Jane 20 Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 Our usual supplier of hemore (Scats) had none in today so we had to go to another source - a farm feed supply centre. When I asked for hemcore -saying it was for our chickens the chap there said that they don't recommend hemcore as chickens might eat it - they use wood chipping for their pols. Has anyone else come across this? (We did buy the wood chipping in the end..) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faye&Ant Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 No never heard of that and we use Hemcore. When we can't get hold of Hemcore we use Aubiose which I now think I prefer and ive never seen the girls eat it either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAB Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 Even if they do eat it, it would not do them any harm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolky Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 Don't say that I just bought a bale My husband said they sell Auboise too so I will try that next to compare. It does say on the back of the hemcore that you need to dampen it, does anyone do that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAB Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 I never dampen it, but I live in Scotland so it gets damp soon enough!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 It is super or chickens. Don't be put off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 It does say on the back of the hemcore that you need to dampen it, does anyone do that? It's actually horse bedding and recommended you dampen it for their benefit. Chickens don't need it damp. Even if they do eat it, it would not do them any harmEven if they did eat it I would think their system could cope with hemp. If they can rummage through soil and eat that then I think a bit of hemp will not do them any harm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 we've been using it since we got our girls, we've had no issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 I have used it and my chickens have eaten it with no ill-effects. Hemcore does have citronella in it while aubiose does not, which worried me a bit, but they survived. Back to aubiose now though as I prefer it - its softer on the hands Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carenb Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 I use bliss and easibed which are similar I think..... my hens are fine with it too. ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane 20 Posted July 20, 2008 Author Share Posted July 20, 2008 we will use the woodchippings this time and return to hemcore for the next cleanout I expect -it composts easier too! Thx Jx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooklady Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 Hemcore and Aubiose are both made from Hemp aren't they? I bought Hemcore as it is English and I thought I should support an English product rather than a French one and the Hemcore is slightly cheaper! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolky Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 I put slabs down today with hemcore for the first time and WOW I am so impressed. I just went out poo picking (an impossible task it would seem when they were on grass) and it is sooooooooo easy! They are in the eglu with standard run at the moment and so I did end up putting my cat litter scooper on a stick to get the poo by the eglu (in my defence a couple of them were curry ones) and it was so great. The run will stay clean for so much longer which must be so much nicer for the hens. They seem to love scratching about in it too (once they had got used to it on their tootsies lol) Buttercup even used it to dustbath. They already seem so much happier. The kids enjoyed playing 'hunt the poo' too lol I do have an ikea shower curtain is this enough for a roof? How many areas of bungie clips do you use? I don't really want to buy the plastic roof as the husband is building the girls a walk in run soon and I will be using hemcore in this (or auboise which is also sold in the shop near my husbands work) Big thumbs up from me (and my chickens) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 I do have an ikea shower curtain is this enough for a roof? How many areas of bungie clips do you use? I don't really want to buy the plastic roof as the husband is building the girls a walk in run soon and I will be using hemcore in this (or auboise which is also sold in the shop near my husbands work) Big thumbs up from me (and my chickens) A cheap plastic shower curtain (really just a part of it) does the job for my standard Cube run. I hold it on with four clothes pegs (the kind with springs) on either side (but two on each side would do as well). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hils78 Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 I tried out Hemcore for my rabbit years ago but found it too harsh/splintery on my builders hands! But the last time I went to the farm they said that Hemcore had just started to shred it a bit finer so should be softer now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathybc Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 good idea to use pegs - I have two bungee cords joined together to hold my ikea shower curtain in place, but was going to get some more after the wind at the weekend - now I will try pegs ! re Hemcore - I have read that it is not good for tortoises if they ingest it - I guess hens innards a more sturdy ? - I hope so, I have a big bale of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane 20 Posted July 21, 2008 Author Share Posted July 21, 2008 I don't like wood shaving - the poos just sit there definitely going back to hemcore as soon as I get rid of this bale! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
