Is my pekin bantam male or female?

[Sally k]

Hi

 

I want to place my in a permanent position and it will be off the grass. My hens do have plenty of garden time so will have lots of grass time.

 

I was reading that wood chippings can be used and it is better than using bark chippings. However it seems hard to get hold of. Unless anyone knows where it is sold in essex?

During my research I saw hempcore mentioned, has anyone used this? and is it better than wood chippings?

 

On the info for wood chippings on this web site it said approx 330 litres for a 4 metre x 1.8 metre run but i'm going to make mine 4 metres by 2 metres and recommendations on how much more i'll need, i would hate not to have enough

 

 

Sally

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I use Hemcore (or Easibed which is much cheaper at the moment!) and love them both . Can't comment on the woodchippings as haven't used them.

 

The poos just get absorbed and dried up and the hemcore can go straight into the compost or on established flowerbeds . Not sure what you do with woodchippings .

[Sally k]

thank-you for your reply , where can you buy easibed from? and can that go on the compost heap? How often do you change the bedding

Sorry for all the q's

[Guest]

Hi Sally

 

I have hemcore in the nesting area (its so minimal amount the bag for the cube will last ages)But all the horse beddings are really good , I am just a hemcore fan(brilll for my horses bedding and i have tried all of them..everyone is different though)All pricing keeps changing so shop around equestrian agricultural feed merchants etc

 

I have got wood chips in half the run but not sure what i think of it to be truthful as its really hard to tell where the poos are(I am on a cement base)...I am new to the chicken keeping too and understand B&Q wood chips are better(mine are wickes).

 

I am about to just go and sweep it out a bit..I dont know what ur set up is but I have a half roofed wir and will probably put the wood chip under the roof end and leave the concrete bit unchipped..as thats where i give them their food. They do like having a rummage mind u.

 

I am debating whether to put hemcore in the lot but I cant imagine what hemcore would be like in an open topped set up when it rains a lot!..wouldnt go mad spending to buy tons of whatever u decide on..put a couple of bags down as u can always add to it.

 

good luck indie

[Sally k]

i have just visited the local animal feed suppliers and they have hemcore but said it does have eucalyptus in it and is that okay with chickens? the animal feed suppliers mainly deals with horses.

I assume it is ok and as many people are using hemcore, has anyone heard of any problems with chicken and eucalyptus?

[Redwing]

I don't think you will have any problems, you were lucky to get Hemcore as I think they have gone bust recently!

[Guest]

i have just visited the local animal feed suppliers and they have hemcore but said it does have eucalyptus in it and is that okay with chickens? the animal feed suppliers mainly deals with horses.

I assume it is ok and as many people are using hemcore, has anyone heard of any problems with chicken and eucalyptus?

Hi Sally

it is citronella(fly repellent) in Hemcore and didnt know they went bust! oh no my favourite...will have to look into that one..they are an english company too in herts

good luck

indie

[Sally k]

oh okay, the animal feed suppliers must have got mixed up as they said eucalyptus is added to make it smell nice, i would have thought it was strange when i opened up the bay.

Just decided i was going to go with hempcore after lots of internet research and talking to people and now looks like i won't be able to get hold of it

[Plum]

How can they go bust with all us using it. I've been using hemcore which is good under cover and keeps things dried up and fresh and is easy for me to manage but in summer I'm going to use woodchip again because it has insects and goodies in it and I can hose it down. It will dry ok in the sun (ha ha perhaps well get more this year). Hemcore worked out cheaper, £8 for 1 bale in run but I put 4 bags of B&Q woodchip in - £12. Just try different things and you decide.

[Redwing]

I have just looked at the Hemcore website and the records at Companies House and there is no mention of any problems so perhaps its another company by the same name thats gone bust

[Guest]

Hi

I did have a look on hemcore website and they have an office in bish stortford and also have a factory site in ipswich somewhere and no mention of going bust..

I sincerely hope they havent as the product is the best(well for the 4 legged creatures)...

def citronella in hemcore , def not eucolyptus(although thats not a bad idea ...Hope u can get the hemcore as it is good...lasts really well as redwing has said...I am going to do a price check in my local stockists of all the bedding & perhaps do a thread as to costs nationwide to see variations?

good luck in ur choice

indie

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Hemcore's over £11 a bale here . I use Easibed now which is just over £6.

[Guest]

Hemcore's over £11 a bale here . I use Easibed now which is just over £6.

That is extortionate price..i lost my recent receipt but will check what it is down here...not suprised u changed..what a shame...if i find its really gone up will ring hemcore to find out why??It was £7+ last year

shame

[Sally k]

i was quoted £8.95 for hemcore but was told aubiose is similar and that comes in at £6.95. The animal suppliers also do chunky wood chippings so might have a closer look at that as some of the run is under cover so this might survive the rain better.

I will have a look at B & Q wood chipping as well.

[Guest]

HI I do need to check but Aubiose I think comes in a slightly smaller bag (its easier to lift and its a lot finer) The Aubiouse bags I found split too easily. Hemcore bigger bag? and much tougher leak proof

indie

Even if u buy one of those horse beddings for nest box and use ie B&Q chips for run probably better..well thats what i will do in future(not wickes chips my error)

[Sally k]

just looked at b & q website and could only see play ground bark, sorry to be a pain but what are the wood chippings actually called and what section are they in as I was looking in the garden section

[BarbaraJ]

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=10288049&fh_view_size=10&fh_eds=%3f&fh_location=%2f%2fcatalog01%2fen_GB%2fcategories%3C{9372012}%2fcategories%3C{9372020}%2fcategories%3C{9372097}&fh_refview=lister&ts=1240137196451&isSearch=false

[Sally k]

thank-you , if i get wood chippings i'm going to send my dad down there on wednesday as he gets over 60's discount