4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Janey4]

Just wondering what everyone uses in their hen houses, bedding wise??

 

I was thinking about shavings (dust extracted, horsey ones) on the bottom of the coop and then either shredded paper or chopped straw in the nest boxes?

Would this be ok?!

 

Thanks!!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I use shredded paper in the nestbox - I know some people find it gets soggy but I've never found that.

 

Can't remember the advice about straw - someone else will, I'm sure!

[Gallina]

Straw is fine; it is hay that you mustn't use, as they will eat it and could get crop-bound.

 

I don't actually put anything in the nesting box: my hens don't seem to mind.

 

A sheet or two of newspaper on the poo tray keeps it clean.

[Janey4]

Can't remember the advice about straw - someone else will, I'm sure!

 

Is it something to do with mites?? Thats my worry!

[kimbo_frog]

My chooks kick out the straw when Ive put it in the nest boxes...

 

They seemed to prefer nothing in the eglu nesting box...

even though I have used shredded paper before..

 

I use "easi-bed" on the floor as its very cheap and easy to clean up...

Its rather like large soft wood chips...

 

Its about £6.50 a huge bag from my local farm shop...

 

Kim

[Mrs Webmuppet]

I use Auboise, it's £8 per bale and last's about 6 weeks. It clumps the poo and makes it easier to pick up ( I have a 'conventional style' coop and run.)

[EileenH]

What about `easibed` on the floor of the run?

How does it behave when it gets wet in the rain?

I`m going to set up a permanent run as my garden is too tiny for many moves to fresh grass.

Would I put the easibed or whatever just on top of the existing grass?

Sorry to be a `know-nothing`.

[Purplemaniacs]

I put easi-bed in the nest box as well as the run, our four seem to like it, well three do, Ebony lays on the roosting bars, has never used the nest

 

Chrissie

[MedusA]

I use Aubiose too, in the droppings tray and in the nest box, but I also add straw to the nestbox. My girls seem to like it and I have never had any problems. It's spores in damp bedding that are the concern, hence hay is not adviseable. If you change the bedding 1-2 times a week, it should be fine. I have a hen who sleeps and poos in the nest so I poo-pick it every day.

[ClaireG]

Im using Auboise in the run, nest box and poo tray. I did also line the poo tray and nest box with newspaper but the girls somehow managed to drag it all out into the run

[Electricbarbarella]

use aubiose in the run and the poo trays, no smells at all and really easy to clean out, I use shredded paper in the nest box. I put a sheet ofpaper over the hole at the bottom to stop it all falling out.

I have ashower curtain over the run to prevent the aubiose getting too wet although it does dry out ok if it gets damp.

[Rhapsody]

Aquamax. Fantastic stuff, doesnt pong lie Aubiose and hemcore do when wet, cheaper and easier to store (cos you wet the pellets and they double in size, the bags are small) dries out well too.

[Egluntyne]

I'm a big fan of Aubiose.

 

Lovely soft stuff. Super absorbent and easily compostable.

[judith67]

It's nice to read other people's experiences. I keep tutting at my hens, I have a conventional wooden coop, and kept putting lovely straw in their nesting boxes, they just kept throwing it onto the floor of the coop. I have just kept repeatedly refilling the boxes. I never thought that maybe they don't like straw in there It looked so cosy I never thought they may not like it.

 

If i put aubiose or similar down on the floor of the coop only, does it just clump up where there is poo or moisture like cat litter, so it's easy to just pick up the poo-ey bits? I might give it a try if thats the case

[redhotchick]

I have used Megazorb and Aubiose. Both are primarily horsebedding and have been fine, I'd go with whatever you can get cheap and local. I put it in the run, droppings tray and nest box. I've also used newspaper to line the droppings tray, some did end up in the run one day.

I use one or two sheets of clear corrugated plastic held down with bungee cords to keep the run and the chickens dry, with the omlet shade underneath the plastic. (inspired by Ain't "Ooops, word censored!"ody here).

[jomaxsmith]

I think chopped straw is ok but long straw can harbour red mite (they can hide inside the stalks). I have pulled this 'fact' out of my head so it may be completely made up (anyone else find they do that? )

 

I'm trialling Easibed at the mo after using Aubiose and Hemcore and I find it's not as good at dehydrating poos inside the Eglu but seems better in the run - it doesn't disappear in the rain as much as the hemp products. I'm more concerned about whether it composts down as well as they did but only time will tell on that score!

 

Jo

[Cate in NZ]

Some great suggestions there . i used auboise & shredded paper myself, but it really is down to personal preference and what you can get hold of easily. Hay is the thing to avoid