Using pine needles for coop questions.

[NewPoultryMom2019]

So I just learned that pine needles could be used as a bedding inside of coops, and I am very interested in trying it out. I have basically a small forest of pine trees right in my back yard. I just have no idea the "right" way to do it.
I have 2 ducks (Pekin) and 4 chicks (2 White California 2 Black Sex Link) who I will be using the pine for.
Can I just trim a few branches off and wait for the needles to dry? What's the best/fastest way to dry them? Do they need to be rinsedOr do I just rake up the already dry one's on the ground? And if I do rake them up, do I have to make sure it is clear of other debris(like leaves and what not)?
Should I add anything to it to help with absorbency?
Anyone with experience with using their own pine needles please feel free to let me know any pros and cons.
Thank you!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I sometimes use pine needles in my run. If they are dry, I think they should be fine in the coop as well.
I rake up what has fallen on the ground, even when I use them in the run, I make sure they are dry and remove most sticks and pine cones. If there's leaves mixed in, I don't see that as a problem.

 

[NewPoultryMom2019]

Thank you

 

[Adela Farm]

The bedding in my coop is whatever I can rake up from the yard, pine needles, leaves, sticks, pinecones. The variety of debris size helps it to not get packed together in the coop.

 

[NewPoultryMom2019]

The bedding in my coop is whatever I can rake up from the yard, pine needles, leaves, sticks, pinecones. The variety of debris size helps it to not get packed together in the coop.

Very interesting! How often do you clean it out?

 

[Adela Farm]

Very interesting! How often do you clean it out?

I have yet to. I built it this time last year.

 

[NewPoultryMom2019]

I have yet to. I built it this time last year.

Thank you!

 

[SurferchickinSB]

So I just learned that pine needles could be used as a bedding inside of coops, and I am very interested in trying it out. I have basically a small forest of pine trees right in my back yard. I just have no idea the "right" way to do it.
I have 2 ducks (Pekin) and 4 chicks (2 White California 2 Black Sex Link) who I will be using the pine for.
Can I just trim a few branches off and wait for the needles to dry? What's the best/fastest way to dry them? Do they need to be rinsedOr do I just rake up the already dry one's on the ground? And if I do rake them up, do I have to make sure it is clear of other debris(like leaves and what not)?
Should I add anything to it to help with absorbency?
Anyone with experience with using their own pine needles please feel free to let me know any pros and cons.
Thank you!

I have used Pine needles in my nest boxes previously. I think you need to just rake them off the ground because if you cut a branch it is just going to make a huge mess with all the resin that comes out of the Pine needles and you don’t want that resin to be getting stuck to them. It takes a long time for the Pine needles to dry out after you cut a branch. That is how I obtained my Pine needles, in a parking lot when I saw them cutting branches, so I put a few in my truck and realized what a mess it is, so I set them in my front yard and let them dry out.

 

[Adela Farm]

Here is a shot I took today after dumping a fresh load of yard debris. Sticks, leaves, pine needles, worms. They love digging through looking for goodies.

 

[aart]

I think you need to just rake them off the ground because if you cut a branch it is just going to make a huge mess with all the resin that comes out of the Pine needles

Ditto Dat!!!^^^