The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Andy1982 on January 10, 2011, 12:04:16 pm
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Hi everyone . We just bought our first 9 chooks and i made a coop for them which they seem to be happy in. I did;nt realise how much they dump[ from a height and was just wondering what is best for bedding and how deep. We are using straw atm as that is what we can source but i did see milled straw somewhere the other day.
Thanks
Andy
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We use a mixture of chopped straw and shavings; in both our duck and hen housing; the shavings are very absorbant and the straw seems to make it cosier and softer under foot. Also straw on its own is a pain to clear out just doesn't gather up easily and seems to be excessively wet and almost slimy.We buy both from our local feed merchant in very densely packed bales.
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Thanks for the imput gavo. i think i will have to go for something more absorbant and your right the straw is not the easiest to clean up.
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I use Hemcore. It's not cheap - about £10 for a bale but it's very absorbent, so you can use it quite sparingly. It's nice to handle and dust extracted. It's a waste product from hemp grown for paper - hemp is grown with little artificial inputs, so it's quite environmentally friendly. It also rots down into compost in 8weeks or so, unlike shavings or straw.
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I'm a Hemcore convert too
Nice & easy to use & a bale lasts for ages.
Smells quite nice as well, so no ammonia stench in the coops ;)
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i use shavings and i put down a bale at a time, nice cosy hen house for my girls,
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I use Hemcore. It's not cheap - about £10 for a bale but it's very absorbent, so you can use it quite sparingly. It's nice to handle and dust extracted. It's a waste product from hemp grown for paper - hemp is grown with little artificial inputs, so it's quite environmentally friendly. It also rots down into compost in 8weeks or so, unlike shavings or straw.
Is this available down here, Rosemary?
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There is a list of distributors on their website www.hemcore.co.uk :)
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Yes, I have had Hemcore from the Boquhan shop near Kippen before, and we've found it excellent. We don't damp it down as the instructions say, but instead give it a good soaking once it's in the compost heap, and it rots down really quickly. Russells in Larbert sells something by another name which looks more or less the same too, so you can definitely get it in the Central Belt.
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I see McCaskies at Springkerse have it. Thanks all. I'll give it a try.
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straw may harbour mites, if this is a problem with your birds...
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a nice thick bed of shavings, then skip out worst once a week, and replace thoroughly when needed. if youve youngsters sitting on the floor, extra straw on top is nice for them to snuggle into.
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I put newspapers down then straw on top. Put all on compost heap when cleaning out. I have shavings down just now on top of the papers.
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I had to stop using shavings as the young birds were eating them - I watched them do it, not just having a peck, sadly ::) :chook:
Back to straw on Lino. lino, carboard and straw for the ducks :&>
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Same for me at the moment but might try the hemp
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We use the cross-cut paper shreddings. I have a lot of confidential papers and it works a treat and rots down nicely.
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We use straw for our girls. I was advised against hay because it can harbour parasites.
It can be a bit of a pain to shovel into a sack when you're clearing them out - especially if you're doing it on your own.
We also keep a few pigs so it makes sense to standardise the bedding with the two animals rather than double-up.
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You say from a height so I'm assuming they are perching ok? If so, put a droppings board under the perch which you can easily remove for cleaning. It will catch the poop and therefore keep the floor below much cleaner.
Straw/hay is ok for the nests but keep it dry. Change it regularly. Shavings on the floor helps with the daily muck collected underfoot, but, the birds SHOULD be perching (perches are for sleeping, nests are for eggs) so use a droppings board.
:chook:
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I found hay was better with absorbing moisture but very dusty, so not good for the birds' lungs.
I can not stop mine from sleeping in the nesting boxes, some of them always huddle in there to keep warm... :chook:
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Mine all congregate at the back corner of their shed - only two LS will perch, so I have to put bedding down too.
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none of my hens perch, thats why i put a big thick shavings bed down so they can get comfy and cosy
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I've ordered up two bales (40kg) of this hemp malarky from my local country supplier to see what it's like! I was never a fan of the shavings... Always got too messy in
rain
and winter.
I'll let you all know how I fair!
:-)
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I have access to unlimited supply of green Oak chippings, I know they have a high Tannin content, does anyone know if they would be suitable for deep litter under my planned elevated coop? :chook:
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dont know about oak, is it cedar wood that can make u ill? keeps bugs away put gives u flu like symptoms. :wave: :chook:
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I use a mix of Bliss horse bedding (which is shredded rape straw and very quick to rot ) and straw. My hatched birds perch ex bats don't. Means the nest boxes get filthy unfortunately. We did have covers my hubby made to keep them out but when we got the dreaded mite we burnt them. He keeps threatening to make me some more but out of plastic but nothing yet.
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Would the hemp be ok to use for pigs with straw on top?
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I've used bliss with straw on top for minions whilst in farrowing, works great soaks up well.