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

[SueChick]

This sounds like a strange request but does anyone have any good ideas about what we could use in the nesting box and run instead of Hemcore. It seems that our very long standing bald chicken problem may be contact dermatitis and not bullying. She is very sore looking on her belly and under her wings and after the vet checked her over last night she thinks she is allergic to Hemcore! I must admit I have tried everything to rid her of her baldness but did not consider this.

 

The vet suggested peat to be used in the run but I think this may get too boggy in the rain (pardon pun!) and shredded paper in the nesting box.

 

Has anyone got any ideas of material they have used with success?

Edited August 29, 2008 by Guest

[Egluntyne]

Never heard of Peat being used. It is certainly not environmentally friendly.

 

Shredded paper might be worth a try, or any of the non hemp based horse beddings.

[SueChick]

Thank you for your very quick reply. What products do they sell for horses which are non-hemp based - do you know? I am not very horsey so a little out of my depth. However, with the poultry problems we have had this year, I feel out of my depth here too!!

[Egluntyne]

**Aquamax** is wood based.

 

**Nedz Bedz** is straw based.

 

**Easibed** is wood based.

 

You don't actually need to use anything in the nesting box.......I guess most of us do though.

 

Good luck.

[SueChick]

Thank you for your response. I am very worried about our bald lady. When the vet turned her upside down her belly was so sore looking - all red and scaly. I feel so hopeless because we have tried literally everything - mite spray, lice spray, bumper bits on the other chicken, ukadez, purple spray, pekka blocks.....the list goes on and on. This is the last chance saloon really. If we can't get to the bottom of this we may have to lose her because I hate to see such a sore chicken. Our only hope is that we can find an alternative bedding/run covering and that her dermatitis clears up.

 

I am wondering which of the materiala you suggested I should go for......I known Hemp is from the Hemp plant so in theory, any of them should be different enough from Hemp to maybe stop the irritation.

 

Are they horse bedding products? Would I purchase them at an equestrian supplier???

[Poplars]

As Eglutine said, if it is just for the nesting box you don't necessarily need anything in it, we originally didn't but the eggs were breaking and being broken so we used shredded paper and now we use wood straw stuff that is designed for cheese packaging

 

Hope your chook recovers soon

 

Eve

[SueChick]

No it is not just for nesting box it is also as a covering/scratching layer for the run. We use hemcore because it is so absorbent. Our chicks are permanently sited - first we used bark chip which quickly became very smelly, then we discovered hemcore and this was great for them to scratch about in and even dust bath in when they wanted. Now that Nugget seems to be allergic to it we really need to find something else that is absorbent and won't get waterlogged or smelly.

[Hen Watch]

Have read this post with interest. I have an Amber Star with a bald, red underbelly but no feather loss elsewhere.

 

I assumed she was moulting but reading your post wonder if she's the same as your chook. I use Auboise in the nestbox and run, my chooks have been with me for 16 months and I've used Auboise the whole time but only just recently noticed this with my Amber Star.

 

Am reluctant to change Auboise in run as it's fab stuff but I might give alternative nestbox material a go.....

[tara]

Are your chooks on dirt under the hemcore as we dont use any thing we just dig in lime every so often.We also use shreaded paper as its cheaper in the nest box.What about if you took her in for a while and keep a balance with putting her back.We did this and it worked the other hens did not reject her.But may be just to see if it works might be worth a try.We have 2 balding hens that are very sore im thinking it could be the dirt dont think there alergic to any thing.Good luck with your hens

[Blackrocksrock]

I also have a bald underneath hen - only on shredded paper and wood chip here and the run is covered - I think it is her trying to get to things out of the fencing which I move around and they are always leaning through the squares to get something just out of reach!!

[GKH]

i also have a bald hen i just use straw in the nest box - is that bad?

[sandyhas3chucks]

my straw nust have had beasties in it... chucked it all out & gone for sgredded paper for a while. a friend gave me some yellow nappyrash cream which i have to say has been brilliant... mot quite as gloopyt as sudocrem, but sodocrem was good too. 2 dats ofvyellow cream & she is 80% better. Worth a try..

[tara]

Can l ask what the cream is called ive been using sudocream and it is good but if there is somthing faster then id love to try it as well.

[sandyhas3chucks]

you can now, couldn't say last night cos it in bathroom with sleeping chickens METANIUM Rember this is not licenced por use with chickens.! Can't beleive how good it's looking, gotta try cotton buds to get on parsoms nose between feathers

[tara]

I thought you was gona say metanium that is very good l use it on my little one.Im using sudocream at mo on chooks.If it makes them feel better then its worth a try.How long have you used it and how often do you put it on them.

[sandyhas3chucks]

she gave it to me Friday morn. ...washed dirt & patted dry with cotton wool.(have to remind myself that I am talking about a chicken here!0

I put it on just before bed

left it all day Sat washed lightly eve put another dab on bit not covered before (only did one bit to see) then Sunday just left it as still got a covering on & looks nice & calm not red & very sore as before.

Tonight am going to try the cotton buds with it on on the p nose bit between spikey feathers.

I only used very thinly as per instruction for baby. No one seems slightest bit inmterestyed in pecking or tasting it!

 

Well thats what I have done.let me know how you get on.. good luck

[tara]

Well im going to try this im of to tesco pharmacy in a bit.Hope she dose not ask me any questions .Thanks you been a great help.

[tara]

Thanks sandy for the tip using metanium. l have been using it a few days and its brilliant They look much better cant believe how quick its working on them.Thanks to you they are feeling better and im feeling happier knowing there getting better....

[sandyhas3chucks]

Thats good news, a friend visited today & actually commented on the bum! the day after I did the cotton buds thing on her p nose it was looking good 1st thing, then clearly there was lots more there than I thought, beak comb ears flappy red bits head etc all had little coating which naturally I bathed off also remoived some more bits from feathers too. but looking good, done nothing with it today, will reassess again tom. Also bald belly on another ex bat looks heaps better, though this chook likes being handled least, so did what I could whilst standing in front of mirror, so need do do another bit. A bit temoting to put everywhere at once but like to see if there is adverse reaction 1st & not wanting to bother them too much either, or have it on to be preened off & ingested! hope she comtinues to improve