Using Shredded Paper for Coop Litter - As Good As Wood Chips?

[Sally PB]

Maybe things have improved since then. I really don't know. One big change is that we now just toss all our recyclables into one bin, and in theory, all that stuff gets sorted somewhere else. Frankly, I doubt much, if any, of those products are ever used again. I think they are still dumping everything in a landfill.

We used to have a recycle drop off 1x a month at a township hall near me. The township stopped supporting that, so now I take my recyclables into Grand Rapids every few weeks. I can make it be on the way to my chiropractor appointment, so it's not too much of a hassle.

No sorting, just dump it through a specialized window into their collection area. I don't know who sorts it, where it goes, or what they do with it.

They don't take plastic films (bags), but my local grocery store does. They also don't take styrofoam, and the local place at the township hall did, so now I have to throw that out, as I haven't found another place that takes it for recycling.

The thing about styrofoam is, it's BIG! We're remodeling our bathroom. New sink? Styrofoam. New lights? More styrofoam. I appreciate the job styrofoam does protecting fragile things that are shipped all over, but please! somebody! find a use for this stuff and keep it out of the landfills.

 

[BDutch]

The thing about styrofoam is, it's BIG! We're remodeling our bathroom. New sink? Styrofoam. New lights? More styrofoam. I appreciate the job styrofoam does protecting fragile things that are shipped all over, but please! somebody! find a use for this stuff and keep it out of the landfills.

I see more manufacturers using shaped and pressed cardboard to protect the device or whatever needs protection. Mostly stuff coming directly from China / Asia seems to come with styrofoam nowadays.

I think EU goals/laws on recycling had a huge impact in packaging.

The cardboard boxes that come with the post (shipping) were often filled with silly styrofoam shapes or plastic with bubbles. But nowadays they use a kind of wrapping paper and shredded cardboard to fill up the empty spaces (in general). So much better.

Styrofoam is unnecessary, cant be recycled and is bad for the environment.

 

[gtaus]

The surprise, when you add leaves in the run is that the soil gets a lot healthier . The combination of leaves and chicken poo makes a perfect compost.

I agree. I converted my chicken run into a chicken run composting system about 3 years ago. I dump leaves, grass clippings, weeds, and almost anything else organic that I can find into the run. It makes the best compost for my raised bed gardens.

In the fall I always use the leaves in the run and as bedding too.

Well, I have used wood chips, grass clippings, leaves and paper shreds in the coop as litter. Basically, I have tried anything I can get for free. They all work. My favorite just happens to be the paper shreds.
Because I have so many leaves stored in those chicken wire raise bed protective cages, this year I might mix in some leaves with the paper shreds for the coop litter. Most of the leaves, of course, go straight into the chicken run.

I use very no bedding on the coop floor, it’s a sand floor

I live on a lake. I have all the free sand I could ever want. However, I never had any good luck using sand. IMHO, it needed constant cleaning and replacing and still it smelled bad. Then I found about deep litter and deep bedding systems that use organic material as litter and only need to be cleaned out a few times per year. That has worked much better for me. I just toss on a thin layer of fresh litter every couple of weeks throughout the winter and that has worked to keep the inside of the coop looking clean.

Only in winter after a snowstorm and it’s below zero during the day the chickens wont go out to the run. Then I add straw on top of the sand floor. In the Netherlands thats max 1-2 weeks a year.

Our winters here in northern Minnesota are 4-6 months long with snow on the ground. Having leaves to toss on top of the snow encourages the chickens to go outside. If they see nothing but white snow on the ground, they stay inside the coop.

An investment in a paper shredder could a good idea. In the end it would save me money. But now they pick up the paper and cardboard every 3 weeks to recycle it .

I save a lot of money buying my paper shredders at our local church Thrift Shop. I have a number of them I purchased anywhere from $2-$5. They pay for themselves in no time with the amount of home paper products I shred for use as coop litter.

I think Europe is way ahead of the US when it comes to recycling programs. I can dump off my paper products at our local recycling center, but I am fairly certain none of it gets recycled. It just ends up in a landfill somewhere. So, I shred the paper at home and recycle it myself and I know that 100% of that paper is put to a good use first as coop litter, then as compost. It's my small way of reducing some of the paper waste that goes into our landfills.

It has been more than 3 years since I hauled off any paper products to the landfill. I even shred almost all our cardboard products. It is rare that I get something these days that cannot be shred in my machines and used as coop litter. Most of the mail order companies we use, like Amazon and QVC, ship products in boxes that can be shred.

I just have to cut the cardboard into narrow strips about the width of a credit card, so my shredders do not get overloaded and break.

Because I am getting older, I bought a power cutter to cut cardboard into strips. It works great. My hands don't cramp up like they would if I used manual scissors. Here is the one I bought at Harbor Freight, but many companies sell them under their brands...

I got my power cutter on sale, for around $25.00 at the time, but it was worth it for me. Now I can shred all our cardboard boxes at home as well as the paper.

 

[gtaus]

The thing about styrofoam is, it's BIG! We're remodeling our bathroom. New sink? Styrofoam. New lights? More styrofoam. I appreciate the job styrofoam does protecting fragile things that are shipped all over, but please! somebody! find a use for this stuff and keep it out of the landfills.

I used to buy inexpensive insulation vermiculite in large 3 cubic foot bags. I mixed that in for my potting soil. But I cannot get those large bags of vermiculite anymore locally. They now only sell really small bags of "garden" vermiculite and that costs a fortune.

Looking for substitutes, I found out that some people are shredding Styrofoam and using that in potting mix in place of vermiculite and/or perlite. It adds aeration to the potting soil, but it does not have any water retention benefits like vermiculite. But it may be a way to reuse Styrofoam if you have some way to shred it up into small enough pieces.

EDIT: I don't recommend using Styrofoam for potting soil. See my response to @BDutch in post #558.

 

[gtaus]

Styrofoam is unnecessary, cant be recycled and is bad for the environment.

I agree. Almost all the products I buy use cardboard as packing and filler. Of course, I can shred the cardboard and use it as coop litter. I rarely see any Styrofoam used in packing these days. That is a nice improvement.

 

[Sally PB]

I rarely see any Styrofoam used in packing these days.

I wish the big fragile heavy stuff for the bathroom had been packed in something else.

Would a granite bathroom sink survive shipping to and handling by Menards packed in something cardboard-y? I can understand suppliers NOT wanting to risk damage to porcelain/glass/stone with questionable packaging, but you'd think someone would have done a test by now.

 

[BDutch]

I found out that some people are shredding Styrofoam and using that in potting mix in place of vermiculite and/or perlite. It adds aeration to the potting soil, but it does not have any water retention benefits like vermiculite. But it may be a way to reuse Styrofoam if you have some way to shred it up into small enough pieces.

This brings plastic particles into the soil and is a hazard for all life. It breaks down to microplastics.

Even bee honey has microplastics in it. And we don’t know shat it will do with the health of our fauna (and us).

 

[gtaus]

This brings plastic particles into the soil and is a hazard for all life. It breaks down to microplastics.

Even bee honey has microplastics in it. And we don’t know shat it will do with the health of our fauna (and us).

Thanks for that feedback. With your input, I did a quick inquiry in ChatGPT's AI information and got this response...

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Question: Is Styrofoam safe to put into potting soil?

While Styrofoam is sometimes used in potting soil mixtures for drainage and aeration, it's not an environmentally safe or recommended practice for several reasons:

Why Styrofoam Is Used in Potting Soil​

• Lightweight: Styrofoam is extremely light, so it can make large planters easier to move when mixed with soil or used as a filler at the bottom of pots.
• Drainage Improvement: Styrofoam can help with drainage by keeping soil from compacting and allowing water to flow through more easily.

Risks of Using Styrofoam in Potting Soil​

1. Non-biodegradable: Like in natural soil, Styrofoam doesn't break down over time. This means it stays in the environment, contributing to long-term plastic pollution.
2. Possible Chemical Leaching: Over time, particularly when exposed to heat or UV light, Styrofoam may degrade and release harmful chemicals like styrene into the soil. This could potentially affect plant health.
3. Microplastic Pollution: As Styrofoam breaks into smaller particles, it can contribute to microplastic pollution, which can harm soil ecosystems, water systems, and wildlife.
4. Limited Long-term Benefits: While it may initially help with drainage, Styrofoam can compact over time and lose its effectiveness. It's not as durable or useful as alternatives like perlite, pumice, or gravel.

Eco-friendly Alternatives to Styrofoam for Potting Soil​

• Perlite: A natural volcanic glass that improves soil aeration and drainage.
• Pumice: Lightweight volcanic rock that enhances drainage.
• Coir (Coconut Fiber): A renewable resource that retains moisture while improving aeration.
• Gravel or Small Rocks: Helps with drainage in larger planters without contributing to plastic pollution.

In conclusion, while Styrofoam is sometimes used for its lightweight and drainage properties, it’s not environmentally safe or recommended for use in potting soil. It's better to use eco-friendly, biodegradable alternatives that are beneficial to both plants and the environment.

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Thank you, @BDutch for the head's up on the negative aspects of using Styrofoam in potting soil. Honestly, I watched a few YouTube videos and thought to myself that shredded Styrofoam might be recycled to use in potting soil. Evidently it is. But it appears not to be a very good idea even though some people are doing it.

I just don't understand why vermiculite insulation in those large bags 3 cubic foot bags for ~$20.00 is no longer sold at our local stores? If the natural stuff is so much better, then why is it no longer available? Well, except for in those very small "garden" vermiculite bags that cost a fortune...

I did some quick math on this to find out how much 3 cubic feet of vermiculite would cost if you had to buy it in these small "garden" vermiculite bags. There are 30 quarts in 1 cubic foot, or 90 quarts in those big 3 cubic foot vermiculite insulation bags I used to buy. There are only 8 quarts in that "garden" vermiculite bag. 90 quarts / 8 quarts per bag X $7.00 per bag of "garden" vermiculite = $78.75!

That's almost 4X the cost of what I used to buy the big bags of vermiculite insulation for around $20.00 that is the exact some product.

Too bad shredded paper does not make for a good potting soil mix. That would be great. But my shredded paper composts fast with other organics and I mix that with topsoil for my garden beds. My chicken run compost works great for my raised beds outside, but there is too much life (bugs, etc...) for a potting soil for inside the house. I tried my homemade compost one winter on some Swiss Chard that I grew inside the house, and it started to get full of aphids in a few months.

Dear Wife did not like aphids in the house, so the plants ended up being thrown out in the snowbank sometime in March of that winter. But I had fresh Swiss Chard until then.

 

[gtaus]

I mentioned that it is too bad that paper shreds are not good to add to potting soil. That might not be wholly true. Since I had ChatGPT open for looking up the Styrofoam question, I asked it about using paper shreds in potting soil. I was surprised to find out this reply...

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Yes, you can add shredded paper to potting mix, but it should be done carefully and in moderation. Here are the considerations for using shredded paper in potting soil:

### Benefits of Using Shredded Paper in Potting Mix
1. **Water Retention**: Paper absorbs and holds moisture, which can help keep the soil moist for a longer period, especially in hot or dry environments.
2. **Improved Aeration**: Mixing shredded paper with potting soil can help improve soil structure and aeration, preventing the soil from becoming too compact.
3. **Biodegradable**: Paper, especially if it's uncoated and free of inks or dyes, is biodegradable and will break down over time, enriching the soil with organic matter.
4. **Recycling**: It’s an eco-friendly way to recycle paper waste, reducing the need to buy additional soil amendments.

### Things to Watch Out for
1. **Type of Paper**:
- **Use**: Uncoated, plain paper, like newspaper or printer paper without glossy coatings, is best. Avoid colored paper or paper with heavy ink or coatings, as they may contain harmful chemicals that could leach into the soil.
- **Avoid**: Glossy magazines, colored paper, and paper with a lot of synthetic inks.

2. **Moderation**: Paper should only make up a small portion of the potting mix. Too much paper can lead to poor drainage and compaction, which may suffocate plant roots.
- A good rule of thumb is to mix shredded paper into potting soil at no more than **10-20%** by volume.

3. **Nitrogen Deficiency**: Paper is high in carbon and low in nitrogen. As it breaks down, the decomposition process may use up nitrogen in the soil, which could be detrimental to plant growth. To counteract this, consider adding a nitrogen-rich fertilizer or compost when incorporating paper into the soil.

4. **Cut or Tear Paper**: Shredding or tearing paper into small pieces helps it break down faster and mix more evenly into the soil. Large pieces of paper can create air pockets or block drainage.

### How to Use Shredded Paper in Potting Mix
1. Tear or shred the paper into small, manageable pieces.
2. Mix the shredded paper into your potting mix at a ratio of **up to 10-20%**.
3. Combine it with other organic materials, like compost, and monitor plant growth to ensure no nitrogen deficiency develops.

In conclusion, shredded paper can be a useful additive to potting mix if used sparingly and with the right type of paper. It helps improve moisture retention and aeration while also being eco-friendly.

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So, live and learn. You can use shredded paper in moderation in potting soil, but you should be watch out for some things. Good to know, I think, in case I ever want to give it a try.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

I also vacuum up leaves using a ride-on mower with baggers. I use the leaves in my run. If you're going to use them in the coop the two things I could see being helpful is having them dry and hopefully having had the mower tear them up a bit so they're not whole to avoid matting.

I happened upon 7 free hay bales at a party this week (I know, my kind of party) and have one spread out under my roosts in my big coop to collect poop this winter. I'll add more material on top, but first I'm going to crush a little biochar each day and sprinkle that on top...I suspect it will help with odors. Will report back if it does or not.