There are several easy options for bedding for chickens. You can use a straw, hay, grass clippings, and even cedar shavings. The best part is that most of these are free and are very cheap! But before you get started, consider some precautions. Read on to find out which are the best options for your chickens. And don’t forget to keep your chickens dry! Read on to find out the best bedding options for your chickens.
Straw
Adding a layer of straw on top of other materials is an excellent way to create a comfortable, insulating nesting box for your birds. While many people use hay, straw is a better choice for nesting boxes because it is softer and more insulating than hay. If you’d like to keep your cost down, you can also try shredded paper for bedding. Paper can be purchased at most pet stores and is inexpensive, and pine shavings are also highly absorbent. Plus, pine shavings don’t harbor any odors or are difficult to clean.
Hay
There are several types of bedding for chickens available. Hay is a cheap and easy option. Straw is a good option but can be hard to find during a wet year. Grass clippings can also be used. They are free and will double as a chicken treat. Hay can also be recycled. If you don’t want to buy bedding, you can use grass clippings from your lawn.
Cedar shavings
Many people think of cedar shavings as a safe, convenient option for chicken bedding. However, it’s important to know that the shavings can actually cause harm to your chicken’s health. Cedar has been known to weaken chickens’ immune systems, which makes them susceptible to various diseases. This makes cedar a bad choice for chicken bedding. If you’re unsure about the safety of cedar shavings, take your chicken to a veterinarian to find out whether they’re harmful.
Grass clippings
Grass clippings are free and environmentally friendly. The clippings will blend into the grass outside of the chicken coop and mix with other dry bedding. Unlike wood shavings, grass clippings will not stick to the feet of your chickens. They are also compostable and break down quickly if you use a deep litter method. Grass clippings are also an environmentally friendly choice because they are free and readily available.
Shredded paper
Shredded paper can be a cheap and convenient chicken litter option. The cardboard is already layered and can absorb more moisture than newspaper. In addition, it’s free from toxins, which makes it an excellent choice for bedding. You can also throw the paper into the compost pit to create fertilizer for your chickens. Another easy bedding option for chickens is dried leaves. Chickens enjoy scratching leaves as natural bedding.