[marigold]

I have been using shredded paper from work with straw on top but I would like to use shavings. Where do you all get shaving from? It is very expensive at the farmers store.

[harry]

got to be dust free.

[Wizard]

H have you ever seen an automatic bedder in action?

[pottsie]

I canged from shavings to shreded paper before xmas, had no problems except a few of the girls have started to try and sleep in the nesting box. Best thing is it's free i was paying quite a lot for shavings, should i be mixing the both or is just shreded paper ok?

[suziequeue]

Can chippings be used?

We generate sawdust from our coppicing activities which my darling husband uses in his stove in the garage on cold days (keeps him in there longer!!!). We recently bought a robust chipper for all the brash but I'm not sure what to do with it all - there's certainly more than enough for mulch, composting and some!! Would be great to use as chicken bedding (we haven't got ours yet)

Susanna

[Farmer]

H have you ever seen an automatic bedder in action?

I think I dated one when I was younger 

Farmer, 

[marigold]

Are you just showing off now farmer?

[Farmer]

Me Kirsty?....not at all....I mearly meant that a young lady of my acquaintance in days gone by worked in a printers setting 'copy' on the working bed of an automated print machine...her job title was an 'Automatic Bedder'...what did you think I meant? 

Farmer, 

[Wizard]

Ohhhhh Kirsty, Farmer if you haven't seen one I'm sorry you have no idea so in the search engine box type
Kidd 807 Straw chopper/bedder and a list will appear click Youtube Traynor Irelands channel and click the video start > in the center of the picture.There are several of these machines about one picks a round bale up on a platform and shreds it and blows it up to 50/60 feet away think of the dust I had to stand outside the cattle shed I could not bear being in with it Phew

[marigold]

you live and learn!!!!

[suziequeue]

Any views on chippings?javascript:void(0);

[Wizard]

Suzie CVF used only chippings from the mills in Gy at one time but like all things there are very few now.They don't rot down as easily as straw if thats of interest to you

[suziequeue]

Oh right.

I think we are going to start with reduced dust shavings from our local farm supplies shop and see how we go with that. I do like the idea of the Aubiose for its compostability though.

We have a little hen house - 3ft x 3ft base and two laying boxes (we are only getting three chooks) so will have to do a little economic evaluation once we work out how much shavings we get through.

Thanks

Susanna

[Rumpleteazer]

I tend to prefer straw, mainly because it rots down nicely in the compost. I have tried shredded paper, but didn't like it - I found it got very messy, especially in winter when the ground is muddy. I have used wood shavings successfully, but just doesn't rot down as well in the compost. I would agree with others - don't use hay unless you are desperate!

[Hellybee]

We use shavings for the in ponies and straw for the sheeps