![]() ![]() ![]() Clippings tend to retain moisture and break down quickly. If you have enough, grass clippings are one viable coop bedding option, but they have a few disadvantages. Be sure to use builder’s sand (found at home-improvement stores), as sandbox sand is too fine and tends to clump. Sand is the flooring material of choice for outdoor runs that are exposed to the elements frequently: It doesn’t break down, it dries fast and it doubles as a great material for dust baths. Sand dries very quickly and can be turned over with a rake to employ the deep-litter method (discussed below) or scooped with a cat litter scooper when used in small coops. While expensive initially, compared to the alternatives listed here, sand as bedding in the coop need only be replaced once or twice a year if diligently cleaned and contained. Sand, when used as coop bedding, is an excellent and very clean choice for those who have the time to devote to it. If you opt for cedar shavings, they’re easy to find at pet-supply stores but are a little more expensive than pine they do really smell great and work as a natural insect-repellent. However, many chicken keepers have used cedar shavings with success in their coops with adult flocks, so long as the birds have other areas to inhabit besides the coop. To play it safe, I recommend avoiding the use of cedar shavings with very young chicks confined to a brooder. There’s much debate as to the strong aromatic nature of cedar shavings and their effects on chickens’ delicate respiratory systems, and it seems the jury is still out. Speaking of a pleasant aroma (and that’s a rare topic indeed where chickens are concerned!), an alternative to pine shavings is cedar shavings. The mild pine scent is inviting, though it does fade over time. ![]() Pine shavings dry fast, are inexpensive and don’t break down quickly, making them an ideal bedding material. Sun-colored straw, with its sweet, earthy smell and springy texture is what many new chicken keepers reach for to line their coop and nest boxes.Ī popular and prudent choice for litter is pine shavings, found at many feed-supply stores, big-box stores and even pet-supply stores. Traditional bedding materials and nontraditional ones have their pros and cons, but your options are manageable. Here are a few of the more widely used bedding materials-plus a few nontraditional ones-and how best to use them. Sufficient litter provides a secure foundation for chickens’ legs and feet, a soft landing for eggs, a way to gather droppings quickly and the ability to easily clean your birds’ housing. The litter you provide to your flock in their coop, run, nest boxes or other enclosures isn’t just a luxury. ![]()
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