Mirkwood Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 i went to buy Hemcore today and they had sold out. The owner of the suppliers came up to me and asked what i was looking for , I said Hemcore........ weve sold out they have a problem with it he said, there wont be any for 3 weeks. Ok i said i will come back then, what you want it for he asked, chickens i said. he then turned into the all knowing sage.................you don't used that for chickens the little fibres get caught round their toes and they drop off....i must have looked suprised because without giving me chance to answer he said you need Medibed. i went over and looked and said no that looks too much like straw and they may eat it and get sour crop, i could tell by his face he was amused........i have been brought up with chickens and i have never heard of them eating straw no no used this...no i have been told not to use it....he couldnt stop laughing i felt so humiliated i walked out and he can go take a jump if he thinks i will ever go back.. i am right aren't i about the straw?????????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trixabell Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 i'm using straw and they never eat it...in fact their fave thing to do is to chuck half of it into their run when i clean the hutch out but they have never attempted eating it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 ................you don't used that for chickens the little fibres get caught round their toes and they drop off.... Well, he obviously knows his stuff (not!) Shame he's lost your business. Straw can harbour parasites and spores because it is hollow. It's hay they eat and get crop problems, although mine will even try eating shredded paper - they're such pigs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirkwood Posted April 8, 2008 Author Share Posted April 8, 2008 i know some on the forum have had to have their chookS operated on to removed straw balls ....i'm sure it was straw ...............chelsea was it you that told me about the straw?????????????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 Our local poultry centre offer chopped straw and they don't actually like hemcore, the guy said something vague about 'it gets inside the hen' which I didn't like to question further! I think long lengths of straw can be an issue for red mite as the mites can hide inside the straws. Sorry the horrible man made you feel bad Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 I was told somewhere on the forum or by PM on here not to use straw and when I did use it when I first got the hens they did eat it. You need to be happy with what you provide for your hens - I use Auboise. I hate know all shopkeepers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirkwood Posted April 8, 2008 Author Share Posted April 8, 2008 Well my very small local pet shop has placed a regular order with their supplier for my Hemcore. I asked for Auboise at the suppliers but he laughed at me and said he didnt stock it! yes your right you do need to be happy with what you use and my Nutmeg has a cough so i didnt want anything i brought to make that worse. i also rang the vet to be sure and she said use Hemcore and she has ordered my Flubevent wormer for me. She thinks Nutmeg has Gapeworm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daj198 Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 I use Aubiose- it's great because it composts really easily! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 i know some on the forum have had to have their chookS operated on to removed straw balls ....i'm sure it was straw ...............chelsea was it you that told me about the straw?????????????? yes it was me , the week you posted someone's chicken had just had an operation to remove a large hard ball of straw which had impacted in the chickens crop. Not nice for the chicken or the owner. I suppose some chickens do eat it and some dont, but I'd rather be cautious and not use straw when there are alternatives. Dont take any notice of the silly shop owner trying to tell you what to do, its nice to be given advice when you ask for it but there is nothing worse than a know it all!! You are the customer and you are always right!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirkwood Posted April 8, 2008 Author Share Posted April 8, 2008 thanks Chelsea, he was only interested i a sale and not what i was trying to say. he had an all male audience so i think it was """" try to make the little woman look stupid""""""" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trixabell Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 ooh i'm really worried now i may change to hemcore!! I've been using straw for a month and had no probs but i don't wanna cause myself any *trix wanders off to find a hemcore supplier nearby!!* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaP Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 I use straw at the moment with no problems - might just have been coincidence, but we got our first egg when we started to use it after starting them off on shredded paper, which they used to just kick out of the nest box. From what I can gather on here its pretty much a personal preference thing with your chickens although I am thinking about trying aubiose or hemcore now I've heard about it. LisaP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 thanks Chelsea, he was only interested i a sale and not what i was trying to say. he had an all male audience so i think it was """" try to make the little woman look stupid""""""" Oh thats awful, glad you have taken your custom elsewhere!! I hate that though, when you go somewhere to specifically buy something and some assistant purses his lips and says "oooh you dont want that" ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirkwood Posted April 8, 2008 Author Share Posted April 8, 2008 oh please dont be worried. i have never had chooks before and i am a worry wart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 Hemcore .................you don't use that for chickens the little fibres get caught round their toes and they drop off Eh? What little fibres? Sounds like a load of chicken poo to me . I'm very happy with Hemcore and will continue to use it - and so should you ..... once you find another supplier . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 oh please dont be worried. i have never had chooks before and i am a worry wart. There is nothing wrong with being worried and wanting the best for your chooks. Like you say he was prob trying to be a know it all in front of the men - what a bigot. Silly man as he has lost your custom!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 Good for you! He doesn't even know his own product...little fibres indeed. More like little chunks. I agree about the straw issue too. It can harbour parasites for one thing, and after the impacted crop incident, I personally don't think it is worth the risk. The only thing I can say in its favour is that it looks pretty when it is clean, and has a couple of eggs nestling in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuggywoo Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 I've always used straw (except for babies when it's been dust extracted shavings) and have never had a problem (mine are free range though so that might make a difference perhaps?). Personal preference I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trixabell Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 okay i have found a hemcore supplier neaer me and on the website it says they sell it in bales, does anyone have a rough price on these bales and how long they may last??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 I pay £7 for mine....and with 11 hens to cater for a bale at the mo lasts about 4/5 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trixabell Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 That doesn't sound too bad and i've only got 3 hens so it should last me a while!! Cheers Egluntine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm200 Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 Our local supplier has put the price up to £8.50 recently as supposedly there's a shortage of the stuff. We keep our girls on the lawn so don't use hemcore in the run yet. We only put it in the nesting box and poo trays and have only used about 2 inches from the top of the bale in 3 weeks. At this rate it will last 3-4 months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
