Why Bedding Choice Matters
Bedding serves four purposes in the coop: absorbing moisture from droppings, cushioning feet and eggs, providing insulation in cold weather, and controlling odor. The right bedding makes cleaning easier and keeps the coop healthier. The wrong bedding creates respiratory issues, harbors pests, and makes more work for you.
Pine Shavings
Pine shavings are the most popular and widely recommended coop bedding. They absorb moisture well, smell pleasant, are easy to clean out, and are widely available at farm supply stores. Use large-flake shavings rather than fine sawdust, which generates dust that can irritate chicken respiratory systems. Pine shavings work well with both spot-cleaning and deep litter methods, and spent shavings compost nicely for garden use.
Straw
Straw (not hay) is a traditional bedding choice. It insulates well and is inexpensive in agricultural areas. However, straw does not absorb moisture as effectively as shavings, and its hollow stems can harbor mites and lice. Straw works best in nesting boxes and as a supplemental insulation layer in winter rather than as primary coop floor bedding. If you use straw on the floor, change it frequently to prevent ammonia buildup.
Sand
Construction-grade sand (not play sand, which is too fine) is gaining popularity because droppings dry quickly on sand, making daily scooping fast and easy — like cleaning a cat litter box. Sand does not harbor mites the way organic bedding can, and it stays relatively odor-free. Downsides include weight (difficult to do full clean-outs), poor insulation in cold climates, and the need for daily scooping to stay effective.
Chopped Straw or Hemp Bedding
Chopped straw is more absorbent than whole straw and composts faster. Hemp bedding (hemp hurd) is a newer option that absorbs up to four times its weight in moisture — more than pine shavings. It is naturally pest-resistant, low-dust, and composts rapidly. The main downside is availability and cost — hemp bedding is more expensive and harder to find than pine shavings in many areas.
Cedar contains aromatic oils (phenols) that can irritate chicken respiratory systems. The strong scent that makes cedar pleasant to humans is potentially harmful to birds. Stick with pine or other safer alternatives.
What to Avoid
Newspaper gets slippery when wet and provides almost no absorbency. Hay (as opposed to straw) retains moisture, molds quickly, and can harbor aspergillus spores that cause respiratory illness. Cedar shavings release aromatic oils that irritate airways. Cat litter is toxic if ingested. Stick with pine shavings, sand, or hemp for the coop floor, and pine shavings or straw for nesting boxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bedding for a chicken coop?
Large-flake pine shavings are the best all-around choice — absorbent, widely available, affordable, low-dust, and compatible with deep litter composting.
How often should I change coop bedding?
With spot-cleaning, replace pine shavings every two to four weeks. With the deep litter method, add fresh shavings on top and do a full clean-out once or twice a year.
Is sand good bedding for chickens?
Construction-grade sand works well in warm climates with daily scooping. It dries droppings quickly and does not harbor mites, but it provides poor insulation in cold regions.