Chicken bald back

[The Dogmother]

I have just been proofing a website and found this information in the description of an anti-louse product....

 

Lice will breed in straw, particularly barley straw so it is essential that where there is a lice infestation, bedding of this nature is treated or destroyed.

 

So... apart from its nasty habit of having a damp under layer, it also encourages the breeding of lice

[Egluntyne]

Thank goodness for Aubiose.

[Guest]

aubiose is pretty nast at this time of year too, hopefully it doesn't rain at the weekend so DH can give them a good clean out!

[Cinnamon]

The thing with straw though is that is is hollow in the middle,sort of tubular if you like, so that can provide a place for a louse to lay eggs,even if its dry.

It is why I have avoided it for years & wouldn't recommend it.

 

Thank goodness for Aubiose indeed

[Old Speckled Hen]

Mmmmmmm.

Is this a quote from a particular product?

Poultry lice spend their entire life cycle on the bird and cannot breed off their host. The eggs are laid attached to the feathers, rather like human lice lay their eggs (nits) on hair.

They are host specific and affect only poultry.

[Jools]

It makes perfect sense for red mite though. Well I always thought so anyway!

[The Dogmother]

It is from a specific and well-known product OSH. I'd not heard it before either

[The Dogmother]

Another quote, from a different company this time...

 

Straw can harbour red mite especially from March to September and even more so if it is bought in big bales straight off the field. If you prefer to use straw try and get some chopped straw, by doing this the mites are less likely to be in the straw as they usually live within the blade. Avoid hay as bedding, it builds up mould spores very quickly and as chickens have quite a delicate respiratory system it’s best avoided. Shavings or hemp bedding is much more absorbent than straw, paper bedding is also acceptable.

[Chicken Licken]

Poor Barry chicken's tummy is so sore I have swapped to Barley Straw at the moment - chopped up. I was wondering if the hemcore was making her tummy sore - no sign of lice or mites, but red and raw looking. I also ordered some flowers of suphur off ebay, but thought I had to give an alternative to hemcore a go (And I had run out!!)

[craftyhunnypie]

We use easichick & shredded paper now.

We used to use Barley straw!

 

Everyone learns from their mistakes eh?

 

Emma.x

[The Dogmother]

Poor Barry chicken's tummy is so sore I have swapped to Barley Straw at the moment - chopped up. I was wondering if the hemcore was making her tummy sore - no sign of lice or mites, but red and raw looking. I also ordered some flowers of suphur off ebay, but thought I had to give an alternative to hemcore a go (And I had run out!!)

 

I haven't seen your chook, but if she has moulted underneath or worn the feathers off, it will look red and sore - the skin is just delicate and not used to being exposed. I'd suggest getting some Johnson's Tea Tree Cream from a pet shop, mixing in some FoS and then applying that, it ought to help.

[quickcluck]

I have to say I find the whole nest box thing very frustrating...... We've gone off shredded paper, have used straw, with no probs even tho I know it's not the best thing

 

I have got some Hemcore here, but if I break the bale to use some as bedding will it not get damp in the shed???

 

At the end of the day it's whatever is best for the girls......

 

Help?

[The Dogmother]

I use Aubiose in mine and it hasn't gone damp in my shed, which is quite amazing as the shed leaks like a sieve!

[quickcluck]

I shall give it a try on the weekend after the big clean!

[docsquid]

I have a bale of Hemcore in the shed and it is staying perfectly dry. I've had it for about 6 weeks. I don't think it would be a problem.

[Egluntyne]

I keep my Aubiose in the shed too. Dry as a bone.

[dippy bird]

after reading all your posts about not using straw (which I always have), I have just ordered some auboise(and a few other things) You are right about the straw being soggy - it gets mingin ,especially as the girls are spending more time in their coops.

I haven't told my OH yet.. It'll be a nice surprise when it all gets delivered...

[Egluntyne]

He'll be thrilled.

[brambles]

I've been using flax for ages on the advice of the Wernlas owner. Messy but effective.

[sandyhas3chucks]

what is easychick like?

please

[beulah59]

I use a combination of shredded paper and chopped straw in the nest box ... it's good to use, although we've only had them 3 months so can't comment on RM yet fortuately.

[Redwing]

I do use straw but only in hutches for youngsters where it goes on top of a bed of Aubiose in a ring around the covered end of the hutch kind of banked up so the youngsters arent touchng the cold sides of the bedroom

 

I change it regularly and its all powdered with DE

 

Yes would say ts a perfect place for red mites to hide but good husbandry and regular checks are key with ANY bedding