Mrs

[Luvachicken]

When I first got my original girls from Omlet almost 5 years ago, I used to put straw in the nest box for them.

Then one day one of them had the longest piece of straw dangling out or their beak, and I thought maybe it wasn't a good thing for them to have, especially if it all got tangled up in their crops, so I removed it.

None of my future girls have ever had straw.

I want to put something in their sandpit area - which has soil in it - for them to dig about in. I have put leaves in before but they don't seem that bothered with them. I have seen straw in the pens at Badshot Lea (Squires) and at Rokers - is straw ok for pekin bantams ?

Would I be better filling their play pit with aubiose instead of straw, mind you my silly pekins eat that too

[gavclojak]

when doing the weekly clean I throw the left over auboise from the nest area into the dust bath, they seem to enjoy digging.....but then I do have some silly girls...

[Luvachicken]

when doing the weekly clean I throw the left over auboise from the nest area into the dust bath, they seem to enjoy digging.....but then I do have some silly girls...

 

Hmmm, I always chuck mine into the bin bag. Perhaps I should pick the poops out and then pop the aubiose in to the play pit.

Mind you at the moment, with the wind blowing the rain in, the aubiose is sometimes not worth saving.

[gavclojak]

yes I was the same, I always threw it away then thought...what a waste...

[Redwing]

Chooks absolutely love straw, I use it when the weather is bad and the love rifling through it, if I am feeling generous I throw in a little corn and they can spend all day scratching for bits. Its ideal when the weather is bad and if the chooks are used to free ranging

 

You have to take it out before it gets very damp and flattened though but a garden fork gets it out very easily and quickly

 

Woodshavings are nearly as much fun or so my chooks tell me. I throw a bucket full in the middle of the run and they spread it out

[Luvachicken]

Thanks Redwing. I might let them have some straw then - as long as I don't see great long bits hanging from their beaks

[sparkysmum]

I usually fill my WIR up with woodchip, hemcore or whatever. however last time I went for supplies I could get neither, only shavings which blow about in the wind or chopped straw. Went for chopped straw, no problems. It does get wet and isnt absorbent, but will do for the short term. Ax

[Luvachicken]

I usually fill my WIR up with woodchip, hemcore or whatever. however last time I went for supplies I could get neither, only shavings which blow about in the wind or chopped straw. Went for chopped straw, no problems. It does get wet and isnt absorbent, but will do for the short term. Ax

 

Ok, silly question from me - is chopped straw different to the bale of straw we get for our rabbit ? That is what I was going to give them but wouldn't want to give them the wrong stuff.

[sparkysmum]

Hi, too wet and windy outside to check but I think it is this DENGIE FRESH BED FOR CHICKENS. It is sold as poultry bedding and I think the company might even support the BHWT. . I used the entire bale in my WIR and the hens seem happy with it. Hope this helps. Axx

[Luvachicken]

Thank you Sparkysmum for that, perhaps I'll pop and get them some of that tomorrow

Give them something to do in all this wet.