Why use litter?

My chickens love to scratch around in the litter. It makes them feel more like a chicken and gives them something to do during the day if they are not allowed to free range.

 

Now and then there'll be some runny poop, or a broken soft shell egg, then litter is appreciated.

 

Litter certainly makes cleaning easier no scraping just shovel it into the compost pile and add fresh.
It also makes nice compost.
It soaks up any spilled water.
It's just nice to have on the floor for me.
I only have a 4X8 coop and buy wood shavings from the box store.
It only cost me $4.50 a month for litter.
It take me maybe 10 minutes tops to change out the litter.


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One of the most important reasons for having litter, or bedding, on the floor of the coop is to cushion the landing when your chickens dismount their perches. It should be several inches deep.

The consequences of having a bare floor under the roosting perches could involve serious injuries such as bumblefoot and sprained ligaments.

I use sand currently, and it's so much easier to keep clean than any other bedding I've tried. It is a good cushion as well as a heat sink, keeping the coop warmer than most bedding or litter.

If you've had a bare floor for any length of time, you need to examine the pads of the feet on your chickens for signs of injury. They will look like black bumps. Those are often filled with pus and need to be surgically cleaned out or risk the chicken going lame. Or worse.

 

Chickens are meant to scratch in the forest floor litter, and it's a behavior that should be part of their daily lives, like dust bathing and being social. They want a softer landing coming off their perches, and like to dig in the bedding for food and bugs. Shoveling out the deep litter a couple of time each year makes way more sense for me, too! And sliding on poo on a hard floor? No thanks! Mary

 

Padding that absorbs moisture and helps deal with overnight poop....sounds like you need litter to me. Is there some reason that you are opposed to it?