What Bedding Do You Use? ~ Member Poll And Compilation~

[SulkyBantam]

PLEASE DO SHARE YOUR OPINIONS, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR THEM!

IF YOU BUY ONLINE OR KNOW WHERE FROM, PLEASE SHARE A LINK.

IN A MONTH, I WILL POST A COMPLIATION OS 'THE BEST BEDDINGS 2021', WITH THE MOST POPULAR BEDDINGS, YOUR OPINIONS AND LINKS.

HAVE FUN, AND FEEL FREE TO DISCUSS WHATEVER YOU WISH!

ALSO, I'D LOVE PICS AND ARTICLE LINKS.

 

[aart]

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.

-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.

-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.

- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 7 years.

 

[Chickassan]

Alfalfa hay, keeps things nice in the coop and the birds enjoy chowing down on it when the weather is bad.
I use it from brooder to coop iv'e had such a good response towards it.

 

[DobieLover]

PLEASE DO SHARE YOUR OPINIONS, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR THEM!

IF YOU BUY ONLINE OR KNOW WHERE FROM, PLEASE SHARE A LINK.

IN A MONTH, I WILL POST A COMPLIATION OS 'THE BEST BEDDINGS 2021', WITH THE MOST POPULAR BEDDINGS, YOUR OPINIONS AND LINKS.

HAVE FUN, AND FEEL FREE TO DISCUSS WHATEVER YOU WISH!

ALSO, I'D LOVE PICS AND ARTICLE LINKS.

This has already been done:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...dding-do-you-like-best.1384788/#post-22741575

 

[3KillerBs]

Coop or run, I think that the best bedding is a mix of materials because any one size/texture is apt to pack and mat -- at the risk of going anaerobic.

My main concern is that the bedding in the coop keeps everything bone dry and that the litter in the run composts with the poop to eliminate odor.

 

[black_cat]

In the coop I use these pine shavings from TSC. In the run, I use a mix of dirt, sand, leaves, dirty shavings, straw, wood chips- basically whatever. On the poll, do you want us to put in a vote for coop or for run?

 

[britinpa]

I use Sani-care for the floor of the coop, and scoop/sift daily - their website has a store locater to see whether anyone local to you sells it. https://www.sani-care.com/ It works out too pricey if you have to order online because of shipping costs, but is very economical if you can buy it locally. I paid less than $10 bag, and initially used 2 bags for our small coop - have recently added some from 3rd bag. Won't need to buy any more until I do a thorough clean in Spring or Summer. The nest boxes I use pine shavings. The floor of the outside run, wood chips.

 

[Sally PB]

I use hemp in with pine shavings. I ended up with a mix when I forgot to order another bale of hemp and bought a bale of pine shavings at TSC. It's working well.

 

[AntiqueB]

Pine shavings with lime and PDZ mixed in in the coop. I remove poop daily, and add more bedding when needed.

The run has rice hulls with DME and lime mixed in. It sits on pavers, so it doesn't get muddy. They also spend all but maybe an hour a day free-ranging in the yard, so they aren't in it much. I rake it out every couple months, or when it looks too matted down. The chickens love it when I put down new hulls; there must be some rice bits left in it because they really love scratching around in it!

 

[3KillerBs]

@3KillerBs-
Hope that was not offensive, I was not laughing at you, just didn't think anyone would vote that! Everyone is usually so opinionated on this subject!
Sorry if it came across as rude.

No, not rude at all.

You're right, people do have strong opinions about bedding/litter.