What's better sand or straw bedding in coop?

[LittleBird123]

I have always used straw bedding in my coops, but the other day I read an article about the advantages of sand in the coop rather than straw. So now I am wondering if I should switch to sand bedding. What have all of your experiences been with sand bedding? Should I switch?

 

[PD-Riverman]

I have always used straw bedding in my coops, but the other day I read an article about the advantages of sand in the coop rather than straw. So now I am wondering if I should switch to sand bedding. What have all of your experiences been with sand bedding? Should I switch?

I never liked straw---but your straw might be like my coastal Bermuda hay---which I use in the nesting boxes or a cuddle place for just moved out the brooder chicks. My coop had sand on the floor for several years and I liked it but I did build a electric "sifter" to remove the poop from the sand between changes. For the last year or so I been trying flake pine shavings on the coop floors and I like it.

 

[LittleBird123]

I never liked straw---but your straw might be like my coastal Bermuda hay---which I use in the nesting boxes or a cuddle place for just moved out the brooder chicks. My coop had sand on the floor for several years and I liked it but I did build a electric "sifter" to remove the poop from the sand between changes. For the last year or so I been trying flake pine shavings on the coop floors and I like it.

Pine shavings may be too expensive for me. Did the sand make it easier to clean the coop? I imagine that you could just scoop it out like a litter box.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Pine shavings may be too expensive for me. Did the sand make it easier to clean the coop? I imagine that you could just scoop it out like a litter box.

If you have to buy the sand----the shavings are probably cheaper. Cleaning the sand was not a simple task----most of the sand does not need to be replaced, but separating it by hand was no fun, which is why I made the electric sifter/turmel

 

[ChickenMammX4]

Pine shavings may be too expensive for me. Did the sand make it easier to clean the coop? I imagine that you could just scoop it out like a litter box.

Pine shavings aren't expensive, in our 8' x 9' coop we use 2 of those large bags (8 cu. ft) from Tractor Supply, and are less than $6.00/bag. We clean out twice a year using 4 bags total/year.

We have a poopboard under the roost filled with PDZ that is sifted daily.

 

[chookchick]

Same here, pine shavings are the way to go. In my 8 by 8 coop I use 1 1/2 bags, 2 times per year, so three bags all year. Plus a poop tray that is filled with sawdust I get for free. You might be able to use dry wood chip, I use that in the run, but never tried it in the coop, I bet it would work fine.

 

[LittleBird123]

I like to clean my coops about every day so pine shavings would get a bit expensive. I think I am going to try sand on the coop floor but keep hay in the nest boxes.
Also, I live in Michigan and it usually gets very cold in the winter. Would I still use sand in the coop in winter or would I switch to something else?

 

[PD-Riverman]

I like to clean my coops about every day so pine shavings would get a bit expensive. I think I am going to try sand on the coop floor but keep hay in the nest boxes.
Also, I live in Michigan and it usually gets very cold in the winter. Would I still use sand in the coop in winter or would I switch to something else?

I see no need to change.

 

[Suzi18]

I like to clean my coops about every day so pine shavings would get a bit expensive. I think I am going to try sand on the coop floor but keep hay in the nest boxes.
Also, I live in Michigan and it usually gets very cold in the winter. Would I still use sand in the coop in winter or would I switch to something else?

I live in Ohio and I use sand in my coop and my run but pine shavings in my nest boxes (with dried roses and lavender of course.) Lol Spoiled chickens! I give my coop and run a quick clean every day with a kitty litter scoop and it takes about 5 minutes. No smell and the sand sort of dries out the poop pretty quickly. I'm very happy with it

 

[wvchics]

Sand is great for regular cleaning and it also provides a dust bath and natural grit. However, pine shavings will work.