craftyhunnypie Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 Hi everyone, I spent my weekend away in my caravan reading the latest Practical Poultry! I was a bit concerned about an article on bedding...the most important decision you will ever make. I think what I'm using in the run is absolutely fine ' easy bed' for horses - as it goes on about horse bedding. But I was worried about using straw in the nest box, as it says it encourages mites. I have thought about this and I suppose straw is like tubes which mites can hide in. I always change the straw every day and put mite powder under the straw & a bit in it too, but I think I might change to shredded paper in the nesting box. The article got me really worried as 'touch wood' my girlies have never had lice or mites as I'm a bit obsessed with their cleanliness & mite powder! YOur ideas on straw & shredded paper would be really helpful. I must admit tho, that the article was based on a large wooden shed type hen house & not the brilliant eglu or cube. Thanks Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 I've always used either softwood shavings or aubiose (hemcore) in the nest boxes as well as the floor of the house with no problems at all. I prefer aubiose to shavings because it's easier to remove any wet bits and it composts much more quickly. Never used straw though but I can see how it could harbour mites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 I use mostly aubiose in the nest box with just a small handful of straw on top which gets changed every day. The girls just love having something to chuck around whiile the're laying I would have thought that changing it on a daily basis wouldnt cause a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellyb100 Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 Do you all change your nesting box bedding every day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 No!! I'm far to lazy (and thifty!!) for that. I change the bedding in my arks when the aubiose is beginning to look at bit thin on the floor. I poop pick every day and some aubiose gets removed at the same time. For me it's about six - eight weeks between changes and I tend to do the nest boxes at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 nope! Mine don't poo in the nesting box, thankfully - so I change it when I clean the whole Eglu out, which is four (or sometimes six!) weekly. I use Aubiose in the nest box, in the droppings tray to stop them sticking, and in the run itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted July 16, 2007 Author Share Posted July 16, 2007 Well, I've stripped the eglu down & given it its good wash down. I was surprised at how clean the girls had kept it. It's normally a bit grubby under the poo tray and under the ventilation holes. Good girls been doing their housekeeping duties! I have washed with pet safe disinfectant & teatree oil. I have dusted with red mite powder & they have now got a bit of easy bed in their nest with shredded paper on top! Rita has already tried it for comfort & is quite pleased! They are all having a dust bath at the moment! I got soaked with the rain, just as I was putting the eglu back together! My girlies go to bed early when the eglu has been stripped down - they like to feel proud of their sparkling pink walls!!!! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 We have used easybed as well and were pleased with it. We are trying Hemcore at the moment to see which is best, and I have to say Hemcore seems to be better. Having said that the Hemcore hasn't had to withstand a month of solid rain and we have out a shower curtain over the run now to prevent the glastonbury look. Hemcore does dry out a lot quicker. Hope this helps, Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 (edited) i read that same artical, and i think he means if the straw isnt changed frequently then it will attract mite but as you change it daily and use mite powder i dont think you will have any problems. Edited July 17, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted July 16, 2007 Author Share Posted July 16, 2007 Hiya Couperman - does hemcore come in sealed bags like easy bed? Does it look similar? I've not seen it where I buy my easy bed from, but I'm sure that my sister would know where to buy it from as she has horses! I'll give hemcore a whirl next time I need to buy a bag of something. Just bought a big bag a easy bed last week. I'm trying to find a lucky horseshoe in the easy bed & in the bags of layers pellets...I'm trying to find a golden egg!!!! Competitions eh??? he he Thanks for the info. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 Yes it comes in bales - so too aubiose (similar thing - dried hemp). When I had hybrids they tended to eat shredded paper and I stopped using it when one of them got a strip down their throat and couldn't swallow it so I had to pull it out! The bantams are fine with it - but I find the aubiose/hemcore so much better. In the nest box they just snuggle down in it to lay their eggs. In the 'litter' trays it is brilliant, and absorbant - and in the pen it is great too. Dries out easily - recycles brilliantly - cost around £7.25 a bale and lasts ages. I only clean mine out when it needs it. Using the above, plus Stalosan, I have to say that it is not very often. Just removing the obvious poops on a regular basis to keep it all fresh - then it is common sense really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted July 16, 2007 Author Share Posted July 16, 2007 I'm definitely going to get some next time...ooo I hadn't thought about paper in their little throats. It is cross shedded though and in tiny bits - so we'll see. Love the pictures of your pekins & their names. So so cute! Love the little soap opera you've got going on with them too!!! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 Hi Craftyhunnypie, Yes Hemcore does come in bales about the same size as easybed although it is a lot lighter for the same volume and is more absorbent too. It is a few quid more expensive but I don't think i will need to change it so often. We had trouble finding a supplier of hemcore and had to travel twenty miles or so. If i couldn't be bothered I wouldn't have a problem getting easy bed from up the road it's almost as good. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 Aubiose/Hemcore is amazing stuff! When I got back from hols both eglu runs were a quagmire - they were on grass with bark chippins on top. Even with half the run covered, it was really boggy all over So I splashed out on a couple of bales of aubiose and filled both runs. Even with further rain it dries out really quickly and they can still dust bathe in it. I also use it in the tray and the nest box. I put straw or shredded paper on top of the aubiose in the nest box, but prefer the paper. It's easier to remove when messy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hasnett Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 I just love the smell of Auboise....we've run out now and could only get easybed which i'm sure will be fine but i will always assosiate the smell of auboise with baby chicks! sx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
