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

[gtaus]

How does everyone store their shredded paper and cardboard until they need it?

I mostly use my shredded paper as I make it. So, I don't normally have any paper shreds in storage. That's one of the benefits of using the paper shreds, IMHO.

Having said that, if I have lots and lots of shredded paper all at one time, I just keep the paper shreds in big plastic shopping bags I get for free at Menards. Since you have to self-bag at our local Menards, you have the option of using the regular sized plastic bags or they have a stack of large plastic bags on a shelf beneath. Every once in a while, I just grab one of those large plastic bags when I bag up my purchase.

Since I have my paper shredder inside the house, I line a kitchen sized garbage can with a large plastic bag from Menards. When the bag is full, I pull it out and use the handles to twist tie the bag shut. Using the plastic bags inside the house keeps everything nice and clean. If I was shredding paper outside in the garage, I'd probably use empty feed bags. But I'm not going to use dusty empty feed bags inside the house.

One time I rigged up the top of one of my paper shredders and put it on top of a large garbage can out in the garage. The idea was that I could shred lots and lots of paper and just store it in the garbage can until I needed it. It worked great for storing mass amounts of shredded paper, but the garbage can took up too much valuable space in my limited garage. So, I decided just to shred the paper as I needed it and use it up one large plastic shopping bag at a time.

If you have lots of space for storage, and you want to put aside some paper shreds for future use, just about any watertight container would work just fine - plastic bags, garbage bags, feed bags, garbage cans, plastic totes, etc... As long as the paper shreds do not get wet, you should be good to go.

FWIW, I am finishing up my third winter using only paper shreds as my deep bedding litter. I still really like using free paper shreds I make at home and, so far, it has been the best deep bedding coop litter system for me.

 

[gtaus]

I store mine in empty feed bags but honestly, because I have free nesting materials I like to change out and or freshen up the nest boxes about every 1-3 months- depending on use on box etc, so I only have 2 bags that remain active.

I use pine shavings in the nest box. Paper shreds can work fine in a nest box, but you more often than not get some paper shreds sticking to the eggshells. It's just easier for Dear Wife to clean off the eggs if they don't have any paper shreds stuck to them. It's not really a big deal, but the eggs are "cleaner" when the nest boxes are filled with pine shavings. Pine shavings rarely stick to the eggshell.

I still have half a bale of pine shavings I got about 10 years ago. So, I might as well use that up first. Probably last me another 10 years for the nest boxes only. If/when I run out of pine shavings, I will probably go back to using free wood chips in the nest boxes. I have a small electric wood chipper and it only takes a few branches to make up a good batch of fresh, clean, wood chips for the nest boxes.

 

[TropicalBabies]

I use pine shavings in the nest box. Paper shreds can work fine in a nest box, but you more often than not get some paper shreds sticking to the eggshells. It's just easier for Dear Wife to clean off the eggs if they don't have any paper shreds stuck to them. It's not really a big deal, but the eggs are "cleaner" when the nest boxes are filled with pine shavings. Pine shavings rarely stick to the eggshell.

I still have half a bale of pine shavings I got about 10 years ago. So, I might as well use that up first. Probably last me another 10 years for the nest boxes only. If/when I run out of pine shavings, I will probably go back to using free wood chips in the nest boxes. I have a small electric wood chipper and it only takes a few branches to make up a good batch of fresh, clean, wood chips for the nest boxes.

I dunno, mine are pretty sparkling without cleaning. I put a handful of grass (that I cut and then dry on coop roof) ontop the shredded paper and the girls seem pretty happy about the mix. Love the paper padding and shape holder

 

[BDutch]

How does everyone store their shredded paper and cardboard until they need it?

I dont use shredded paper. I keep cardboard in a shed.

 

[avjudge]

I store mine in empty feed bags . . .

Ditto. In feed bags tied closed with baling twine.

 

[gtaus]

I dunno, mine are pretty sparkling without cleaning. I put a handful of grass (that I cut and then dry on coop roof) ontop the shredded paper and the girls seem pretty happy about the mix. Love the paper padding and shape holder

I have never tried dried grass on top of the paper shreds in the nest boxes. I'll give that a try this summer and see how it works. Mind you, I live in northern Minnesota and my grass is under snow for about 6 months out of the year. The idea of using dried grass on top of the paper shreds never really came to mind. Thanks.

 

[TropicalBabies]

I have never tried dried grass on top of the paper shreds in the nest boxes. I'll give that a try this summer and see how it works. Mind you, I live in northern Minnesota and my grass is under snow for about 6 months out of the year. The idea of using dried grass on top of the paper shreds never really came to mind. Thanks.

I have to grab the long green grass after rainy season, dry and then bag. Once the heat hits it disappears. Kind of like snow but with a lot of sweat involved . One feed bag last me a long time for my 10 boxes as long as I just top the paper. I love the way the paper and grass work together to form a pretty nice cushy nest. I hope you try it and enjoy!

 

[gtaus]

I have to grab the long green grass after rainy season, dry and then bag. Once the heat hits it disappears. Kind of like snow but with a lot of sweat involved . One feed bag last me a long time for my 10 boxes as long as I just top the paper. I love the way the paper and grass work together to form a pretty nice cushy nest. I hope you try it and enjoy!

I do have a hand sickle somewhere in one of my sheds. Maybe I'll let a patch of grass grow long and then cut it down with the sickle, dry it, and use it like you do.

FWIW, one year I bagged up lots of leaves in the fall and used them in the nest boxes. That worked pretty well but I found that the leaves broke down into really small pieces and became very dusty.

I have also used dried leaves in coop as deep bedding. Again, works great but gets pretty dusty compared to wood chips that I used to use, or now the paper shreds as deep bedding.

I'm all into using natural free resources and materials that I have at home. I think just about any material can be a good resource for bedding as long as you are willing to clean it up or change it out when needed. For me, the paper shreds have been the best system so far. But I have also had great success using wood chips, dried grass clippings, leaves, etc... Of course, I think it's perfectly fine to mix any and all of different types together if that works for you.

 

[TropicalBabies]

I do have a hand sickle somewhere in one of my sheds. Maybe I'll let a patch of grass grow long and then cut it down with the sickle, dry it, and use it like you do.

FWIW, one year I bagged up lots of leaves in the fall and used them in the nest boxes. That worked pretty well but I found that the leaves broke down into really small pieces and became very dusty.

I have also used dried leaves in coop as deep bedding. Again, works great but gets pretty dusty compared to wood chips that I used to use, or now the paper shreds as deep bedding.

I'm all into using natural free resources and materials that I have at home. I think just about any material can be a good resource for bedding as long as you are willing to clean it up or change it out when needed. For me, the paper shreds have been the best system so far. But I have also had great success using wood chips, dried grass clippings, leaves, etc... Of course, I think it's perfectly fine to mix any and all of different types together if that works for you.

Agreed! Though I don't use grass clipping I think they don't work well in my area -dont like the heat they add - plus have the potential to cause crop issues cuz my chooks are silly enough to eat them. Wood chips absolutely save me and leaves are fun Love hearing about clever, self sustaining solutions. Always an inspiration!

 

[Finnie]

When I used grass clippings from mowing, I found they really got stuck to the eggs. Those super long pieces of grass look like the way to go!