Where do you get your bedding from?

Tigerjane

Songster
9 Years
Jun 17, 2010
398
11
111
Pflugerville, TX
After reading around this site for a while, it seems like most people use pine shavings or sand in their coops and runs. My question is: where do you get your bedding from, and how much do you go through?
(By September I plan on having about 8 chickens, and I'm trying to figure out 1) what food and supplies I want to use 2) where to get the supplies from 3) how much is this hobby going to cost on a routine basis?)
Thanks guys!
 
I buy pine shavings from the local feed store. I use the same shavings for my horses. The coop floor is vinyl with four inches of shavings - 1 1/2 bags. There is a droppings board under the roost and I clean the poop off of that every morning. I also scoop up the obvious poop on top of the shavings and once a week stir up the shavings. The coop is 6x8, the pullets have been with us for a month and it doesn't smell or need to be changed. A bag of shavings in our area is $6.00.
 
I get shavings for 5.50 a bag, and pine pellets for 6.50 at TSC. I am really liking the pellets over the shavings. I am also trying out sand, which I got 1200lbs from a local concrete supply place for $19.
 
most of the lumber yards sell bags and truck loads.. bags are $3.00 and truck loads are $25.00
 
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From the lawnmower clippings bag, and raking up the pine needles/cones etc. Grass, leaves, pine needles/cones, it's all good for the deep litter method. I have even used a machete to cut down tall weeds and run them through a chipper-shredder (corn stalks work too!) When all else fails---then I might buy a bale of wood chips from the feed store. I have even raised chicks/keets in a cardboard box brooder with dried out lawnmower clippings. Now I use an old stock tank.
 
We regularly stop at our local high school and collect FREE pine shavings from the woodshop student projects, with the teacher's blessing!
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Ask around. You never know...
 
From the planer, jointer and drill press in the garage, they all make big chips that work great, just make sure there is no walnut cause from what i understand it kills.
 
Quote:
Are you aware that ground walnut shells are sold as bedding in pet stores? A local bird store (mostly wildly expensive parrots) uses it in the bottom of all their cages.
 
A sawmill about 25 minutes from home.
Bag your own for 2 dollars a bag. No limit on how big a bag you bring.
Or they will scoop a truck load for 10 dollars
 

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