Using Straw Just For The Winter?

[funonahonda]

I usually use the Township FREE mulch for the coop floor but, now that winter is here there is non available, thinking about using straw from the farmers around here, that should be fine right?

 

[Chickenaddict]

Absolutely. My chickens love straw, altho its not absorbant i only use it in their run for winter and pine shavings on the coop floor and nesting boxes.

 

[cmom]

I have bought a bale of pine shavings in the pet department at WalMart for $6.?? a bag.

 

[waynesgarden]

I use pine shavings I buy by the bale at the feed store. Straw is far too expensive here. If it is free for you ( or cheap) the use it.

It's a bit harder to clean out the coop with straw bedding but I'd use whatever is cheaper.

Wayne

 

[jvls1942]

I prefer wood shavings from a planer..

I think straw would be OK if you could run it through a leaf shredder.. otherwise it binds together like a mat and make cleaning it out too much like work.

I just like the looks of a freshly bedded coop with deep straw all over the floor..

same goes for hay.. but, Hay tends to mould.. I do throw in small amounts of hay because the chickens love it and they get a lot of exercise scratching it apart.. use good leafy alfalfa or clover if you can get it.. there is a lot of food value in hay..

.............jiminwisc........

 

[Red Tie]

Hay and straw are much warmer bedding than shavings if you live in the cold like I do. They nest right into it and cuddle up. It's 12 degrees right now and I don't heat the coop, it is inside a very large horse barn but it is very cold. No trouble so far. Still getting two dozen eggs a day!

Jane

In very cold Michigan...

 

[luvmychicknkids]

Quote:
Yeah, those are expensive. It should cost about the same for a LOT more at the feed store.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Hay and straw are much warmer bedding than shavings if you live in the cold like I do. They nest right into it and cuddle up. It's 12 degrees right now and I don't heat the coop, it is inside a very large horse barn but it is very cold. No trouble so far. From Red Tie.

Straw is a gret insulator and the chickens usually find it easy to waddle down in. It is a bit harder toclean.

 

[Barn Maid Ann]

I use both shavings and hay. Both of which I buy for my horses, anyway.
The bales of pine shavings are around 50lb and cost $5.99 at our feed store.
Although I buy first and second cut hay to feed my horses, I only use the more expensive second cut for the chickens. It is soft and green, whereas the first cut is stemmier and yellowish. In the nesting boxes, I put a layer of shavings, then I put in some fluffed up hay. The chickens arrange it to their liking.
I use the same method on the floor of their coop: layer of shavings, then top with hay. I find it easy to clean.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Yeah, those are expensive. It should cost about the same for a LOT more at the feed store.

Yeah, around here you can buy a bale of pine shavings at wally world for close to $7 or you can buy a bale of pine shavings at Atwoods for $5. The wally world bale is 5 cu. ft., the one from Atwoods is 7 cu. ft. You have to read the bag, because just at a glance both bales look about the same size.