straw vs shavings

[NuthatchKnollChickens]

I started keeping chickens this spring and have been using pine shavings in the coop. Now that it's colder and I have the big windows closed, I find it's kind of dusty in there in the morning before I let them out. The coop has plenty of ventilation, even with the big windows closed, but they scratch around in the shavings, of course, and that stirs things up more than I anticipated. Do others have this problem? Is straw a better bedding? I have straw in the run, but I thought the shavings in the coop would be better because they're so much more absorbant.

 

[Chirpy]

If you use the "search" feature at the top of the page and type in straw or shavings you'll get lots of great threads on this topic.

It seems that most people like shavings over straw. Straw can harbor mites in the hollow stems and tends to mat down and get yucky quicker.

The dust comes with the territory, by next spring the dust in my chicken coop will be 1/4 inch thick! Yuk!!

 

[Colored Egg Farmer]

I prefer wood shavings because they are easier to clean up and last longer. The chickens are able to turn the shavings easier than they would hay or straw. Straw is best placed in nesting boxes because it doesn't get pushed out as easy.

 

[ROC4K]

I prefer the wood over the straw as well.

 

[Jolyn]

I just remember seeing a post about a chicken that got compacted crop and it said something about it happening because they had switched to straw. I have stayed away from it because of that.

I like the shavings.

 

[ghulst]

I have used both but like straw the best because it stays in place and doesn't fly around like shavings.

 

[lovemychix]

I used straw for awhile because I had some on hand but I don't think it cleans up as well.

 

[junebug7334]

I use both! And I tried shredded paper which I thought would be good but they hated it.