I mentioned many months ago that I wanted to stop using purchased straw in the chicken coop. At $25 a bale, I tend not to keep the barn floor as clean as I'd like. My current floor space of 8x12 feet requires quite a bit more straw than my old 3x8 coop. I also wonder about where the straw comes from--what kind of pesticides am I adding to my compost pile by using this mystery straw from down south? Is it from GMO wheat? Also, the thought of having something trucked and barged up here just so my chickens can poop on it seems a little extravagant if you really think about it.
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| Thanks Nicole! |
When you need to find something it seems like you can always count on
Freecycle! I posted an add for bulk shredded paper and had a response
within a day. A friend at the Dept of Labor has been graciously calling me
when their "file consolidation" pile stacks up.
Of course I'm always skeptical--even of my own ideas. I was worried
about the shredded paper matting in the coop. And when on the first day
the chickens had paper sticking to their legs, I envisioned them
eventually becoming entirely covered in paper mache. But, after a month
of using solely paper for the bedding, it's worked out even better than
straw!
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| Over-flow |
A couple of times a week I fluff things up with the pitchfork
and occasionally toss in tote-fulls of new paper. The only down side is
that it is a little unsightly in the pasture. Like straw, it spills out
the doorways when it sticks to chicken feet and boots.
Another concern is the toxicity of ink and bleached paper in the compost. In my research on composting paper, it's hard to find definite answers. In some instances it seems as though the composting process has the ability to cleanse toxins from the heap, which would be desired when using either paper or straw. For now, I'm simply hoping that is the case. I plan on getting my finished compost tested for toxins and for nutrient content in the near future.
To me the pros of eliminating straw from the barn far out weigh the cons.
If you need bedding for your critters, consider networking with a local office for their shredded paper!
