Bedding is an essential part of keeping a healthy, comfortable environment for your laying hens. The right bedding does more than provide a cozy space—it absorbs moisture, controls odors, improves air quality, and even contributes to soil health when composted. With various options available, choosing the best bedding depends on your flock’s needs, your management style, and your farm’s conditions.
Wood shavings, often from pine or aspen, are a popular choice. They are soft, absorbent, and widely available. Benefits:
Straw is another common choice, offering warmth and often available if near wheat/grain farms. Note: Straw and Hay are not the same. Benefits:
Sand has gained popularity for its longevity and ease of cleaning. Benefits:
Wood chips are an increasingly common option, particularly in high-tunnel setups where natural light and warmth promote winter egg production. Benefits:
For winter months, many farmers and homesteaders turn to the deep-litter method. This technique involves layering fresh bedding, such as straw or wood shavings, over the old bedding. As the bedding and manure mix, natural microbial activity generates heat, keeping the coop warmer.
Benefits of the Deep-Litter Method:
To use this method effectively, turn the bedding regularly with a pitchfork to aerate the material and prevent compacting. Add fresh bedding as needed to keep the surface clean and dry.
Good air quality is critical for poultry health, and bedding plays a key role in managing it. Manure releases ammonia, a gas that can accumulate in poorly ventilated coops. High ammonia levels irritate a chicken’s respiratory system, reduce egg production, and make birds more susceptible to diseases.
To maintain air quality:
Used bedding is not just waste—it’s a valuable resource for your farm. Composting soiled bedding creates rich, organic material for gardens and pastures. Wood chips and straw break down more slowly than shavings or paper but add structure to compost piles. Regularly turning the pile helps accelerate decomposition and control odors.
Selecting bedding depends on your management style, climate, and farm goals. Whether you opt for wood shavings, straw, sand, or wood chips, the key is to ensure that bedding supports your flock’s health, minimizes labor, and contributes to your farm’s overall sustainability.
With thoughtful planning and proper maintenance, your choice of bedding can keep your chickens comfortable, improve their health, and enhance your farm’s productivity year-round.
Raising chickens for eggs is an excellent way to engage in small-scale farming, increase self-sufficiency, and enjoy the benefits of home-raised food. For those in Indiana considering starting or expanding their agricultural efforts, January is the ideal time to begin preparations. By starting now, you can ensure your setup is ready, your flock is secure, and your efforts are set for success in the coming months.
The upcoming Veterans IN Farming Winter Conference will feature a session on poultry and related workshops, providing valuable resources and insights for those ready to begin or improve their operations.
One of the first decisions to make is whether to raise chicks from the start or purchase pullets. Chicks, which are typically available in early spring, require about 30 weeks to begin laying eggs. Pullets, on the other hand, are already near laying age, providing a quicker start to egg production.
When ordering pullets, you can tailor your purchase to meet your specific goals. For instance, you might prioritize birds raised on organic or non-GMO feed, decide whether you’re comfortable with debeaking practices, or if ordering chicks you'll choose between sexed females and a straight-run mix, which may include roosters.
A sturdy, well-ventilated coop is essential for protecting your chickens from Indiana’s variable weather and potential predators. Predators, including foxes, raccoons, hawks, and even pets like dogs, are a constant concern. Secure fencing, predator-proof latches, and buried wire to deter digging are all effective strategies for safeguarding your flock.
For the first weeks of their lives, chicks need a properly set up brooder. This includes a heat lamp or (the much safer) heating plate, clean kiln dried pine bedding, and feeders designed for their size. Thoughtful preparation will help your birds thrive in their critical early stages.
January is the perfect month to gather supplies and knowledge for the year ahead. Stock up on essentials like egg cartons, find a source of grain, grit, and shavings, and ensure you have the equipment needed for cleaning and storing eggs.
This is also an excellent time to learn about common poultry ailments, preventive care, and Indiana’s specific regulations for selling eggs. Familiarizing yourself with these laws ensures that if you choose to sell your eggs, you’ll meet all necessary requirements for packaging and labeling.
Chickens can lay eggs for several years, but their production naturally declines over time. Planning for the lifespan of your flock is an important step. Decide in advance how you’ll handle older hens when their laying days are over—whether you keep them as companions or transition them to another purpose.
The Veterans IN Farming Winter Conference is a valuable opportunity to learn from experienced poultry farmers and connect with others who share similar goals. With a session focused on poultry and workshops designed to cover practical topics like predator management and scaling operations, these resources provide a solid foundation for success.
Have you ever wondered how aerial images could help your farm? Drone photography is more than just stunning pictures—it’s a practical tool that can make managing your land easier and more efficient. From planning rotational grazing setups to identifying problem areas in fields or pastures, drone images give you a bird’s-eye view that’s hard to match.
Veteran Edward Candelario is offering his drone services to Veterans IN Farming members, providing high-quality photos and videos of your farmland. Based in Muncie, Edward is ready to travel to help you capture the images you need. Whether you're looking to improve grazing strategies, track field health, or just want a unique view of your farm, drone photography is a valuable resource.
Contact Edward directly to learn more about how his services could benefit your farm. It's a great way to take your land management to the next level!
Mark your calendars! This year’s AgrAbility National Training Workshop (NTW) will take place March 23-27, 2025, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. As the leading educational event addressing issues related to disability in agriculture, the NTW is an incredible opportunity for farmers, ranchers, caregivers, professionals, and stakeholders to come together to learn, network, and grow.
The mission of the NTW is to empower professionals and consumers to fulfill AgrAbility's core priority areas:
The NTW is attended by a diverse audience, including:
The National AgrAbility Project is pleased to offer travel stipends for a limited number of farmers and ranchers impacted by disability, as well as their caregivers. These stipends help ensure that more individuals can participate in this valuable event. If you or someone you know could benefit, apply as soon as possible—stipends are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to first-time applicants.
Applying for a stipend is easy:
If you’re unable to fill out the application online, assistance is available. Contact Chuck Baldwin at (574) 306-7329, and he will guide you through the process over the phone.
The application deadline is January 10, 2025, but stipends are limited, so early applications are strongly encouraged.
For more information about the 2025 NTW, including session schedules, speakers, and travel details, visit the AgrAbility NTW website.
If you have any questions or need additional help, please reach out to:
Attending a conference is a great opportunity for farmers to grow their knowledge, connect with like-minded individuals, and promote their businesses. Whether you're coming to the Veterans IN Farming Winter Conference or another event, a little preparation can make all the difference. Here are some practical tips to help you make the most of your conference experience. 1. Get Your Farm Ready to Network
Networking is one of the most valuable aspects of a conference. To make a great impression, ensure you're ready to share your farm's story:
Conferences are fast-paced, so having the right tools on hand will help you stay organized and engaged:
At the Veterans IN Farming Winter Conference, you can look forward to:
Once you're at the conference, stay open to learning and connecting:
Conferences are an investment in yourself and your farm, so take the time to prepare. We can’t wait to see you at the Veterans IN Farming Winter Conference in Bloomington, Indiana, this January. Come ready to learn, connect, and grow—Farm ON!
At Veterans IN Farming, we know that strong communities are built by the people in them. Our organization is member-led, and that means we rely on your involvement to grow, share knowledge, and support one another. With the Winter Conference coming up, this is the perfect time to step up and get involved.
Volunteering is about more than helping others—it’s about being part of something bigger. Whether it’s lending your expertise, helping to organize, or just showing up to connect, your efforts make a real difference in building a stronger network for veterans and their families in farming and homesteading.
Here are a few ways you can get involved as we plan for the Winter Conference:
By volunteering, you’ll not only contribute to our mission—you’ll also gain:
We’re always looking for members to help create a Winter Conference that’s meaningful, inspiring, and impactful. If you’re interested in hosting a farm tour, leading a workshop, or contributing in any way, reach out to Brian Beal at BrianB@ateaseorchard.com to learn more.
Your time and talents can make a real difference. Together, we can grow a community that supports and uplifts all veteran farmers and homesteaders.
Join us and help make this year’s Winter Conference unforgettable!
Farm ON!
Indiana Grown has announced a $25,000 grant program to support members in exhibiting at tradeshows, aiming to reduce financial burdens and open new business opportunities. These grants, offered as reimbursements of $1,000, $3,000, or $5,000, will cover essential costs such as booth rental, setup, shipping, and auxiliary fees.
The initiative addresses common challenges faced by businesses when attending tradeshows, such as booth fees, travel expenses, and setup costs. Indiana Grown Director Caroline Patrick emphasized the impact of these grants, saying that last year’s recipients were able to grow their businesses by reaching new markets. The goal of this program is to continue expanding the visibility of Indiana-made products across the U.S. and beyond.
To qualify, applicants must be Indiana Grown members with commercially ready products and meet SBA small business guidelines. Funds must be used specifically for tradeshows, and businesses cannot use other grants, such as the Branded Program or IN-STEP, for the same event.
“These tradeshow grants are vital for small and large Indiana Grown businesses to compete nationally and globally,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch. “This funding allows Hoosier products to enter new markets and expand their reach.”
If you’re a member of Indiana Grown and interested in applying, visit indianagrown.org for more information, including eligibility details and post-award requirements. For additional questions, contact indianagrown@isda.in.gov.
With this grant opportunity, Indiana Grown continues to support local businesses, making sure the unique products made in Indiana are shared far beyond state lines.
We are deeply sorry for the disruption during our recent Veterans IN Farming (VIF) board meeting, which was unfortunately hacked. The content shared by the hackers was abhorrent, and we sincerely apologize for the distress this caused to everyone involved.
To prevent future incidents, we are adjusting our procedures. While meeting announcements, including dates and times, will still be posted on Facebook and our website, the Zoom link and passcode will now only be sent to members via email.
An email with the Zoom meeting details was sent out on Monday morning. If you did not receive it, please check your spam folder or contact us directly, and we will ensure you get the correct information.
This meeting will cover several important topics, including:
We value your participation and look forward to your input on these important discussions. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to make our meetings more secure.
We hope to see you there!
Dear Veterans IN Farming Community,
We want to sincerely apologize for the disruption during today’s Zoom meeting. Unfortunately, our session was hacked, leading to an unexpected and frustrating interruption.
We are actively working to strengthen our security measures to prevent future incidents and ensure that your time and participation are respected. If you have any concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Thank you for your understanding and patience. We appreciate your continued support as we work to create a safe, productive space for everyone.
Farm ON! The Veterans IN Farming Team
Save the Date: January 24-25, 2025
We’re getting ready for the Veterans IN Farming Winter Conference at the Monroe Convention Center in Bloomington, Indiana! The event kicks off with a Friday evening social, followed by workshops all day Saturday. Registration opens soon and we’d love to have you involved as a volunteer!
Volunteers help make the conference run smoothly, and we’re always looking for new members to jump in. Whether you’ve been part of Veterans IN Farming for a while or you’re just getting started, this is a great way to connect with others and support veteran farmers.
Here are a few ways you can get involved:
If you have connections to businesses that might be interested in sponsoring or exhibiting, let us know! Sponsors are key to making this event happen, and a personal introduction can go a long way.
Sign up when registration opens on October 1, 2024! Whether you have a couple of hours to spare or want to help all weekend, we’ll find the right spot for you.
Got questions or know a sponsor we should reach out to? Email Joe Ricker at joericker@ateaseorchard.org.