What bedding do you use in your coop, nesting boxes, and run?

[Xiao Casa]

Nesting boxes - shredded paper - free and easy to replace when soiled.

Coop floor - kiln dried large pine shavings - 8 to 12 inches deep - changed out once per year, dumped into run.

Run floor - wood chips, used pine shavings, dried leaves, yard waste, and basically anything biodegradable - free - 8 - 24 inches deep - composted black gardeners gold gets kicked out of 1/2 hardware fencing and disappears. Level seems to remain constant. Chickens love to dig craters and distribute it for me. I just routinely dump a garbage can full of "browns" into the run. Haven't cleaned it, ever. No mud, bugs, or smell.

Wow, that idea for the run sounds great, and free too! I'll have to give that a try when I get my chickens. Keep the replies coming, everybody, I love reading them! Lots of good, practical ideas!

 

[ironrdr]

In the coop, depending on the time of year, I use pine pellets (horse pellets), pine shavings, and grass clippings. I've only cleaned the coop out twice in the past year using this combination (80sq ft coop with 24 chickens). The nesting boxes are either hay or grass clippings, depending on the time of year.

Last year my run was a bit smelly, but last fall I got a round bale of corn stalks and threw it in there. The chickens love scratching around in it and I add all my grass clippings to it as well. This fall I'll take out the composted stalks (they're pretty much completely composted now) and replace it all with a new bale. The run now smells like finished compost instead of a musty chicken run.

 

[Xiao Casa]

So the run doesn't get smelly if you have some bedding in there? Or is the size of the run the key?

 

[ironrdr]

The size is the key. The material added only helps to compost the manure and cover the smell.

 

[centrarchid]

I have used all of the above and done well. Also consider crushed oyster shell and kitty litter (the plain stuff). Keeps eggs from rolling excessively and promotes drying.

 

[RonP]

Size always matters

.

I currently have 14 birds, my run is 14x14.

If you have enough "browns" to lock up the nitrogen in the manure, there will be no smell other than that of a forest floor. When you add a lot of "greens" such as grass clippings, you may get into trouble.

I add greens that the chickens will turn into manure, added treats.
My browns are deep, at least 2 feet deep in the center.

 

[Xiao Casa]

Has anybody ever had a problem with hay or straw? I once (emphasis on once) saw a member here say that the straw can carry pests like mites. Has that been a part of anyone's experience?

 

[aart]

Straw, being hollow stemmed, can make a cozy home for pests such as mites.

I think it would be hard to tell for sure if pests had been brought in with straw.

Hay would be less likely, tho it can carry molds (some of which can kill).

 

[MyPetNugget]

Wow @aart ! Your coop looks fantastic! I have 16 chickens and we use straw for bedding and shavings for the nests, and it works fine. We've never had problems with pests such as lice, mites, ect. However, I have been considering maybe putting shavings instead of straw for bedding- How does that work for most people?

 

[aart]

Wow @aart ! Your coop looks fantastic! I have 16 chickens and we use straw for bedding and shavings for the nests, and it works fine. We've never had problems with pests such as lice, mites, ect. However, I have been considering maybe putting shavings instead of straw for bedding- How does that work for most people?

Thank you. I use the opposite as you, I really like the shavings on the floor, dries the poops up great.