Of wood shavings, newspaper (shredded?) or hay/straw, which bedding materials are best and which should be avoided?

Go with what you have access to should be the first rule. For the Brooder: If you can get good dry hardwood shavings or small chips (preferably poplar, maple, ash, etc not black walnut) they work very well. Packaging excelsior is also a good initial brooder bedding material.

If you are using straw, you would do well to break it up some (place a bunch of it in a clean barrel and shred it with a string trimmer). Newspaper is fine if you shred it some, it will offer more traction for the chicks. Ground corncobs are excellent.

Avoid slick smooth surfaces and materials such as shredded plastic that has no moisture absorbing capacity. Sawdust isn't the best for chicks in a brooder because ingesting the small particles can easily back up their digestive system. For the Coop: Larger chickens love to scratch through the litter so feel free to load up the coop with loose straw or mold-free hay.

Shredded paper, ground corncobs, hardwood sawdust and mold-free leaves can also be used for chicken ... more.

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