Guest Posted September 29, 2007 Share Posted September 29, 2007 Is hemcore the best thing to put in the coop and run? If I bought his bale http://www.petshopdrop.com/product.php?xProd=460 which is £6.90, how long would it last and how do I use it? Do I have to add water or just strew it about? this is a photo of the coop and run we're getting http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220150886798&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=012 These are approx sizes. Coop (incl nesting box) 38" wide x 26" deep x 36" high The nesting box measures 12" x 12" x 26" Run incl 20" sheltered area 58" long x 45" wide x 36" high If it would work out expensive, what do you think would be a good, cheaper alternative? thanks ****edit**** sorry, forgot to say, the coop and run will be on concrete slabs and there will be 3 hens and they will have a bit of fenced off garden to scratch in so do you think bare slabs are an option? perhaps easier to hose down? Then just use the hemcore in the coop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 Hi That looks like a lovely set up for your girls I would put the hemcore in the run and coop, as the girls can scratch around in the run when they get up in the mornings! I don't wet mine, but I have put a 4" strip of wood around the out side of the run which keeps the hemcore in better as they can hoof it out of the pen very easily the strip around also means that I can put quite a deep layer in for them to scratch in. A bale of hemcore really does go a long way karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 I used a full bale of hemcore that size in my pen - it's 2.5m x 3m, so that should be plenty for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 I completely recommend hemcore it's fantastic stuff - we have an eglu and standard run and I've been using it about 6weeks or so - at first I put quite a lot in but the majority got kicked outside the run so now I put a bit less in and we're still on our first bale - I rake it out and change it all every 2 weeks or so, I've changed it at least 4 times and we're about half way through the bale so for us it's worked out very cost effective, also it keeps the flies down (we don't get any round the chickens) and means we (or rather I) don't have to get early every morning and pick up poop from the run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 Brilliant stuff. Ditto to all the above. It brings us back to your other question about covering you run.....if you put it in the run it will get saturated unless you do have a cover over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 I was quite interested in the website but I see it's minimum order 5 bales ... I have had my chooks since February and I'm only on my second bale (and there's still half of it left). You don't need masses of it, but I do agree with Karen & Co, you need a 'kick-board' of some sort or they will just scratch it all out of the run. A bale like that will last you at least a couple of months in my view. It is THE most brilliant stuff, definitely worth getting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 I've had mine 3 weeks and still have at least half a bale left. I've not changed it all yet (not sure what to do with the old stuff - too much for the compost bin ) but have sprinkled a bit of new stuff round. Also use a wee bit in the nestbox. There's no poo smell at all which is great. Can you get it from a local horsey supplier so you don't have to pay postage? I didn't even realise I had one near me till I looked into it. Re a "kickboard", I found a great use for those plastic covers you get with a whirlygig (rotary clothes line) which I never bother putting on. Make holes along top and bottom and fix with cable ties to the outside of the run. No more hemcore piling up outside the run! Like this: http://club.omlet.co.uk/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=17763 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 Good idea. Do you think you can buy those covers? I'd need a few to go around an Cube (which is due in 9 days ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 Here's one on eBay - not a bad price either. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rotary-Airer-Cover_W0QQitemZ160160989208QQihZ006QQcategoryZ101409QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem You could split them in half so they go further but I thought it might be more weather resistant with a double layer. I saw a picture recently of someone's run which had rigid clear plastic round the sides - I suppose you could get that from a DIY shop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 Brilliant stuff. Ditto to all the above. It brings us back to your other question about covering you run.....if you put it in the run it will get saturated unless you do have a cover over it. hubbie's just back from the DIY store with a sheet of perspex to make a roof for the run and to make plastic 'skirting boards', to stop them kicking the hemcore out- one side of the run will be up against a fence so the run will only be open on one side, so we'll see how it goes. I'll post some pics when Chickenopolis is finally erected! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 just a quick question while I think on- how do they get to the nesting boxes? (see link to photo of coop above) Do they just jump up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 oops, forgot to say thanks again for all the advice! xxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 just a quick question while I think on- how do they get to the nesting boxes? (see link to photo of coop above) Do they just jump up? doh! just realised they're quite low down on the side of the coop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh sarah Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 i am jealous of all this hemcore talk as i have checked and there is no supplier near me, they only sell easy bed so i have bought a bale of that but have not tried it yet, and it was more expensive sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 Sarah, have you looked at this list? Don't know if any are near you. http://www.hemcore.co.uk/distributors/wales.html You could also try equestrian suppliers (that's where I get mine). http://www.zettai.net/find/wales/equestrian-supplies/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh sarah Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 thanks vicki but i have tried there is know where near and they have only got easy bed at my local suppliers and i havent heard anyone singing its praises yet sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 Hemcore is a brand name so I tried searching for "hemp bedding" and this came up, do you think it would do the same job? http://www.blagdonreptilehouse.co.uk/hemp-bedding_431.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh sarah Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 yes i bet it is the same but in smaller bags, it would work out expensive to buy that wouldnt it thanks ever so much for your help i guess i will have to be happy with easy bed sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 Just went to check the weight of the aubiose bale - 20kg for under £7. The reptile stuff may be similar but is way more expensive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 is there a moderator listening? we're calling for you to ask Omlet to seel aubiose/hemcore/or some sort of hemp bedding in your Omlet shop! We want it here and we want it NOW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 Just went to check the weight of the aubiose bale - 20kg for under £7. The reptile stuff may be similar but is way more expensive where can I get aubiose please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 right, got some http://www.gjwtitmussshop.co.uk/acatalog/HORSE_BEDDING.html along with some poultry shield, poultry spice, grit and diatom powder- came to 42.94 or thereabouts! what with the organic layers mash, the 2 plastic bins we got to keep the mash and hemcore in, the feeding troughs and the coop/run etc we're going to be bankrupt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 The secret is to not add up what you spend! That way you can persuade yourself that your eggs are free (and not about £10 each ). I have to say, though, that I love my new hobby but am spending far too much time on this forum. Haven't ironed for weeks! The family will be running around naked before long! (I'll post pics ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 well, the initial outlay (pardon the pun) is expected I suppose, I'm hoping the stuff we've bought will last a while and the cost will even itself out in the long run- can't go back now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Los Tres Pollos Posted September 30, 2007 Share Posted September 30, 2007 Good idea. Do you think you can buy those covers? I'd need a few to go around an Cube (which is due in 9 days ) Hemcore is fantastic stuff, also use it in the poo trays. I used green plastic lawn edging from B&Q, went all the way around in one piece fixed with cable ties every so often (thru drilled holes in the edging). Just had to cut a piece for the door. Look at the web cam link below to see (if it's sunny there is some reflection in the window, mid - late afternoon is best) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
