Wood Shavings
 White wood shavings (not sawdust) is one of the most popular bedding materials for chickens, ducks and other poultry as they are very absorbent and easy to use. Shavings keep smells down and reduce ammonia in the air from droppings that can cause respiratory damage and eye problems. Shavings also provide insulation from the cold ground during harsh winter weather. Be very careful when rearing young ducklings though, wood shavings can kill ducklings because they will eat them when they are young. If shavings are introduced after 6 weeks, they are less likely to eat them than when they are newly hatched.
Shavings must not be derived from hardwoods as there are certain fungi and moulds in these can cause problems. Sawdust should be avoided as the dust can cause respiratory problems. Wood shavings can usually be bought in a compressed ‘block' from pet shops but do ensure they are dust extracted. Dusty wood shavings and inadequate ventillation in the hen house do cause problems.
Straw
Straw can be used as a bedding material. Chopped straw is the most convenient to use however it will soon get compacted on the floor and is not as absorbent as wood shavings.
Hay must not be used for bedding as it soon gets damp and can cause fungal spores to grow that can cause aspergillosis. This disease is contracted by inhalation when there is a high spore count in the air which can happen in a relatively short period of time given the right conditions. Nest boxes for hens are usually an exception and hay can be used if available but you must ensure they are kept clean.
Shredded Paper
Shredded paper can be used as bedding material but depending on how it has been shredded and how thick it has been layered depends on how absorbent it is. When using shredded paper, you really need to make sure you can't smell ammonia from droppings first thing in the morning before letting your birds out. With adequate ventilation in the house and a sufficiently thick layer of shredded paper, you shouldn't have a problem, provided you can change the bedding weekly.
Never use any sort of bedding material that is dusty as poultry, especially chickens are prone to respiratory problems.
Chopped Cardboard
 Chopped cardboard is my favourite and a good choice for bedding material. It is more absorbent than shredded paper and doesn't get as compacted as paper or straw. It composts quickly and can be dug into the ground. It is dust free which is a big advantage over other bedding types.  Ecopetbed (pictured left) is made from recycled cardboard. Finacard (pictured right) is another supplier of chopped cardboard.
Since most of the cost is in the postage, you may want to enquire about buying a pallet if you have enough hens / enough storage space, it can be as cheap as £6.50 per bale when bought like this.
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Common To All Poultry