What kind of bedding is best for chickens?

[serendipityfarm]

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Are you talking about Woody Pet, or a version of it? I am thinking abot trying it, and have put some on the poop board already. I watered it so it would puff up because I worried they might eat it. I have a cat litter scoop I use to sift the poops away. It has worked so well I want to try the whole coop.

 

[showmesilkies]

Yes, I am happy with using fresh and dried herbs in the nesting boxes. The first day and night I (usually) just have pine shavings. Soon as I clean the nest boxes and add the new pine shaving the hens quickly get in, scoot around and make it comfy. After they have made their indenture I add the herbs for them to weave while on the nest laying. I also have patchouli plants and add that in there as well. So far so good and I do not have any mite or lice issues within my flock.
Lemon balm sounds lovely! I would love to have some of you wanted to swap and/or send me a start

 

[hallerlake]

Someone on another thread said that rosemary in the coop will discourage mites and lice. I'm trying it. I've never had an issue, so I don't know if it's doing anything, but it can't hurt, and it smells good. I've plenty of rosemary in the garden.

I use wood shavings; either hardwood or pine. It doesn't matter to me.

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[WildflowerJLH]

Quote:
Are you talking about Woody Pet, or a version of it? I am thinking abot trying it, and have put some on the poop board already. I watered it so it would puff up because I worried they might eat it. I have a cat litter scoop I use to sift the poops away. It has worked so well I want to try the whole coop.

This is my question too. The bag of pine pellet horse bedding that I got says to mist it with water when you first put it in. Do people who use the pine pellets do this?

 

[serendipityfarm]

Quote:
Are you talking about Woody Pet, or a version of it? I am thinking abot trying it, and have put some on the poop board already. I watered it so it would puff up because I worried they might eat it. I have a cat litter scoop I use to sift the poops away. It has worked so well I want to try the whole coop.

This is my question too. The bag of pine pellet horse bedding that I got says to mist it with water when you first put it in. Do people who use the pine pellets do this?

Wildflower,
I have used the horse bedding for my horses for a long time, and now that I think about it, my chickens used to scratch around in there w/o any problems. So, today I cleaned out the coop and put in a couple bags of that to see what happens. The bag says "mist" with water, but really, you have to use a lot more water han that to get it all expanded to the consistency of sawdust! Will let you all know how my chickens like it.

 

[stonykill]

I use pine shavings. Planer shavings to be exact. Right from my planer. I tried straw once...didn't like it. Once a week I rake off the top, to get the poop out, then reaply a fresh later of shavings. The shavings are a good 6 to 8 inches deep. 3 times a year I empty it out and start all over again. Seems to work well for me and the girls......

 

[jzarabs]

I put down a bag of bagged cedar shavings inside the coop about 2 weeks ago...haven't had any problems with any illness' etc. ? My girls are adults...is the cedar shavings an issue only for chicks or?? I can't remember now what I bedded them down with in the brooder...

 

[PamB]

I put about a few inches of pine shavings down on a tarp on the floor of my coop. Every couple weeks, I just pull the tarp out and dump it. Works for me because my coop isn't huge.

 

[chickenparents]

Wildflower,
I have used the horse bedding for my horses for a long time, and now that I think about it, my chickens used to scratch around in there w/o any problems. So, today I cleaned out the coop and put in a couple bags of that to see what happens. The bag says "mist" with water, but really, you have to use a lot more water han that to get it all expanded to the consistency of sawdust! Will let you all know how my chickens like it.

horsebedding mighthave cedar in it. keep cedar away from chickens.​

 

[WildflowerJLH]

Quote:
Not sure about others, but I am using bedding that is specifically labeled as pine.