Solving Omlet Smart Auto Door Timing Issues with Alexa Routines

[ads1080]

Thinking of putting a bale in the chicken run for them to pull at and jump about on. I use straw in the nest box but undecided whether to put a straw bale or hay bale in the run. I've read hay gets mouldy quickly and the spores are bad for chickens but offers more nutritional value hence it's used as some animal feed.

I'm thinking they don't need the nutritional value of hay as they have plenty of feed, pellets, mash, mixed corn and greens. So a bale of straw to play with would be better option?

 

What's are your thoughts? Anyone else do this?

 

Thanks

Adam

[Luvachicken]

Mine have a mini bale of straw to play on and peck at in their run.

I think you are correct that hay goes mouldy and can give off spores so would not give them that.

I've also read that using straw in the nest box can harbour red mite up the tube of the straw but lots of people do use it. I'm hoping that red mite don't nest in a compacted bale.

[ads1080]

The nest box material gets renewed pretty regularly so not so worried about mites there, not sure how long a bale will last outside.

Doesn't hay contain more moisture than straw so more likely to harbour mites in? I may be completely wrong though.

 

Adam

[Chickabee]

Straw will last better outside. Hay will probably rot. Make sure you don't cut any of the bailing twines. You can turn the bale every now and then so it looks like a new one. Hay can harbor spores, it is dried grass which when it gets damp can start to ferment. Straw is more Woody, being the stalks of crops. This is why red mites are more likely to be attracted to it. I think it's your choice what you use in your nesting box though, lots of people do use straw, but I would definitely buy a straw bale not hay