Choosing the Right Bedding for Your Backyard Flock. A Guide for Dummies (Like Me)
Not sure what to put on the floor of your chicken coop? Neither was I.
When we took over the feed store, I couldn’t tell the difference between straw and shavings. But now that I’ve chatted with a few hundred seasoned chicken owners, I’ve picked up a thing or two. So here’s your no-nonsense guide to chicken bedding—what works, what doesn’t, and what makes your coop smell a little less like… well, a coop.
Pine shavings are the go-to choice for many chicken owners. They’re soft, super absorbent, and easy to fluff around—basically the chicken equivalent of a cozy comforter. They do a great job soaking up messes and help keep the coop smelling fresh-ish. Plus, they’re affordable and easy to find (hi, we’ve got plenty in stock). Chickens especially love them in nesting boxes. Bonus points for being easy to clean.
Straw is warm, natural, and gives your coop that rustic farmhouse vibe. It absorbs moisture better than pine needles or newspaper, but here’s the downside—it clumps up when wet and doesn’t break apart easily. That means cleaning it out can feel like wrestling with soggy spaghetti. Still, lots of flock parents love it, especially for deep-litter setups or colder weather.
If you want your coop to smell like it’s living its best life, hemp might be your new best friend. Hemp bedding is naturally anti-bacterial, super absorbent, and breaks down slower than straw. It controls odor like a champ and helps keep bacteria from throwing a party in your coop.
It’s more expensive than pine or straw, but worth it if you’re going for low-maintenance, eco-friendly, and a little extra bougie.
You really can’t go wrong, but here’s the gist:
• Pine = easy, affordable, and a coop favorite
• Straw = cozy, natural, but higher maintenance
• Hemp = premium, clean-smelling, and kind of impressive
Still not sure? Swing by Merriam Feed and ask us what is the most popular for local coops. We’ll give you the honest lowdown and show you what’s in stock.
Because happy chickens lay better eggs. And better eggs mean better breakfasts. Just saying.
