Which Bedding Better for Winter? (Hi Everyone)

[SoccerMomof7]

Okay first of all I wanted to say Hi to everyone, I know it's been forever since I have been on here but I fell and shattered my hand, my right hand of course ( I am right handed) but I did finally find out that i don't have to have surgery. I also am homeschooling and I took over a girl scout troop, anyways been very busy. Okay am wondering what is better hay or wood shaving? Which is better for the winter? Do I need a heater in my coop? They were laying about 3-4 eggs a day and now I am not getting any.

 

[3peeps]

Hi...sorry to hear about your hand!

I've done pine shavings, and I do like the fact that they keep things relatively dry and clean smelling. However, they do make more of a mess. I remember wanting to switch over to straw last winter because we ended up with pine shavings all over the garage, yard, entryway, house...etc.

Another thing is that I plan to change them more frequently this winter, so dust doesn't accumulate so much. We had a thick layer on stuff in the garage, where the hen house is.

One thing to consider is that straw can harbor mites more easily, unless it is chopped, I think. Maybe a mixture of both chopped straw and pine shavings would be a good solution?

Hope this helps.

Edited to add: I see that you wrote hay, not straw. I know there are fans of hay on this board. Maybe someone else can chime in about that.

 

[SoccerMomof7]

I know that one is feed and one is bedding, and my local wal mart has I think straw it was just by habit to say hay.

 

[skyfires]

Welcome back !!!! I'm so sorry about your hand,,but it is looking like it's starting to work better !!! Good news!!!! I'm a Hay user, who Switched to shavings. I have less mess now, and it seems to keep the coop cleaner smelling. Also easier to scoop out the 'dirty' spots, and refill with the shavings. I've heard on here, that shavings are better in the winter months. I still use Hay in my nest boxes though, it seems more 'nest like'. Hope this helps !!!

 

[Heidi]

I use wood shavings and like them much better then straw, but then again I'm allergic to straw. I just make sure the floor of the coop is thick w/ shavings in the winter and make sure there are no drafts and they do fine w/ out heat. It gets below zero here in the winter and the girls do fine. They don't lay as much as most of their energy is used to keep warm. Sorry about your hand - hope you heal quick.

 

[SoccerMomof7]

Well I use shavings now so I guess I will stick with that! Thanks for everyones help!

 

[Katy]

I use pine shavings. Straw gets a lot wetter and nasty sooner. It's too bad too since we grow wheat and I could get all the straw I wanted for free.

I do use straw in the nest boxes tho part of the time.

I don't use heat in my coop either and they do fine.