Solitary chicken - need advice

[chocolatedog]

Not sure if anyone else is having the same problems getting hold of hemcore at the moment? The place I get mine from said they can't get hold of it - something about the factory or whatever having closed temporarily due to contamination (or I think that's what the guy said). he suggested Easibed instead (and also mentioned Easichick). Question is - can I use Easibed out in the covered run? (Covered by Omlet shades.......) I used to use Hemcore out in the run - is Easibed the same kind of thing?

(And another question - how many times a year can a hen go broody???? Spice had been broody for a week now - her 2nd time in 5 months!!!! AARRGGHH)

[owenofj]

I think I know where it's all gone, the 'chicken place' down the road from us has tonnes of the stuff.

[SAB]

Try www.greenmule.co.uk (under the equestrian section).

[Hen Watch]

Has your supplier got Auboise instead??? I use Auboise which is hemp exactly the same as Hemcore. Hemcore is UK supplier and Aubiose is French.

[Mrs Webmuppet]

I couldn't get hemcore the other day and had to get auboise which was more expensive.

[chocolatedog]

Has your supplier got Auboise instead??? I use Auboise which is hemp exactly the same as Hemcore. Hemcore is UK supplier and Aubiose is French.

 

No - he'd never heard of Auboise, but they do stock plenty of Easibed!! Which is why I was wondering about it........

[TAJ]

Easi bed is wood based, though dust extracted - personally I prefer other types of bedding - don't get hung up by brand names - Hemcore and Auboise are just two brand names - Jopack is another for example and is very similar to auboise.

 

Basically any hemp or flax based horse bedding will be similar to hemcore or auboise - generally these are more asorbant than wood based products and really compost down quickly compared to wood or straw based alternatives.

 

Tracy

[chelsea]

yes cant get hemcore down here either,

 

We were supplied something called Fennington fibres but I didnt like it,

 

Switched to aubiose now and i much prefer it...its finer so it dries out quicker.

[Tina C]

On the broodiness - my bantams go broody every few weeks.

 

I always have at least one sitting in the eglu snarling at me (except little Black who is the sweetest little baby and lets me strioke her and cuddle her)

 

I am hoping that once spring/summer is over they will be less prone to broodiness.

 

My big girls (hybrids and ex-batts) never do the broody thing.

[chickenanne]

Yep, our supplier told us there was some health & safety issue at the factory and they're currently looking for new premises. This was a few weeks ago now.

[sparkleeeeee]

we had trouble getting some as well and when it finally came it was more expensive and the bail was smaller . they said it was better compacted but it was even more losely compated than before and covered a much smaller area. it hasnt lasted well this time and i thought it needed to be changed after 2 weeks rather than the usual 4 weeks. i shall be buying bliss and a bottle of citronella instead. which will work out alot cheaper.