Chicken Bedding Tips

Give your chickens the home they deserve by taking care of their bedding with these tips from Blain’s Farm & Fleet!

You’ve put the work in, and your coop is finally built! Now it’s time to think about bedding for your chickens. Bedding not only gives your chickens a comfortable place to call home but also minimizes unwanted scents and provides a crash pad for any eggs (or chickens!) that happen to fall from a higher perch. Follow along for some of our best bedding tips for chickens!

What Material Should You Use?

• Pine Shavings – Wood shavings such as pine will work great for your chicken coop. They’re easy to clean and will dry quickly. Not to mention they’re very affordable!
• Straw – Straw is another very popular bedding material as it is a great insulator and is pretty cheap. With that being said, upkeep can be a burden compared to other options, as it tends to smell bad pretty quickly and will need to be replaced frequently.
• Sand – Sand is cheap, readily available, and makes for easy cleanup. However, you will run into some of the same issues that you see with straw, including a tendency for odor to build up quickly.

Don’t Skimp Out on Bedding

Once you’re set on the material you’re going to use for your chicken coop bedding, be sure to lay down enough. If you’re using pine shavings, you’ll want to put at least 3-5 inches down.

Keep Bedding Dry

Bedding material such as wood shavings can stay good for months at a time, but nothing will lead to a nasty smell quicker than wet litter. Wet bedding can happen for various reasons, including a leak in your coop or a water spill. Accidents happen, but it’s crucial to replace your damp bedding material as soon as possible, or else your chicken coop will find itself in a smelly situation.

Keep it Clean

Using suitable material in the right amount isn’t enough by itself to keep your coop in working order. In addition to replacing your bedding every so often and performing routine litter cleanup, distilled vinegar is a great option to clean and disinfect your coop and the areas within it.