keyhole kate Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Just curious as I have never bought straw by the bale before and paid £2.50 I was gobsmacked how cheap it was it just goes to show what a huge profit pet supermarkets make on those small bags I have bought previously Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 That sounds like a bargain. What are you going to use it for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted March 15, 2014 Author Share Posted March 15, 2014 For the nest box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 Do be careful with straw in the nest box as it can harbour mites I swear that's how my pekins got scaley leg It was hard work to get rid of and as I didn't know what it was, they all got it!!!! I use snowflake in the nest box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 I was advised not to use straw because it can harbour fungi.I use sawdust,big bale from pets hop can't remember price as I send OH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 I was advised not to use straw because it can harbour fungi.I use sawdust,big bale from pets hop can't remember price as I send OH LOL....gosh I thought it was sawdust you shouldn't use .....I use aubiose then a layer of straw Who said chicken keeping was easy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 Sawdust hay and straw are all a bit dodgy and can cause infestation and dust inhalation problems. Hay can cause impacted crop. Wood shavings, aubiose and the like, and wood chippings are all fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 Straw is ok in the run, not in the nest box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 I've used straw in the nest box for six years without problems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 And I use hay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flowerpot Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 hi I have a bale of hay for my girls to jump on etc as a boredom buster - they love it and it has grass seeds in that they like to munch. They use it to get a better view and preen on. In the nest box I use Aubiose with some 'smite' powder in it to prevent mites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 That's a great idea, that's what I'm going to do when I get my cube. I'm also going to make them a huge dust bath with DE in it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 I buy hay and straw bales from a local farm for our rabbit. They last a long time so I haven't actually bought any for a while but I'm pretty certain they were cheap, and if you have space for them they work out much better value than pet shop packets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted March 16, 2014 Author Share Posted March 16, 2014 Blimey I had no idea that straw hay etc might be dodgy I have used straw for years I always put a good layer of auboise in the bottom first then straw with a liberal dusting of DE Its going to take me an awful long time to get through a bale no wonder it was cheap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 You could always get some rabbits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted March 16, 2014 Author Share Posted March 16, 2014 You could always get some rabbits Or more chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylil Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 £2.50 for a good quality bale of straw is about right, will be more expensive if the harvest is poor. About £4 for a first grade bale of hay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken drumstick Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 I pay £3.50 for a bale and use it in the nest boxes . Its so cheap and lasts 6 months , i dump the straw daily and put in New so i doubt i will have mite problems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 I wont use hay because of the spores it contains, its also horrid when damp I do use straw and have never had a problem with it bringing in mites, its a very practical choice but seems to have gained a bad reputation. Many of the 'old school' chicken keepers still use it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted March 19, 2014 Author Share Posted March 19, 2014 Well Redwing if it's good enough for you it's good enough for me I know you know your stuff and would only ever do your best for your birds One thing I have noticed is the small bags I used to buy from kennel gate or Wilkos the straw in those was finer and softer whereas the straw from the stables is much co"Ooops, word censored!"r and thicker oddly though the girls have stopped sleeping in the nest box can it be because it's not as comfy are they that fussy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 Well Redwing if it's good enough for you it's good enough for me I know you know your stuff and would only ever do your best for your birds indeed, on that basis I think I will carry on using a layer over my auboise in the nest box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kentuckyfried Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 I use chopped straw everywhere and haven't had an issue. Woodchips (soft/hard/bark) were awful, all types. Woodshavings in the nest box seems to be making poo picking far easier. I just need to cover my runs properly now- the winter straw sludge wasn't much fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 I seem to remember when we had our rabbit the straw was treated - like a tumble drier I'm guessing! But I think that was so that trips to the vet with hutch animals getting sore eyes from rummaging around and getting scratched on the hard stuff were eliminated. It was lovely and soft. But am now thinking of getting straw for the fruit beds outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 we put a bay in the run - chucks love it to jump on and it also divides 2 areas and so keeps "some" of the mud at bay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
