bedding for coop floor - SmartBedz?

[BarleySugar]

The run was built by Tuesday, the coop (green frog hen loft, medium) was put together yesterday, and the appointment to choose the girls is next Tuesday.
Son No2 and I realised we hadn't thought about what we will use on the bottom of the coop (we've got bark chips for the run, on paving stones). I've been looking for suggestions online and came across this product, SmartBedz. It sounds long lasting, which might be a good idea as my metric measuring skills are obviously not good and the coop is much larger than I'd envisaged. Access is a bit limited for us, although with the under coop space the hens will still get the whole run to use when they can't roam the garden.
Has anyone used this? If so, what do you think of it? I found a site, Kennelgate - Pet Food and Accessories Supplies Store which is currently doing BOGOF, and by ordering guinea pig and cat supplies at the same time it's free postage too.

[chris]

I just use a couple of newspapers that I get free (Metro), each morning I take the top layer of the newspaper off and compost it. Clean sheets everyday type thing When I run out of the newspaper in the bottom of the coop, I clean it all out and the nestbox, then replace the newspaper with two new ones.

I did used to use wood shavings, but they quickly bogged up the compost bin, taking ages to rot down - newspaper is much faster, and free!

[VirginVegGrower]

I use Aubiose in my nest box and paper to catch poop under the roosting bars.

[BarleySugar]

Sadly where we live we don't get any free newspapers and I don't buy one, catching up with the news via Internet or TV. I don't even see any put out by the neighbours for recycling or I'd ask them. I always used it for the guinea pigs at our other house, we got 3 then! I use the compressed sawdust pellets for cat litter and the guinea pig cage.
As this stuff is in on a BOGOF deal at the moment I think I'll give it a go, it's supposed to be good in the nest boxes too.
Getting pretty excited now. Son No2 wanted me to get a mini-incubator he saw on the site, £100 and only takes 3 eggs. I've said we won't go that route until next year (he might have lost enthusiasm by then).

[RichmondHens]

Wise not to hatch until you get the hang of looking after normal grown up chickens. And £100 sounds a bit expensive for a 3 egg incy - you can get a RCom Mini for about £80 at the moment.

You don't need much bedding for a hen house floor. Just a sprinkle of shavings or similar under the perches, enough to stop the poo wetting the wood too much and makes it easier to clean out. Or paper as others use.

[petal]

I use a dust extracted chopped straw bedding(bed down) suitable for horses, rabbits, the lot. it rots down really quickly in the compost heap. Shavings take forever. I might start putting a layer of newspaper(I pick up a free metro daily!) down too under it. Good idea.

[jessmorris]

..someone showed me some lovely chopped hemp they use for their chick pens (indoors). It looked lovely. Probably v expensive though. I just use dust extracted shavings, and sawdust from a joiner or cabinet maker is very dusty and unpleasant. I clean out once a week, and wouldn't want anything in longer as it gets mucky/wet and might harbour mites.
Have fun!

[tlck9]

During the winter, I have a cut down table protector to stop the damp coming through the floor, layer of paper and some horse bedding/shavings mix if I dont have that I use shredded paper which is removed daily. During the summer, a few layers of paper, that way I can pick them out wvery morning and bin the lot - keep its clean - no smells and no flys - free and recyclable there are always neighbours reading newspapers happy to give me a steady supply.