun for days on end! I just have to watch it because I catch them eating it and I'm afraid it will cause crop issues if too much is ingested.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I would till it in the garden.

The straw on the ground in the run is not compressed as they are scratching and turning it a lot.
The worry with baled has to do with it sitting stagnant and molding on the inside.

Being in PA the OP will have to judge if it stayed frozen enough to keep mold away.

 

[chickens really]

I surround my smaller Coops in straw but do cover them in tarps...If straw gets wet it molds quickly...

 

[igorsMistress]

Straw holds moisture underneath rather than soaking it up. I wouldn't use it in the run.

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

Okay...I guess I'll scrap the whole straw idea... I'll plexiglass around the base of the coop for the winter...