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

[Chickenclaude]

I use hemp bedding, nice and soft, no smell, and it wasn’t anywhere near as dusty as pine shavings. I used to cough when I had to go in the coop when I used pine shavings, and I figured the chickens weren’t happy either so I switched bedding and I will never go back.

Wheredoyoupurchase the hemp bedding?

 

[RoyalChick]

I use leaves. Lots of leaves. I add in pine needles (aka pine straw) when I get the time to rake them up.
It stays nice and dry and seems to slowly decompose and they spill some of it out into the run where it decomposes faster.
in theory I clean it out when needed but it hasn’t been needed yet. Maybe in the spring when I need compost for the garden.
And it is free.

 

[Thunder344]

I use leaves. Lots of leaves. I add in pine needles (aka pine straw) when I get the time to rake them up.
It stays nice and dry and seems to slowly decompose and they spill some of it out into the run where it decomposes faster.
in theory I clean it out when needed but it hasn’t been needed yet. Maybe in the spring when I need compost for the garden.
And it is free.

I thought that if the leaves have moisture in them it could cause bad stuff for the flock.

 

[RoyalChick]

I thought that if the leaves have moisture in them it could cause bad stuff for the flock.

I don't know about that.
I do always keep one bag in the garage to dry out and I never top up with wet leaves when it is going to get very cold - but honestly if they are let out of the run they always dive straight for any leaf pile to dig around so I figured it would be OK to bring the leaf pile to them! They certainly seem to have fun with them and after a couple of nights in the coop they are dry as wood shavings.
Can't say I am in any way an expert, just sharing what I do.

 

[aart]

I thought that if the leaves have moisture in them it could cause bad stuff for the flock.

I don't know about that.
I do always keep one bag in the garage to dry out and I never top up with wet leaves when it is going to get very cold - but honestly if they are let out of the run they always dive straight for any leaf pile to dig around so I figured it would be OK to bring the leaf pile to them! They certainly seem to have fun with them and after a couple of nights in the coop they are dry as wood shavings.
Can't say I am in any way an expert, just sharing what I do.

Wet leaves can be fodder for molds, best to mix them with larger wood chippings and stuff to keep them from packing together and going slimy. Just gotta keep an eye on things.

 

[RoyalChick]

Wet leaves can be fodder for molds, best to mix them with larger wood chippings and stuff to keep them from packing together and going slimy. Just gotta keep an eye on things.

For inside the coop I use mainly dry leaves - I am not obsessive about it but I take them from the top of the pile - the slimy ones are lower down and go into the run because they are FULL of yummy bugs!. I usually keep a bag drying in the garage. and inside the coop it is very. very dry.
I do have loads of ventilation which probably helps.

 

[howdyitsmia]

Wheredoyoupurchase the hemp bedding?

I get mine off amazon