Using Straw Just For The Winter?

[The Chicken Lady]

I'm from Michigan and used TWO BALES of straw during cold weather in a pretty small coop (8'x8' approx.). I shook it out and it went almost up to the base of the roosts. The chickens spent time pecking about in it and it kept them busy for quite a while getting it all mashed down. Sure, it's sort of heavy to clean out in the spring, but a pitchfork and shovel do the job all right.

The only thing I dislike about using straw is the dust.

 

[kristenm1975]

I use straw in the run to cover up the ground and prevent the girls sloshing around in mud up to their bellies when it rains. I live in western WA so it rains a LOT. I have a big run and usually only have to put in a new bale of straw every month or so. The straw bales I get from my local feed store are HUGE (or at least they seem huge to me when I try to load them up in the back of my little Ford Focus ZX3 and then unload it and haul it to the coop by myself) and only cost $8 each. Not sure if that's expensive or not but it's near by and since I only need one a month, I don't sweat it.

I have to admit, I hadn't even thought about putting any in their coop. It's a good size structure (probably about 8 x 7 x 4) but narrow, leaving only a foot and a half of space in front of their nest boxes. It's hard to get into also, since its elevated off the ground about 2 feet, has a fairly narrow doorway and a rickety little chicken-size ramp to get in. I wonder if I should bother putting any straw or bedding in there? I guess as it gets colder at night, I'll weigh that option again.

 

[jvls1942]

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.

I would be curious about the weight of the bales of shavings..
it is possible to get more in a tightly packed 5 cu ft than a loosely packed 7 cu ft.. just a thought..

....jiminwis........

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

I am using straw for my Silkies since they dont roost. Ive read that since straw is hollow it absorbs and holds in heat thus keeping the birds warmer.

 

[Wynette]

A quick note about hay - be very careful when feeding this to chickens, as they can get impacted crop from it. I had a pullet that was going downhill slowly...she lost a lot of weight, and I finally took her to the avian vet, who dislodged a huge chunk of hay from her crop that had gotten all tangled up. It was partially blocking the exit from the crop, which is why she was losing weight, although she was eating. She was also beginning to get sour crop. I know they enjoy it, and I hate to not give them stuff to do in winter, so I'll probably continue to give them hay, BUT - I'll give only 2nd cutting, which is much softer and less stemmy, and I'll somehow cut or chop it up so it's not in long pieces.

Staw is a really good insulator for winter, for sure. The ONLY probelm with straw is that since it's hollow, when it gets moist, it's a good place for parasites to hide. So, if you ever have any parasite issues, it's best to get rid of the hay and switch to shavings. Otherwise, it's good stuff!

Whatever we can do to cope in the winter is useful info.!!

 

[jvls1942]

I have a friend who shreds newspapers for absorbant bedding.. I think he runs it through a leaf shredder.. funny,I never asked him how he did it..
I will ask today..LOL

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