what to put down on the floor?

[gretchen]

My coop is built with a plywood floor raised off the ground. I have been using straw in the inside of the coop and in the run but it seems so messy, the whole family drags it everywhere in the yard. We have a local cedar lumber store that gives it shavings for free. Is it bad to use cedar? It just seems so clean and nice in comparison to the straw. If cedar is bad what else works? (that isn't too expensive?)

 

[tiffanyh]

Yeah, dont use cedar shavings, they are toxic or something. Do they have pine shavings for free also? Use those. hay is good insulator for the winter though....

 

[Heidi]

I use small wood chips/shavings. You can usually purchase a large bag at the feed mill for $4.00 or so. Also the tractor supply stores sell them. They smell really good and my chickens love them.

 

[NewGuineaChooks]

The oil/smell released from cedar will kill any small animal that has to live in/on it.

I killed a guinea pig once that way. Only found out when I took it back to the pet store in tears.