Walking across my lawn inspired this question

[kklowell]

It's well into fall here in Maine and a walk across the lawn means walking through a LOT of downed leaves, inspiring my question: could leaves be used in place of shavings in the coop?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I don't see why not. But I thought I heard somewhere oak leaves are poisonous to chickens

 

[kklowell]

Most of these are maple.... on the edge of my front lawn there and 7 big old maples, one big old birch and one ig oak.

 

[chickawhat]

A lot of people use leaves in the PNW. except here you have to get them collected before they get soaked from rain

 

[3KillerBs]

Fall leaves are an excellent part of a deep-litter mix.

The chickens are unlikely to eat any of the dry leaves but they'll LOVE digging through them and finding any bugs that might have come with them.

Remember, chickens in nature are creatures of the forest floor.

 

[aart]

I wouldn't put them in the coop unless they are bone dry.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you can keep them completely dry, could be worth trying. Personally I save them for the run instead, to become part of the deep litter there. I did try leaves as coop litter before (in an open air set up, with wet leaves, wet ground) and it was a clumpy waterlogged mess.

 

[kklowell]

That was a concern too, but there were very dry. Not anymore, it rained quite hard for about an hour a bit ago.