MrandMrsG Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Apologies in advance if you think that is going to be a dumb question but being new to this chicken keeping malarkie, there are a lot of things that I don't know but I'm gradually gleening the info from the eggspurts on this great forum. Many of you have mentioned Hemcore, I'd like to try it out and have found a local source as where I can get it from; but what I want to know is, if I bought a bale, how long would it last with having an eglu and 3 chooks or should I buy more than one bale? The time has come where I must set up a permanent site for the girls, as they're trashing my lawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 I have a large walk in run 12x6 feet and 2 eglus. 1 hemcore bale lasts me a month, and I clean my run out a lot (more than necessary ) so a bale and an eglu run would last you a lot longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 A bale lasts me a few months. I use it in the nesting box and change it weekly with top ups in the week when I poop pick from the messy chicken who sleeps in the nesting box. In the run I rake it weekly to tidy it up and change it fully every 5 - 6 weeks. I have a normal sized eglu run and it works out really well. At the moment I also have it insulating my shooting rhubarb from the frost that is predicted - so versatile!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 And, Mr&MrsG, there is no such thing as a dumb question on here! Every question has either been asked before or someone has wondered the same thing, we were all new to it once, don't know about everyone else but I'm still making it up as I go along! Mrs Bertie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 I have 2 Eglus, each with a converter and extension. A bale of Aubiose which I imagine is roughly the same size as a bale of Hemcore, lasts me approx 2 months. I don't skimp either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeanne Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Chickenlickin, do you use the soiled hemcore for the rhubarb? I know it is meant to be a greedy plant. I have a small fruit patch with fruit buses and trees. Can I use the stuff begining with a you can get if you can`t get hemcore(I can never remember what it is called) directly around those plants? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 I have an eglu and converter and use about 1/3 of a bale to re-do the run. I'm on my 4th bale since early September. I use shredded paper in the nestbox so the hemcore goes further. I think I'm right in saying used hemcore (or aubiose) can be put straight onto veg plots but not onto flowerbeds (it's too acidic, I think). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 I seem to think that the poo has to be composted before going onto veg plots in oder to kill off any bacteria that might affect a food crop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 I sit corrected . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 I could be wrong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrandMrsG Posted March 4, 2008 Author Share Posted March 4, 2008 Many thanks for your helpful replies, they've been a great help. Next dumb question - Is Aubiose similar to Hemcore and do they compare in price? I know I could google the info, but it's much nicer finding out about these things from you lot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 (edited) I could be wrong! Not you, Professor . Yes, they are similar products and I think similar in price (there can be differences in price depending on where you can get it - I was paying £9.50 for hemcore but have luckily found someone just as near only charging £7 .) Edited March 4, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 It has been known. Ask Him Indoors. He reckons I'm always in the wrong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 I always understood it was the acidity - chicken poo is very 'hot' and needs to rot down a bit before it's used on flower beds as it's likely to burn the foliage. Manure from slower digesters like horses or cattle can be put straight on to flower beds. I guess there could be an issue about bacteria and veg crops, but it can't be much worse than the poo on the eggs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Sorry Mr & MrsG, we've slipped off-topic! Aubiose and hemcore are very similar, and about the same price. I've never been able to find hemcore, but I believe it has citronella in it which must be nice. I use aubiose, it's about £7 a bale, and I'm on my third bale in a year of chicken-keeping (I'm a bit stingy with it in the run!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Does "Ooops, word censored!"ody else use Easibed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilda-and-evadne Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Many thanks for your helpful replies, they've been a great help. Next dumb question - Is Aubiose similar to Hemcore and do they compare in price? I know I could google the info, but it's much nicer finding out about these things from you lot The place in Kent I bought Aubiose from charged £6.55 per bale ex VAT. I bought three because the "shipping and handling" charges were so high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Yes....quite a few people...Kev and Cathy do I'm sure. It is much the same thing I think...ish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrandMrsG Posted March 4, 2008 Author Share Posted March 4, 2008 No problem Olly, all this talk about poo is all very interesting and part of why why I'm investing in the Hemcore or Aubiose in the first place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 I'm afraid poo is a constant topic on this forum! How much will there be, what's the best thing to do with it, what colour is it ... Aubiose/hemcore is the best stuff - I have no problems with my poo since I started using it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeanne Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 I'm afraid poo is a constant topic on this forum! How much will there be, what's the best thing to do with it, what colour is it ... Aubiose/hemcore is the best stuff - I have no problems with my poo since I started using it! but what about the chickens Olly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 I have no problems with my poo since I started using it! but what about the chickens Olly? That is a relief Olly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 I got my chooks at the end of October (in an Eglu with run+convertor) and I'm just coming to the end of my second bale. I have padded it out in the run a bit with shavings that Father-in-law insisted on bringing me (he manages a timber yard - and I now have shavings blown all over th garden!) I bought hemcore first time, then aubiose to try it. Aubiose is a bit softer but also about 50p a bale more expensive where I get it. I think I'll probably get Hemcore next time I go - buy British and all that! Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 I can only seem to get hemcore down here. I wouldnt use anything else though in the run - hemcore/aubiose/easybed are all great. I poo pick every day and to be honest its very hard to find the poo in the run its that good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolo Rabbit Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Chelsea - where do you get your hemcore from? I tried mole valley at newton abbot but they didn't have any. I've got wood shavings this time round but want to get hemcore next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...