Backyard Fowl Keepers

For two years, I’ve used wood chips for my deep litter coop, and they’ve worked great. This year, I decided to try shredded paper instead, and so far, I’m really happy with it! I shred junk mail, office paper, cereal boxes, and light cardboard with a 12-sheet shredder I found for $5. Just remove staples and plastic windows first.

Every two weeks, I add a 13-gallon bag of shredded paper to the coop and let the chickens spread it out. Sometimes, I toss scratch to encourage them to turn the litter. The heavier, soiled paper settles at the bottom while the fresh paper stays on top.

There’s no smell after two months, and the paper composts much faster than wood chips, which will be great for the garden. Newspaper doesn’t shred as well and tends to clog the rollers, so I avoid using too much of it.

If you’re looking for a cheap, eco-friendly alternative to wood chips, shredded paper might be worth a try! Let me know if you have tips for shredding newspaper or other ideas to improve the process.

This is such a clever way to reuse paper waste! Do you shred cardboard by hand, or does your shredder handle it well? Id love to try this but worry about my shredders durability.

This is such a creative solution! I'd be cautious about ink toxicity, though. Have you researched whether the ink in junk mail or cereal boxes is safe for chickens?

I've been using wood chips for years, but I love the idea of composting shredded paper faster. Do you mix it with anything else in the compost pile, or does it break down well on its own?

I tried shredded paper once, but my chickens seemed to ignore it. Do yours naturally spread it out, or do you have to encourage them with scratch?

I've been using hay, but it's expensive. Shredded paper sounds like a great alternative! How do you handle cleaning out the coop when it's time to refresh the litter?

I've been considering shredded paper but was worried about it being too slippery for the chickens. Do you find they have trouble walking on it, or does it settle nicely?

Shredded paper is a fantastic idea! I've been using straw, but I might switch to paper now. Have you noticed any issues with it getting too damp or clumping together?

I've heard shredded paper can attract pests like mites. Have you had any issues with bugs or rodents since switching?

I love the eco-friendly aspect of this! Have you noticed any difference in how the paper handles odor compared to wood chips, or is it about the same?