Can you mix straw and pine shavings for chickens?
Some people combine pine shavings with other types of bedding (straw, wood chips, dried leaves) in their run.However, all of these bed types are conducive to mold growth in wet conditions, so be very careful.
Yes, you can use straw pellets under wood shavings. In fact, many of our customers combine the benefits of vacuumed chips with straw pellets to provide their horses with a healthy and comfortable stable bed.
Mix and match coop bedding
For example,you can combine pine shavings and hemp. The pine provides a pleasant scent in the garden and keeps spreading costs low, while the hemp absorbs moisture and neutralizes the production of ammonia.
If you have enough pine needles, torn leaves or grass clippings, you can use them as bedding in your chicken coop.
How deep should the straw bedding be in your chicken coop? Your bedding should beat least 3-4 inches deep, but your chickens will appreciate it if you give them closer to 6 inches.
Northern chicken keepers who experience cold weather year-round may choose straw as a good bedding material. In temperate or warm areas, wood shavings or sand are a better option. Natural waste can be a good option if you have access to large amounts of dry natural waste sources.
Absorbency-Chips absorb much better than straw.
For this reason we do NOT recommend using hay as chicken bedding as your chickens will often eat it which can lead to a damaged crop. Hay can also develop mold spores due to its high absorbency, which can cause additional problems when consumed.
Two of the most common materials for bedding are pine shavings and straw. For pine,larger chips are recommended as they create less dust and allow for rapid dirt build-up. Cedar shavings are not recommended because the odor can be overpowering and even toxic, especially to chickens.
Sand in the chicken coop
“Medium-quality sand is probably the best type of bedding for the chicken coop because it does not retain liquid, does not harbor pathogens such as mold, and is very easy to clean,” says Byrum.
Is straw or pine shavings better for the chicken coop?
So there you have it: straw is absorbent but does not shed water easily. Sand sheds water quickly, but is not absorbent (but because it sheds water so well it stays drier anyway). Pine chips are somewhere in between with moderate absorption and release.
Straw bedding is very absorbent and comfortable for your flock of chickens. Keep a 3 to 6 inch layer of straw in your chicken coop. Straw litter creates an environment that promotes nest formation.
Baled straw should never be placed in a winter chicken coop for insulation. Even with the best ventilation practices, moisture from breathing and feces adds moisture to a winter chicken coop.
Pine shavings are a good choice for cat litter, but scientific research and personal experience have proven that sand is even better! Pine shavings should be replaced regularly because they absorb moisture and feces are mixed with them.
Wood is probably the most commonly used material for chicken coop floors. It is strong, easy to build and also provides some insulation for cold environments. Wooden floors are often used in portable chicken coops, where the floor is raised a few inches from the ground.
Throwing pieces of grass, hay or other material on one's own back is just different behaviorinline with dust baths. Some chickens also instinctively drag bits and pieces of nearby trash toward them while hatching eggs.
We recommend that you replace the bedding in your chicken coop every 2-3 days. week and nest box if necessary for all feathered friends. However, keep in mind that chicken blogs and friends will give their personal favorite changing times.
How often should you clean a chicken coop? You must provide fresh food and water every day and clean the bed linenonce a week or once a month(the deeper the bedding, the less often you have to clean it). It is best to perform a total cleaning at least twice a year.
Pine shavingscan be acidic, which can be harmful to some plants. If your soil is already acidic, adding pine chips can make the problem worse. Pine shavings can also take a long time to break down, so they may not provide nutrients to your plants right away.
In general,straw is a cheap alternative to chips.
Is straw cheaper than chips?
Straw has been used as horse bedding for years. It is warm, allows urine and other fluids to drain, makes a comfortable bed and isusually cheaper than chips, pellets, paper and other types of horse bedding are all important factors to consider when caring for a horse in winter.
I love this coffee stained bedding for my chickens!Keeps odor down, easy to scoop and makes cleaning so much easier.
Some materials, such as peat moss, kitty litter or paper, are just too dusty. Wood chips are not absorbent enough for yard work, but in some cases, UNTREATED wood chips or mulch can help keep a muddy area in better condition.
Other beds used include:
Sand.Rice husks. Pine straw. Corn on the cob.
Chicken owners typically use bedding such as chips, sawdust, dry leaves or straw to provide chickens with a dry cushion and control odors and pests. Coop bedding can becollected together with the manure and thrown into a compost bin.
