When it comes to the health of your chickens, there is nothing more important than ensuring that they are happy and healthy. This means that it is important to consider every aspect of their care, including the bedding that you use in their coop. Selecting the right bedding ensures that your chickens have the best conditions possible to be happy, and happier chickens are better layers.
When it comes to bedding, there are lots of different options to choose from, and one of the biggest choices that those who keep chicken face is whether it is better to choose straw or wood shavings for their poultry bedding. In this article, we will take a look at some of the benefits you will get when you choose wood shavings.
Cost
First and foremost, wood shavings are a very economical option for poultry bedding when compared to other options including straw. However, cost is not one of the bigger deciding factors when it comes to choosing wood shavings.
High absorbency
When compared to other types of poultry bedding, wood shavings are very dry and absorbent. This is a very important consideration for any coop bedding.
Chicken droppings have a high moisture content and as such, if the bedding that is used is not very absorbent then it can quickly turn into a very unpleasant rotting and slimy mess that will have a very strong odour. The more absorbency there is in the bedding that you use then the less your coop will smell. This, of course, means that you can get away with waiting for a little longer before you change it.
Poultry droppings also have quite a high ammonia content and this can not only be dangerous for chickens but also those who work with them. Ammonia has the potential to cause respiratory damage and eye issues. Wood shavings are very good at helping to reduce this smell due to their absorbency.
Straw or hay is a much less absorbent option. It will need replacing far more often and will smell much more quickly.
Insulation
Chickens can be rather prone to stress, and when it is too cold hens struggle to lay eggs. During the winter, when the temperatures drop, wood shavings offer valuable insulation against the cold that seeps up from the ground and provide a much needed degree of warmth. Wood shavings are a much denser option compared to straw.
Comfort
Wood shavings are soft, dry and fresh, which makes them a very comfortable option for your chickens.
Easy to store
Wood shavings are usually purchased in bags which makes them very easy to store, no matter what size of bag you buy. This means that all you need is somewhere dry and raised off the ground to store them.
Used wood shavings have another use
When you use wood shavings for your poultry bedding you also have the benefit of being able to use them as manure or mulching once they have been removed from the coop. There is usually enough ammonia and urea in the wood shavings to make them a very effective manure source.
At Bodens we supply high quality poultry bedding made using wood shavings for a wide range of operations. From large farms to small holdings, our stockists carry our range of poultry grade wood shavings, ideal for keeping your chickens and other poultry safe, warm and dry year round. Find out more here.
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