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

[dame egna]

I have put straw in mine since the beginning which seems to be fine, although they do tend to poo in their boxes quite a lot, and I'm finding I'm having to chuck quite a lot of straw out every few days (or I get pooey eggs!!!)

Hubby said to me yesterday - why don't I put in the fluff from the tumble drier. I kinda dismissed the idea to begin with, but have actually wondered if they would like it? It's also free, and not something I can do anything with otherwise! Any thoughts?

[katieadams]

I put straw in but only because my lovely friend sent me a complete 'starter pack' and it had straw for the bedding so that's what I use! Would be great to use the tumble dryer fluff, I've got loads of it!! Might it make them sneeze though I wonder ??

[tania]

We use shredded paper, free from work! I sometimes use straw but I'm sure that they nibble away at it which can cause impacted crop I'm lead to believe. Lots of people on here use Auboise horse bedding which seems to be very popular.

[ClaireG]

I use Auboise in the nest box and poo tray! Straw as well as possibly being a crop hazard can harbour mites which can be a particular problem at this time of year.

[dame egna]

Sorry, I'm going to sound really dumb here but what do you mean by crop hazard?

 

Ah well, perhaps I'll skip the straw then and use shredded paper. We have plenty of that. Only thing is, I have a whole bale of straw in the cellar now!!

[katieadams]

I thought it was hay that was the 'crop hazard'? Is it straw as well? By crop hazard I think it means that they can eat it and it can get stuck i their crop, not sure though I must admit! The crop is a bit between throat and stomach and if something gets stuck there it goes all

[3hens2cats]

hiya,

 

we started using straw but have since changed to paper shreddings, they tend to throw this around less. Also I find that if they do pop on it it is a lot easier to clean up. Seems to dry out more iyswim?

 

Naomi

[ClaireG]

Sorry, I'm going to sound really dumb here but what do you mean by crop hazard?

 

Ah well, perhaps I'll skip the straw then and use shredded paper. We have plenty of that. Only thing is, I have a whole bale of straw in the cellar now!!

 

By crop hazard i mean it can cause the crop, the bit where food gets digested, to become impacted. This is more likely with hay but has been known to happen with straw.

[shibby69]

I just use hemcore in the nest box and inside coop area seems to do the trick

[Omletina Kyckling]

I use aubiose and it's superb - I used to use straw but aubiose is much easier to poo pick in!!

[..lay a little egg for me]

Shredded paper here as it is free and plentiful. And wood shavings for under the roosting bars.

[Boybeck]

Shredded paper here too. I shred all the junk mail that comes through the door, the perfect use for that rubbish.

[kerryegg]

Shredded paper as they sleep in the nesting box which needs changing every morning. Worse than having a toddler!

Can't bring myself to stop them as they look so comfortable.

[fluffyknickers]

Tried most stuff and Aubiose is just THE BEST! Every morning I go and open the door to let them out then check the egg hole and at the same time I pick some pooh out form the night and chuck in a big bucket ready for the composter (when they actually deliver it to me grrrr).

 

Michelle

[Kittycat]

I use shredded paper too but the poop problem has been getting worse over the last week or so. I don't mind picking it out but I don't like dirty eggs so last night I tried an experiment...

 

Even though two of my ladies have been laying very early in the morning, I put an upturned flower pot in the nest box and waited to see what would happen I thought they might get so desperate that I would find eggs on the perching bars but, no, they managed to hold out. They came out for long enough to scoff some breakfast and then formed an orderly queue to lay their eggs in a clean and fresh nest box So that's what I'll be doing from now on..

 

And by the way, when I checked up on them last night, they were all happy as larry 'lying down' on the roosting bars so I don't feel too bad about taking away a bed

[Valkyrie]

Shredded paper here too. OH does a lot of shredding - usually when I am still in bed early in the morning. Sometimes he has a right old marathon - and my mum gives me her little bits. I have never had any problems with them pooing in the nest tray - lucky I guess. I also use the shreddings at the bottom of the litter trays along with bokashi and diatom/louse/mite powder - ooh heavenly smells. Aubiose in the run - good stuff, that.

[Phoebe]

I put wood shavings in - the sort you buy for guinea pigs etc. Its nice and soft and it stays quite clean, as its easy to poo pick and absorbant. Paper and straw I found too messy if they did poo on it and it blows all over the garden.

[Phosphorus]

Aubiose in my Cube nest box and sometimes in trays. Same in the eglu. Wouldn't want anything else - it makes it so easy.