Alternative Bedding Materials for Poultry: Availability, Efficacy, and Major Constraints, Article of the day

[lolotsung]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8416037/ If you are busy, go straight to the table to get highlights

[Brebis]

Interesting, thanks for posting @lolotsung.I wonder if mixtures of locally produced bedding material might be a good option. I’ve used mainly wood shavings and sometimes straw, though it wasn’t chopped, but the combination might be better, if the straw is chopped. I like using dried grass clippings from the lawn, raked up and bagged, over the winter in the nest boxes, nice and soft and the hens love to nibble it and get extra greens.

Of course, free range is the chickens preference, being able to go where they want!

Seems to me some on the PTO forum have used chopped flax with good results, but it’s not mentioned.

[Killerbunny]

I think @Jaye used it but it became difficult to source.

[lolotsung]

@Brebis do you put the clippings in plastic bags and seal them? I'm seeing myself thinking I did a great job of drying the grass and opening up a bag of mouldy grass in the winter That's an excellent idea!

[Brebis]

I make sure it’s really dry and put it loosely in feed bags and fold over the tops but don’t tie them so they get lots of air so they don’t go mouldy. The last few places I had them I had a large yard that was cut, not so often so that there was lots to dry and collect! A lot like making hay, lots of sun and hope the rain holds off and make sure it’s really dry, if it’s even a little damp it will go mouldy, especially sealed in plastic.

[Killerbunny]

And I found I had to be sure it didn't catch fire when drying by raking it over often. Had scary moment!