Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[RobJo]

Hi, my family and I are very new to keeping chickens, we have done lots of research and visited farms so that we can look, feed and handle chickens. I have just built the coop which I recently purchased and have set out the run and an area in the garden for free roaming whilst we are supervising as such, I have 4 Children with the youngest being 3 Years Old. I am purchasing 4 Black Rocks from an authorised seller on Saturday but before doing so I can not decide on what material I should be putting in the nesting boxes of the coop, I have read lots of negatives on Straw, Hay, Wood Chip and even shredded paper I am now confused on what will be best for the chickens as I don't want to start out by harming them or making them feel ill and unhappy? I know that the chicken will not start to lay for another 6 weeks or so but still feel that I need to make sure the nesting area is right.

[sage]

Hi RobJo.

I use straw in the nesting box, never had a problem saying that I have only had my girls just over 3 months. Good luck with the new ladies. Make use we get plenty of piccys.

 

Sage

[Christian]

Straw can harbour mites/lice as it is hollow, so I personally avoid it.

 

I use Aubiose in the nest box, droppings tray and run. A huge bale costs around £9 and lasts for months & months. Hemcore/easibed are similar products available from Equestrian shops.

 

Good luck with your new hens.

[Chucky Mama]

I use shredded paper. I'd like to see someone try and retrieve me personal details once my chickens have finished with it

[Egluntyne]

I use Aubiose too.

 

Straw can present other problems apart from harbouring parasites. Some hens find it a delicacy and eat it which leads to them developing an impacted crop.

 

Also I have found that it isn't absorbent and ends up cold, claggy and caked in poo.

[karena]

In perfect reply symmetry, I used shredded paper. Good use of waste. The chooks do pull it about and put it in their run a bit but hey ho.

[chicken bark]

I'm currently using a horse bedding made up of chopped up cardboard. Before that I used Bedmax woodshavings. There are so many and all do a good job. Unibed, Easibed, Aubiose, Hemcore, Rapport... It's just a case of using what your nearest and cheapest stockist supplies I think. The finer bedding could be more of a problem for younger chicks who may eat it, but shouldn't be a worry for POL hens.

 

I don't use straw for the reasons others have said and I also wouldn't use hay.

[Lavenders_Blue]

I use wood shavings. I think a large bale costs about £7. Works fine for me

[Stedic]

Hi RobJo,

 

I started with straw as thats what I was advised to use by the lady that sold me the hens. It was OK and they didn't eat it but the real problem I had was that its hard to change a small area of it. I've now switched to Easibed (which is like Aubiouse, Bedmax etc), primarily because its available from my local town pet shop. Its great for absorbing the moisture 9and therefore the smell) and if one bit gets a bit clagged with poo you can just scoop it out.

 

The important thing is, the hens don't seem to give two clucks about what I use, so I suppose its whatever makes you life easiest.

[Bexibex]

I also use wood shavings for mine although the hens did try to eat it when I first used it. I was going to use Aubiose of Hemcore because I have heard such great things about it but none of my local suppliers had any.

[RobJo]

Thank you all for your replies, does anyone know if this product would be suitable

 

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/poultry-chicken-bedding-50ltr-by-cozy-coop-24601?freeText=chicken+bedding&msg=MSG_SEARCH_ONE_MATCHING_PRODUCT

[Redwing]

I dont like Cozy Coop myself but thats only my opinion, I found it got damp, lumpy and marked the coop

 

If storage of the big bedding bales puts you off then go for good old woodshavings - http://www.petsathome.com/shop/woodshavings-by-pets-at-home-16111 they need a bit of fluffing up when you remove them from the bag but they are a good bedding option and can be used under the perches and in the nestbox

[kerryegg]

Shredded paper changed each morning as one of my 4 sleeps in the nest box. Not the same one incidently, just the one who can get there first. Used paper is excellent in compost.

[Mercedes55]

I use Rapport which costs about £6.50 for a huge bale. If you look for a place that sells horse bedding you will find it there and I'm sure if you let people on here what area you live in someone will be able to recommend somewhere local to you. I wouldn't use straw for the same reasons as have already been mentioned.

[RobJo]

Thank you all so much, I looked around locally and I could only find Easibed and Bedmax, I have gone with Easibed and will see how I get on, at least I will have the option to switch to Bedmax!

[daxigirl]

I got a bag of wood chippings for the poop tray (stops it sticking quite so vigorously) and straw for the nest box from pets at home. I tried the shredded paper but they seemed to rather enjoy pulling it out into the run and making a mess leaving an empty nest which they don't do with the straw. They seem to have stopped pooping in the nest box with the straw in too. They still haven't laid yet but fingers crossed any day now for the first.