Rant: pine shavings are overrated and my coop smells better with sand
Everyone in every Facebook group pushes pine shavings like it's the only bedding that works, but after a year of trying both in my 8x10 coop here in Spokane, the shavings were the smelly, moldy mess. Sand scoops like cat litter, dries fast, and costs me about $40 once a year from the local gravel yard instead of $15 every month. My hens' feet stay cleaner too, no more poop balls stuck to their toes in winter. Anyone else make the switch and get weird looks from the shavings crowd, or am I the odd one out?
Keeps moisture trapped down low depending on your base and drainage, which is where mold starts in the first place. Sand works fine until it doesnt, and when it goes bad you get a rock hard crust that reeks way worse than any shaving pile. Your setup might just drain better than most, so dont expect the same luck everywhere.