Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Gem_Seb]

is it ok to use normal hay for rabbits etc in the chickens house? i know straw isnt ideal but not heard much about hay!! just looking for things to keep my girls warm as its getting colder here and my silkie didnt feel very warm at all when i went out to them last night!

[Redwing]

No, hay is not good, it harbours nasty spores, the PCGB advise against it

 

Straw is ok, it can hide mites and also can be eaten by the chooks but all of mine have t in their coops at the moment with no problems, just be vigilent and fluff it up to stop it getting flat and damp

 

Its great if you put a layer of aubiose down first too!

[Alis girls]

can I ask what auboise is please?

[Gem_Seb]

hmm ok i wsill have to see if OH can stop somewhere on his way home from work as i have hay for the rabbits im looking after for next door at the moment but no straw!! what about newspaper? i have loads of that!!

 

auboise, would i get this from horse places?! ive never seen it anywhere!

[Redwing]

If its just a matter of keepng them warm for tonight then hay would be ok

 

Plum has been using scrunched up newspaper in her cube to keep her chooks warm

 

Pets at Home/Jolleys or whatever its called in Longwell green sells straw in smallish packs

 

Not sure if Jennys tack shop might sell Aubiose or not... thats on the main road where you turn for Homebase etc..

 

Aubiose is flax bedding for horses, its brilliant stuff but only comes in big bales

[Gem_Seb]

I havent got the car (OH has it at work!)and pets at home is a 20 min drive from where i live!!

 

Jennys tack shop has moved up to Cadbury Heath now! i will have to try and make it there tomorrow providing we dont get any more snow!! we can jst about get off our drive at the moment without any more snow! lol ill see if OH can get some straw in morrisons on his way home as pets at home will be closed by the time he is back in bristol! I might just use newspaper and a bit of hay tonight and take it out first thing in the morning...

[tom123]

Have PMed you

[Gem_Seb]

Thanks!

[Chucky1]

Hi Gemseb. Just for info we use shredded paper here. I can't find aubiose locally and the little madams turned their noses up when we tried out easibed.

 

Shredded paper works fine and composts down quite easily.

[Donna_0]

Hiya

 

I've just stated to use 'safe bed' which looks like shredded white jay cloth..seems to be doing the job!

 

Donna

[Samuel Morse]

Not sure if all stores sell auboise, but you should be able to get it from Countrywide.

 

See the store locator link:http://www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk/pws/Content.ice?page=RetailHome&pgForward=businesshome

 

EDIT: Sorry, Chucky1, I don't think that is going to help you.

[Gem_Seb]

Great, there is a store about 40 mins away in Melksham which is pretty much accessed via main roads! so providing we dont get the snow forecast tonight thats where we will be going tomorrow!! i have put a little hay in and newspaper to fill the gaps around them for tonight along with a hot water bottle and my silkie now feels much warmer! will take the hay out in the morning when i let them out and hopefully get some auboise tomorrow!!

 

Thanks for all the help!

[oneyolktoanother]

i have put straw down for ours as its so cold, as i cant see it being a probelm with mites at the minute

[sandyhas3chucks]

auboius is softer than easy bed, if they are sleepig in it, it might be why they turned their beaks up at it!