Solving Omlet Smart Auto Door Timing Issues with Alexa Routines

[andreafays]

Hi all, I have for the last month been using Hay for my Chickens Nesting Boxes and the Duck Bedding....they live together! But, when I went to get more Hay this week the shop had sold out so I bought Straw, but it is a bit messy! I tend to pick out the poo from their house on a daily basis as this tends to keep it all so much cleaner during the week until I do a full clean out on the week-ends, what is recommended to use as I have been reading mixed feedback?

 

Thanks

Andrea x

P.S I also use wood shaving underneath it all and under the perch so to keep it drier!

[Egluntyne]

Hay is a definite no no for chickens. It tends to harbour parasites and is a well documented cause of impacted drop. Straw is used by many, but the same applies.

 

Why not try Aubiose or Hemcore.

 

Super absorbent and compostable too.

[aaronmusgrove123]

hiya, i had straw down for mine at the poo just lies on top and the straw does'nt absorb a single bit of it but last weekend i changed it for hemcore and i love it the nesting area is so clean the hemcore absorb's everythink if you can defo go for some hemcore or what eglutine says aubiose(how do you pronounce that) and dont use hay heheheh

Aaron

[Dharma chick]

Hi everyone,

 

If you use auboise in the nesting box, what do you use to stop it going down the 'hole' . We have been using straw which works well but the girls have got scaley leg mites which we think they may have got from the bedding.

 

thanks

[Egluntyne]

I have always just let a bit trickle through said hole. I has never been a major problem.

[little jerry]

Hi,

What is hemcore and aubiose? Is it a fancy name for woodchip? Thats what I use which we buy from a local farm shop, recommended by the farmer himself [who also keeps chickens]. Seems to be working fine. Use cat litter scoop to clean out.

[Dharma chick]

Hi Little Jerry

 

Can't think that you posted your question 8.51? Its only 8.20 now?

 

Auboise is a bedding made from hemp stalks. It is quite sturdy stuff and keeps the pen nice and dry especially if you use Stalasan (I think that is the right spelling ) which is a natural powder like substance and has a nice smell (not as great smelling as red mite powder - to which I am addicted ). I put this on the floor of the pen outside of the eggcube (but the pen is covered from the elements) - it saves it getting like a mud pit and the girls love dirt bathing and nesting in it. No good for an open air pen.

 

[little jerry]

Yeah, my timing does seem abit out.Maybe still on summer time.

Interesting stuff Will investigate. Also may cover more of run to prevent muddiness

[Dora]

Hi,

I use shredded paper in the nest box . I find it absorbs everything ok and if its not too messy I can also pick out the bits as well. It also makes me feel I'm doing my bit for recycling as it gets rid of letters etc that I dont want to put in the bin and the soiled paper and poo goes in the compost. Its also cheaper !!

[..lay a little egg for me]

Shredded paper in nest boxes here too, and shavings under the perches. Seems to work well. Aubiose/hemcore are advertised as being 10x as absorbent as shavings but I've not found the need as the shavings work well enough and are much cheaper. Only prob with the shredded paper is that it sticks to the eggs sometimes and I can't always peel it off.