katieadams Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 When I first got my 'chicken kit' from my friend she gave me straw for the nesting box, but after reading posts on here we've switched to shredded paper (because it's free and readily available, and we do like to recycle!!). I just wanted to ask, can you use glossy paper, or paper that's been crayoned/chalked/drawn on I've been sifting through the waste paper for the perfect pieces but if glossy was ok I reckon it'd be a fitting end for the reams of junk mail we get I thought stuff that was chalked or crayoned on might be a bad idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I use anything!! So give it a try! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I think you can use pretty much anything. Just watch your girls with it initially to see if they adapt. Mine ate theirs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I used to shred most things finely and use it as bedding. But had to give up as 1 of my 4 would eat loads of it. I use Auboise now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieadams Posted May 13, 2009 Author Share Posted May 13, 2009 I used to shred most things finely and use it as bedding. But had to give up as 1 of my 4 would eat loads of it. I use Auboise now. I'll keep an eye out then, haven't noticed any disappearing so far... I would use Auboise but we don't have space to store a lot, and there's nowhere nearby that sells it (that I know of anyway, haven't rung them) so we're hoping the paper will be ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I'll keep an eye out then, haven't noticed any disappearing so far... I would use Auboise but we don't have space to store a lot, and there's nowhere nearby that sells it (that I know of anyway, haven't rung them) so we're hoping the paper will be ok I sure yours will be fine. My 1 girl that ate it was very obvious. When I put new stuff in the nest box she would dive in and start muching. It went down loads every day so she was eating quite a bit. But the other 3 didn't touch it...... wonder why she liked it so much? Get my Auboise from a Horse Tack Shop by doing an internet search for local horse supplies. But you are right, the bale is huge and I have to store it in the shed. But then I do use it in their run as well so a bale lasts me a good few months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I was using shredded paper & had got to the stage that all I had readily available was newspaper, so I shredded that too. I got fed up with the stream of shreddings that the chooks dragged out into the run after they'd laid & then got blown around. I've gone on to hemcore in the nestboxes since the weekend....and had to change it 3 times already as the little darlings have broken eggs in the nestboxes...I could be going back to the paper, at least it was free !!! I hope we get this broken/softie egg business sorted soon ! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB09 Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I shred anything to use in the nest box. However the last time I shredded one of my sisters glossy magazines (ha ha) I found that it really stuck to the eggs! Now I shred all the free news papers I get on the train ride home from work! I also agree that it is really annoying how much they pull out after laying an egg! JB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieadams Posted May 13, 2009 Author Share Posted May 13, 2009 I wouldn't know, we've had a softie yesterday but nothing else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 I use shredded paper from work, which does include some glossy bits. Its quite thick shreddings and I've never seen them eat any, and the thicker shred doesn't seem to stick to the eggs as much as when we had the finer shredder . I did try switching to aubiose in the nestbox and got far fewer eggs from my over-indulged girlies until I gave them their paper back . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieadams Posted May 15, 2009 Author Share Posted May 15, 2009 Well, we made the switch, and got a lovely egg in there today - was a little bit stuck to the paper but came off without any bother, hooray! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josephine77 Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 I use shredded paper too - and must admit there's usually a bit of glossy paper / junk mail and the odd envelope mixed in for good measure Mine don't seem to eat it, and it makes me feel all smug inside knowing I'm being green and recycling It must also make up for the vast quantities of diesel I consume getting to and from work and help to shrink the old carbon footprint!! Jo xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 I use shredded paper and they get on with it ok and they don't seem to eat it. We had trouble at first as it was in too longer lengths and Muddles got it twizzled round her legs, but after we sorted that out it's been fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidygirlsuk Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 Well, we made the switch, and got a lovely egg in there today - was a little bit stuck to the paper but came off without any bother, hooray! congatulations on the Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
