[Steph Hen]

The fields haven't been cut yet, so I have a choice... Wheat or barley straw for bedding chickens? Does it make any difference? I know not to use hay, and whilst I like wood shavings, the straw is free so will be stocking up with enough to bed them for the next 12 months.  Thanks for any thoughts 

[Connor]

I would go for barley straw its warmer for the chickens and its not as messing i find!

[leaswood]

i prefer barley straw as its cleaner generally and i think warmer too

[clydesdaleclopper]

Neither for me as straw provides a great hiding place for red mite

[Daisys Mum]

I have always used barley straw but I am finding that my hens scrape it all out into the middle of the house so am planning on trying hemcore, that's if I can get it .

[mowhaugh]

I have always used barley straw but I am finding that my hens scrape it all out into the middle of the house so am planning on trying hemcore, that's if I can get it .

Not sure where exactly in the borders you are, but Tarff Valley at St Boswells in the mart carpark keep hemcore.

[hughesy]

How is either kind "warmer" for the chickens if they roost on a perch? They don't nest in the straw like piglets .

[Castle Farm]

Barley will break down easier than Wheat. If your using it in an outside run use Wheat as the stems are thicker and it keeps them slighty higher off the mud.

Both will give the birds entertainment.

[funkyfish]

Straw is not the best bedding for poultry as the mites like to live in it.

[Rosemary]

I have always used barley straw but I am finding that my hens scrape it all out into the middle of the house so am planning on trying hemcore, that's if I can get it .

I'm using Fresh Bed by Dengie and I find they move this around too (and they did the same with Hemcore.

I wouldn't use straw because if it gets damp, it heats up and can grow spores and bacteria.

Anyway, the bedding is just to make it easier to clean out the house - the hens don't sleep in it. They have their own built in duvets. Always makes me smile when the bags of bedding say it will "keep your hens cosy and comfortable".

[john and helen]

because we only have only 5 chooks and two ducks, we use Medi bed Eucalyptus scented soft straw, this meant to keep the chook house free of mites


havn't found any yet..so have to say very pleased with it

http://www.blueberrywarren.com/default.asp

[Steph Hen]

Thanks for the replies. I'll go with barley straw, not found any red mites in the shed yet, and it always smells alright, henny but not bad, so figure there cant be too much bacteria in there yet. I have wood shavings too, so if I start getting problems will switch to something else.

The 'euculyptus bedding reminds me of one spring years ago my mums pony got sick and had to be stabled... They lived out all year round, so we had to go and buy bedding that evening.-all that was left was some uber treated, dust free, top of the range bedding, cost her a small fortune but you could smell it from the road!