Bedding for Coop and Run

fiona1965 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 17, 2011 3:43 pm **Posts:** 12

I'm just rearranging my coop and run for the millionth time (does anybody else do this?). I'm just wondering what the best thing to do for bedding is. I'll try and figure out how to post a photo so you can see what I am talking about. I have had straw in there but with the recent rain we've had the floor of the coop and run is very soggy and the straw was beginning to ferment, which I know will not be doing my girls any good at all, in fact I have noticed a little bit of sneezing happening.

I've just spent the morning raking it all out and opening up to air and dry out but I'm just wondering if I should actually bother with straw or just leave the ground bare? The nesting box always stays nice and dry and has clean straw in there.

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

My pen gets a little wet when the weather turns and its windy otherwise inside my coop stays pretty dry. I use sugar cane mulch in mine (the one in the plastic wrap) from the hardware store. It goes a long way. At present I am using dry grassy hay as our neighbour kindly dropped off a round bale for me to use. Whatever you use you will need to make sure you change it if it gets wet or starts to become mouldy. I try to do mine monthly.

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

For the run we use a base of sand, then hay or straw or animal friendly non toxic wood shavings. Also sugar cane mulch or peat if there is any left over from mulching the garden.

Depending on your location, the recent wet weather hasn't helped, but a little extra time to clean up wet, fermeting, mouldy bedding and replace and refresh hay/straw can make a difference in the respiratory health of your chookies. A little maintenance, possibly would be cheaper than having to take your sick chookies to the vet and have treatment or having to put them down and replace them.

MRED · **Joined:** Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:09 am **Posts:** 1

Same as above with the hay you can use it on the gardens are mulch when you need to change it or it gets wet

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Bedding for Coop and Run

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