What kind of bedding are using?

[3KillerBs]

I wrote an article on this: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/using-deep-bedding-in-a-small-coop.76343/

 

[BDutch]

You are correct - keeping things dry helps control odours, flies and keeps livestock healthy. I have 10 beasties 9 weeks and 19 weeks.

I personally use wood shavings (same as I use with the horses) and I 'pick' out the Hen House a few times a week. My kiddos are spoilt for space, they have the whole barn during the day (30x60 10 stall barn) and a fenced in area about 15' x 50' which is grassy. The critter-kids only go into the Hen House at night so easy to clean.

I do not use old lawn clippings, or shavings outside, this would only get mucky and muddy when it rains. Keep it dry, remove manure frequently and you won't have odour, or flies and the kiddos will be happy and healthy.

I have a spacious run with several bushes growing inside. The stagnating water (after lots of rainfall) is taken care for.
Adding gardening stuff like leaves makes the soil healthy. It's a bit like deep bedding but still soil. The rain, gardening stuff and all the poop make the topsoil healthy and it doesn’t stink at all. Flies visit fresh poop, but they are not interested in the soil.

 

[ypease]

I use chopped straw. it's warm in the winter and cool in the summer (depending how deep you lay it in. It's also very easy to clean up. Also, when you clean your coop, just spread it and dig it into your garden (early spring or late fall). I tried white pine chips, and they were ok, but took forever to compost. I like the biodegradable properties of straw. Chop straw come in compacted bales and is easier to handle and lay down in your coop. It can be bought at most any feed store.

 

[Ponypoor]

I use chopped straw. it's warm in the winter and cool in the summer (depending how deep you lay it in. It's also very easy to clean up. Also, when you clean your coop, just spread it and dig it into your garden (early spring or late fall). I tried white pine chips, and they were ok, but took forever to compost. I like the biodegradable properties of straw. Chop straw come in compacted bales and is easier to handle and lay down in your coop. It can be bought at most any feed store.

Wish I could get chopped straw here for the horses, I see it sometimes but it just isn't popular with the Horse Community here. A few stables use chopped Flax chaff for bedding but again not easy to get and very expensive.

I might bed the Hen House with regular straw this winter, or at least part of the House. it gets very cold here so might be nice for their tender tootsies.