chickenlass Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 I shall be going away for 2 weeks in October and I will be moving the Eglu [not run ] into what will be my old cattery sheds to make it easy for the lady who is going to take care of them for me . I have been given a large bale of straw which I am thinking of putting out on the floor of the run to let them have something to scratch about in. Will this be Ok? They are not going tobe able to free range while I am away but there is plenty space for them to roam around in the old pens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glyn Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 I have been frowned upon in the past for using bales of straw as they can contain parasites. This may be pet shop propaganda but I do recall that I've read that pet shop straw is guaranteed parasite free. I am heading off to the garden centre this afternoon for a sack of bark chips. Having left the chicks on the lawn last week while a neighbour kept an eye on food and drink, the lawn will take a week or two to recover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 I think they petshop may have got it wrong, I thought it was hay that was bad for them??? Or am I wrong?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 Hay is very bad for chickens. The breeder I bought my girls from keeps their chooks inside a barn with straw on the floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 That's separate, they are likely to eat hay and get it stuck in their crop. Straw they don't generally eat. In practical poultry the problem seemed to be that straw could be dirty or damp underneath but ok on top and disguise problems. It didn't mention parasites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
