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What is the difference between the different litters and nesting pads?
Aspen fiber nesting pads, (Aspen) is well known in other parts of the world. Everywhere, it is the preferred litter along with wood and pine shavings for the nesting boxes. Except that pine and cedar release substances that are harmful to our chickens. Aspen cushions are compressed, so they are not as loose and soft as wood shavings. It is better than any other type of shavings for laying hens, because the hens are less tempted to eat it. Chickens don’t eat it because it’s not loose shavings like wood shavings. But they do eat shavings! Aspen is natural and biodegradable. Stores all over the United States recommend them and so do breeders. They are better than shavings. No aromatic oils that can cause respiratory and skin irritations (like pine and cedar). Here in Quebec, no one knew so much about this product, because they are not distributed in our farm stores which in fact do not have much choice compared to Europe, Australia and the United States. Protective liners: Several companies sell liners for nesting boxes generally made from woven wood fiber mats because they are less toxic than shavings. These are ideal. Since it is a single piece that fits snugly around the bottom of the nest, the hens cannot move it to the bottom as they can with wood shavings. Aspen wood fiber can be composted.
Use of leaves as litter in the chicken coop or pen:
Poor-Mediocre
High levels of mold and bacteria Willis et al., 1997
Why are leaves a difficult litter to manage?
Fall brings with it a free source of bedding: leaves. Dry leaves, shredded by a lawnmower, could be used in the aviary under certain conditions that are difficult to control for a poultry house. They must be ground first, then dried and stored in a dry place. Wet leaves are not a good option as they can quickly become moldy. Dry leaves can also be bagged and saved for later addition if they can be stored in a place where they will not get wet.
Easily available in the fall, leaves can also be mixed with other bedding materials. Shredded leaves break down quickly, so more can be added than you think. An 8-inch layer in a covered run to prevent moisture and mold. This substrate does not eliminate odors and can develop bacteria easily.
Using grass clippings as bedding in the coop or pen:
Poor-Mediocre
Initially pleasant for chickens. Low absorbency, high levels of mold, high levels of bacteria. Clogging of the crop and mortality. Yeast infection.
https://www.thefeatherbrain.com/blog/chicken-coop-bedding-comparison
The qualities of a good chicken coop litter
A good poultry house litter has 7 main properties:
Low moisture retention
Cleanliness
Low ammonia level
Low diversity and low bacteria count
Low number of molds
Low dust content
Non-toxicity
Other properties that may be desirable (but not always necessary) in a chicken coop litter include
Easy to use
Insulating
Compostable
Non-flammable
Low insect count
Mold levels: Sand vs. straw vs. pine shavings and treated Peat Moss (not garden center)
Molds can be widespread in straw (see Wichert et al., 2008 for a review; Garlipp et al., 2010), and can cause severe respiratory problems in livestock (Wolf et al., 2005). One study found that molds and endotoxins were significantly higher in straw and hay than in wood chips and silage (Siegers et al., 2018).
Unfortunately, straw often contains molds even before it is used as bedding (Fleming et al., 2008).
Mold has also been shown to grow readily in pine shavings (Tanner et al., 1998; Garlipp et al., 2010), but again, sand does not appear to promote these pathogens. There are few studies showing that mold is a problem in sand litter.
A revolutionary poultry litter made from Peat Moss fiber FORMULATED FOR THE AGRICULTURAL MARKET
FORMULATED FOR THE AGRICULTURAL MARKET product benefits
Lasts 4x longer than shavings
Protects against ammonia toxicity
Eliminates odors and dust
More hygienic
Compostable and pH neutral
Organic, durable and recyclable
Lightweight and soft treated
What is a Peat Moss formulated for the agricultural market?
A blend of different grades of peat moss. Combined with a revolutionary manufacturing method, this farm animal bedding offers a host of benefits for both animal health and farm profitability. Unconventional, suitable for dairy, poultry, equine, beef, goat, sheep and swine production.
Aspen compressé pour doublure de pondoirs
Aspen en copeaux comme de la ripe
How to choose the best litter for your nesting boxes?
Chicken laying boxes require quality litter. The use of soft, comfortable litter encourages the hens to lay in one place. In addition, the litter in the nesting box must be absorbent to prevent contamination and odors in the coop.
How do I choose the right litter for my chicken nesting box? The choice is generally made according to the type of material used for laying in the nesting boxes.
Here are some practical tips on what type of material is best for your coop:
Types of bedding Advantages Disadvantages
No. 1 Pine-Aspen Shavings Easily available, inexpensive, soft and absorbent, compostable. Pine shavings compact when wet. Aspen has less off-gassing.
No. 2 Sand Easy to clean, flows well when graded, can be the regional soil type of the farm, reduces dust, can keep the coop cooler in summer. More used in southern areas of the United States. Very heavy and only gets heavier each year, cold (no insulation if layer is less than 4.5˝), avoid dusty types of sand (like sandbox sand), not compostable, does not provide a soft surface for hard landings, can be an expensive investment initially.
No. 3 Cedar Shavings Easily available, Soft and absorbent deter external pests, compostable Some give off toxic gases which means stronger odors, slightly more expensive, can be dusty.
No. 4 Sawdust Easily available (usually softwoods), inexpensive, soft and absorbent, compostable, but very dusty Chicks can eat sawdust and clog their crop. Sawdust can be dusty, and compacts into patties when wet.
No. 5 Straw Inexpensive, readily available, compostable Non-absorbent unless less than 1˝ in length, high ammonia production, forms cakes when wet, aspergillosis problems in lung tissue.
No. 6 Wood products (paper, cardboard, bark, recycled wood pallets into pellets Recycling helps the environment, potentially less expensive, may be compostable (check ahead of time) Limited to old newspapers with dried ink, some inks are toxic until completely dry, not all areas have these items, compacts in first two weeks, crumbles easily, mismanagement results in ammonia production. The paper also becomes very sticky.
No. 7 Garden waste (Leaves, grass, clippings) Little or no cost, grass can be used as a summer treat, compostable Litter is only available in season (leaves), clippings tend to rot and smell after a short time. Danger of mold and mildew.
No. 8 Regional agricultural by-products (peanut shells, pine needles, crushed corn cobs) Inexpensive, soft and absorbent, compostable Not all regions have these items, may be difficult to find and may require bulk purchases.
No. 9 Agricultural Peat Moss
Lasts 4x longer than shavings
Protects against ammonia toxicity
Eliminates odors and dust
More hygienic
Compostable and pH neutral
Organic, durable and recyclable
Lightweight and mildly processed Not all areas have access to this product, may be difficult to find or require travel to purchase in an area where the product is available and may require bulk purchases.
Pine Shavings
hemp shavings
paper Shavings
Laying Litter in Poultry Layers
Aspen nesting box liners are the simplest method of laying litter in laying boxes. The best nesting liners are the standard size of the nesting box and hold their shape. It is easy to exchange the liner for a new one when changing the litter material. You can also add pine shavings on top so that your hens can enjoy nesting on top.
You can also buy bulk litter, which is wood shavings, straw or hemp fiber, to put on top of the liners in the nesting boxes. Loose bedding materials are more labor intensive than pre-cut liners for your nesting boxes.
How often should you change the litter in your chicken laying boxes?
Most chicken owners recommend changing the litter in the nesting boxes once every 2-3 weeks, sometimes 4-5 weeks if the chickens never sleep in the boxes and they stay very clean. However, depending on the number of hens you have, you may need to change the pads more often. If you want to change the litter less often, you can use a glove or small shovel to remove the droppings, which will extend the life of the cushions.
Litter Cushion for Chicken Layers – In Conclusion
Soft, warm, absorbent litter in laying boxes is essential for the health and well-being of your hens. Happy hens lay more eggs, and proper bedding helps keep nesting areas clean and eggs safe.
You can add natural herbs, a few drops of essential oil and edible flowers to keep your coop clean and smelling fresh.
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