afrozenbrew Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 I've been using straw in the nesting box for years now, but read recently that mites live inside the holes in the centre of the stalk and therefore it's bad to use. I've also used paper shreddings in the past. Someone has suggested wood shavings to me, so I've been considering getting some of those. Just wondered what everyone used/thought and if anyone knew if that was true about straw? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 Straw can harbour mould and parasites so is best avoided. Wood shavings are not a good idea as they get clumpy and soggy quickly, and are often from an indeterminate source. Many of us on the forum use **Hemcore** or **Aubiose** very successfully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 Wood shavings are not a good idea as they get clumpy and soggy quickly, and are often from an indeterminate source. I think that depends. The ones I use are only clumped together until I shake them a bit as we got a huge bale of them from Mole Valley-they last ages, we've had ours for 2 and a half years! Ours only get damp as the chickens poo on them... BTW I use a mixture of shredded paper and wood shavings in my nestbox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellekatz Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 I use hemcore/auboise - it seems to be the only thing mine don't kick out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 I use mostly shredded paper and a bit of hemcore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 Wood shavings are not a good idea as they get clumpy and soggy quickly, and are often from an indeterminate source. Ours only get damp as the chickens poo on them That is the point I was making. Hemcore and Aubiose don't get soggy and revolting anything like as quickly as woodshavings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afrozenbrew Posted February 24, 2008 Author Share Posted February 24, 2008 Do Hemcore and Aubiose not harbour mould and parasites then? My chickens don't poo in their nesting box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 No they don't. They are also subjected to regular checks at the manufacturer for dust and spore counts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucky1 Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 I am a big fan of Hemcore after it was reccommended to me on this site. I use it in the cube roosting bit/laying and in the pen area. It is great at dealing with the 'poo-pongs' too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 I line mine with chicken poo...and some more chicken poo for good measure. The pooier the eggs the better, or so my girls think Do you have a recurrent problem with mites? I use straw and they have never had them. Nor have they dropped dead from aspergillus But I am hoping to change to shredded paper (if I can find a reliable source, still waiting on dh to bring some home, been nagging for ages....but this is due to composting time really as I think my big muck pile waiting for my new compost bin might take ages to break down...hmmm, thinking of burning it...or is that gross?) Maddy xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 I don't like the smell of straw so I use shredded paper. Normally old bills, receipts and bank statements! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 I use shredded paper but I was finding with the cube that filling the poo trays and the nesting box used more paper than I could shred. Now I don't put anything in the poo trays and I tip thepoo straight into the veggie beds. I just give the poo trays a good hose down once a week to clean them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afrozenbrew Posted February 24, 2008 Author Share Posted February 24, 2008 I line mine with chicken poo...and some more chicken poo for good measure. The pooier the eggs the better, or so my girls think Do you have a recurrent problem with mites? I use straw and they have never had them. Nor have they dropped dead from aspergillus But I am hoping to change to shredded paper (if I can find a reliable source, still waiting on dh to bring some home, been nagging for ages....but this is due to composting time really as I think my big muck pile waiting for my new compost bin might take ages to break down...hmmm, thinking of burning it...or is that gross?) Maddy xxx No. I've never experienced them, just heard that they were a particular problem with straw and got spooked! I might switch back to paper just incase. If you , or anyone else, would like some shredded paper I'd be happy to send you some, we get bags full of them from the office! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 Shredded paper- I bought a cheap shredder especially. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farrowy Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 I use shredded paper but I was finding with the cube that filling the poo trays and the nesting box used more paper than I could shred. Now I don't put anything in the poo trays and I tip thepoo straight into the veggie beds. I just give the poo trays a good hose down once a week to clean them. I'm sure I read somewhere that you shouldn't put the poop direct onto the veggie patch.....not 100% sure of that factoid though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
argent13uk Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 I use shredded paper because its easy to dispose of - i just throw it on the compost with all the other chicken poop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...