tarab54•1mo agoMost Upvoted

Switched from straw to pine shavings in the coop and it's a game changer

I used straw for two years thinking it was cheaper and better, but my birds kept getting respiratory issues and the smell was awful. Three months ago I swapped to pine shavings from a local feed store for $6 a bale and the difference is night and day. Has anyone else made this switch and noticed their chickens seeming healthier?

3 comments

3 Comments

iris_green841mo ago

Toss that straw and stick with pine shavings, your birds' lungs will thank you.

derek9391mo ago

I ran a test with 12 birds over 6 months comparing straw against pine shavings. Straw actually kept the coop drier, which meant less ammonia buildup from wet bedding. Pine shavings got dusty when the birds kicked them around, and I had two birds with respiratory issues during that trial. Straw stays cleaner longer if you manage it right, and I've seen way less mold problems with proper ventilation than any dust you get from shavings. Not saying straw is perfect, but calling it dangerous ignores how bad dust can get with pine.

linda_butler281mo ago

My neighbor tried pine shavings once and her rooster started sneezing so bad we thought he had a cold. Turned out he just really hated the dust cloud every time he did his morning flap routine.