Straw type

[Harleyx2]

I see people saying to use straw and not hay in a nesting box. Is this pine straw? Can I get the straw I need at Home Depot and what exactly do I ask for? Thanks Im new to chickens.

 

[SarahInAlaska]

Is there a reason they are giving for not using hay? I'm no expert as I've only had my hens for two weeks but they have been laying fine in their boxes and enjoy their living space and all I use is hay currently. It was far more affordable than wood shavings or straw for me. Hope I'm not doing something wrong by using hay :S

 

[7L Farm]

Hay will work!!

 

[ash10383]

either hay or straw will work, but just to make sure you are clear on what you are asking for: Hay is usually a shade of green as it is grass or alfalfa or mix that has been cut green and left to dry before being baled up. Straw is a secondary product of growing wheat and usually fairly bright yellow. It is the bottow section that holds the head of grains of wheat that is expelled from the combine when harvesting wheat. It is what you see on porches at halloween time.
Hay is to feed horses, cows, etc and straw is typically used as bedding thus Hay is more expensive (at least in my area, but I would be very surprised any area that hay is cheaper than straw). These terms are fequently mixed up but they are very different products

 

[SarahInAlaska]

I'm definitely using hay. I got it cheaper than straw only because the lady was clearing out a barn they were preparing for different use and had some good hay that they didn't need anymore. I got it for $8 per a large bale versus the $15+ it would cost me to pick up straw right now. It was a one time deal as I'm sure when I run out ill end up getting straw.

 

[mrwoodboat]

I remember reading on here that straw was solid while hay was hollow, the person went on to say that hay could possibly harbor mites while straw will not. IDK, I just remember reading something about it and have been using straw in my nesting boxes ever since without any problems.

 

[Harleyx2]

Guess I will just buy like the wheat straw that you put out when you plant your yard with new grass seed. The kind you get at home depot.

 

[MNCamo]

I'm pretty new to this whole chicken thing but i have been around farming my whole life. I don't know about mites getting into hay or not.(it could be true) But here are some things about hay vs wheat straw. Hay has a hallow stem so it will dry out faster if it gets damp and breaks down faster if you are composting. On the other hand when wheat straw gets damp it takes a longer time dry out(if it drys out) and takes much longer to compost. Here are some other options to wheat straw. Flax straw or even soybean straw. They harvest flax the same way as wheat so more then likely they would bale up the straw too. Soybean straw(or shaft) is pretty new concept but it can be baled up too. If you can find someone that does it. If you know someone that farms soybeans you could go out to their field and rake some of the straw up too. Some of the dairy farms up here uses a combination of wheat, flax, and soybean straw to bed their free stall barns. They use it like a deep litter concept but on a much bigger scale. My brother doesn't raise wheat anymore so all of his bedding comes from Soybean straw. I don't know where you are from so i don't know what the availability is for you. But i hope this helps.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote: Hay is GRASS
It's not "hollow"

STRAW is the stalks of grain
It IS hollow

 

[4 the Birds]

Hay is GRASS
It's not "hollow"

STRAW is the stalks of grain
It IS hollow

+1 Bear is correct. You can use Hay, Straw, or Pine chips in your nesting boxes. Pine Chips on top of old carpet remnants works great!