Solitary chicken - need advice

[Guest]

according to this

 

http://kelseyinfo.co.uk/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1194862950/4#4

 

and another forum I use, I've been told bark chippings are a big no. no due to fungus and spores they contain.

 

we were using it in our outside run (hemcore on the inside one)

 

I know a lot of you guys use bark in your various runs, as I do, so just giving you a heads up.

 

we're replacing ours with woodchip at the weekend.

[Rona]

Will Stalosan F get rid of the fungus in bark chips. Among other things it claims:

 

"Fungi - 100% effective against: Aspergillus Mucor, Fusarium and Alternaria"

[Guest]

Will Stalosan F get rid of the fungus in bark chips. Among other things it claims:

 

"Fungi - 100% effective against: Aspergillus Mucor, Fusarium and Alternaria"

 

not sure, just seemed easier to replace it all as it's about time to replace it anyway but if anyone else knows, pls feel free to advise

 

they've dug most of the original bark into the soil so we're going to get rid of what's left, dig in a little garden lime and then put some wood chip over the soil.

[Madchook]

What are the actual risks though -what does it cause?(bearing in mind omlet recommend it as a run base). Is there a link or a study they are referring to o your other forum? I need to make a permanant run, and nowhere near here at all stocks hemcore according to the website, so it isn't the easy option people make it out to be!

[Guest]

What are the actual risks though -what does it cause?(bearing in mind omlet recommend it as a run base). Is there a link or a study they are referring to o your other forum? I need to make a permanant run, and nowhere near here at all stocks hemcore according to the website, so it isn't the easy option people make it out to be!

 

the fungal spores can ause quite serious respiratory problems aqpparently, I'm just not going to risk it

 

you don't need to use hemcore by the way, you can use wood chip

Edited November 14, 2007 by Guest

[Krysia]

Madchook I'm not going to stress Omlet poeple have been using it for years and ANY product that sits on the ground and gets pooped on is able to grow fungus too.

 

I have it growing in bits of my lawn and just mow over it have done for years

 

The girls kick it about so much and its not in a sealed damp dark area so as far as I can see its as safe as anything else in the garden.

 

Poet I'm not dismissing what you say but I know a lot of the Practical poultry people are big professionals maybe they are referring to using it in an enclosed space or Barn type environment where the temperature would rise and increase the growth.

Edited November 14, 2007 by Guest

[Guest]

fond this too

 

http://www.thepoultrypeople.co.uk/9.html

 

which mentions bark and spores

[Guest]

Madchook I'm not going to stress Omlet poeple have been using it for years and ANY product that sits on the ground and gets pooped on is able to grow fungus too.

 

I have it growing in bits of my lawn and just mow over it have done for years

 

The girls kick it about so much and its not in a sealed damp dark area so as far as I can see its as safe as anything else in the garden.

 

Poet I'm not dismissing what you say but I know a lot of the people are big professionals maybe they are referring to using it in an enclosed space or Barn type environment where the temperature would rise and increase the growth.

 

that's fine, just wanted to give everyone a heads up, i'm replacing it to be on the safe side, it needs replacing anyway so we're going to use woodchip instead in future.

 

TTFN

[Egluntyne]

Will Stalosan F get rid of the fungus in bark chips. Among other things it claims:

 

"Fungi - 100% effective against: Aspergillus Mucor, Fusarium and Alternaria"

 

Dunno...but it is very expensive...... about £12 for a large box....but the P& P is horrendous. It will probably be cheaper to replace it.

 

I use Aubiose which is about £7 for a bale as big as me. Lasts ages. Can do 2

runs plus extensions and converters at least twice, with a little left over for the nesting boxes.

[Jools]

Aspergillus (sp??) is a serious and well known risk to poultry and can cause irreversible respiratory damage. The spores can be found in bark chippings and inhaled by poultry. I've harped on about this before and really wish that Omlet would change their advice from barkchip to woodchip - there is a difference.

 

Woodchip is a much safer alternative and has the added benefit of being a waste product from tree surgery. It works out much more cost effective if you buy it direct from your local tree surgeon rather than small sacks from the garden centre.

 

That said, and taking into account that our business is trees, I still prefer to use aubiose for my covered run. It's 20ft x 8ft and one bale of the stuff is plenty. If I poop pick every couple of days, it lasts for a couple of months before it needs changing or topping up. And it's easier to compost afterwards.

[Guest]

i definitely need to find a local horsey supplier then to get some aubiose or hemcore - we got our hemcore on line last time and the p&p made it very costly.

 

think we'll use hemp stuff throughout the whole run area in future and not just the inside bit. The outside bit is roofed too so should stay quite dry.

[Cinnamon]

There was another thread on this a good while ago, & as far as I remember it was sparked by Omlet actually changing their advice & saying use wood chip rather than bark

 

I changed then,& I must say I am very pleased with the wood chip. Its cheap from B&Q,looks nicer & stays in better shape.

 

Aubiose or Hencore is good too, but if you have a walk in run as I do its a nightmare as it sticks to your feet & gets trodden back into the house

[Laura & CTB]

Aubiose or Hencore is good too, but if you have a walk in run as I do its a nightmare as it sticks to your feet & gets trodden back into the house

 

That's why you have to buy two pairs of crocs - one for indoors, one for outdoors

[Lesley]

Before we moved - and we only had a few chickens - we used bark...... but I changed becasue it is so slippy when wet. I think it is OK to use it in open spaces as far as the spores are concerned, just very slippy.

[Tessa the Duchess]

Cinnamon wrote:

 

[There was another thread on this a good while ago, & as far as I remember it was sparked by Omlet actually changing their advice & saying use wood chip rather than bark

 

When I set up my Eglu I followed the Omlet instructions which back iin the Summer were bark for the run and log roll edging. Another chickenkeeper I know went to a horsey place last weekend and bought me a bale of Hemcore as I read on here how great it was. I intend to change over to Hemcore this weekend, but I just noticed the wording on the bale says it is 'Citronella'

treated. Wasn't there a recent thread on here about the dangers of citronella?

 

Tessa

[Guest]

Cinnamon wrote:

 

[There was another thread on this a good while ago, & as far as I remember it was sparked by Omlet actually changing their advice & saying use wood chip rather than bark

 

When I set up my Eglu I followed the Omlet instructions which back iin the Summer were bark for the run and log roll edging. Another chickenkeeper I know went to a horsey place last weekend and bought me a bale of Hemcore as I read on here how great it was. I intend to change over to Hemcore this weekend, but I just noticed the wording on the bale says it is 'Citronella'

treated. Wasn't there a recent thread on here about the dangers of citronella?

 

Tessa

 

i found a thread about an EU ban on advertising citronella as fly killer or something but nothing about it being dangerous to chickens when it's contained in bedding material. So I'm sure it's okay but maybe someone else can confirm for definite?

[adeandsu]

Tessa - the thread (if I'm remembering the same one) was about the fact that citronella is no longer a legal insect repellent. That came about because basically no large manufacturer was willing to put citronella through the EU's testing processes. As far as I know, citronella is perfectly safe - just not allowed to claim that it repels insects.

 

Ade

[Cinnamon]

Looking at the current Omlet brochure, on page 3 there is a section called 'Keep You Chickens On Wood Chips', BUT it shows a picture of a bag of chipped bark

 

It goes on to say that wood chips are preferable as bark tends to go mulchy.

[Richard]

Thanks for this - its good to be aware of advice like this, but I'm afraid I think its another one of the 'bacon butties cause cancer' things. My run has bits of anything on it - bark, branches, apples off the tree, leaves, any old rubbish that falls off the trees, bits of shredded paper that escape when I'm cleaning out the nest box etc. etc.

 

I don't have the dosh to use fancy stuff like aubowhatever and hemlock, and my girls have been fine, as have the hens the lady who had the house before me kept in the run.

 

Maybe I'm being complacent but I'm not bovvered - I'm afraid I think its a bit of a fuss over nothing. Folk put this sort of stuff on websites, then it gets blown up into something big because, naturally, other peeps want to do the best for their chooks.

 

I hope "Ooops, word censored!"ody lets their girls eat anything containing chlorophyll - I've heard it can cause them to turn green if they eat more than 15 tons a day.

[Guest]

with my run being loads smaller than yours Richard I'm still not taking the chance, I'm erring on the side of caution, yours is massive!

[chickencam]

I might give my bark a freshen up this weekend but I can't see us changing. I am more worried about the fact that they are eating each others feathers at the moment

[Tessa the Duchess]

As far as I know, citronella is perfectly safe - just not allowed to claim that it repels insects.

 

Thanks for this. As it was a sunny afternoon I did the changeover to Hemcore

lined the poo tray with it as well. So far I am impressed, it certainly seems to go a long way and the fact that you can sling it in the compost is great, with the bark I used to have to put it in black bags in the wheelie bin

 

Tessa

[Richard]

[ a long way and the fact that you can sling it in the compost is great, with the bark I used to have to put it in black bags in the wheelie bin

 

Tessa

 

I suppose thats the difference with a hard based run. Mine is on earth so I don't s"Ooops, word censored!"e anything up off the floor - I just leave everything as it is, bark, poo, leaves, pine cones, apples, any old rubbish,. It all just does its own thing and seems fine.

 

Every now and again I dig over a bit of it - brings the worms up and the girls get all excited.

[Matthew]

Thanks for this - its good to be aware of advice like this, but I'm afraid I think its another one of the 'bacon butties cause cancer' things. My run has bits of anything on it - bark, branches, apples off the tree, leaves, any old rubbish that falls off the trees, bits of shredded paper that escape when I'm cleaning out the nest box etc. etc.

 

I don't have the dosh to use fancy stuff like aubowhatever and hemlock, and my girls have been fine, as have the hens the lady who had the house before me kept in the run.

 

Maybe I'm being complacent but I'm not bovvered - I'm afraid I think its a bit of a fuss over nothing. Folk put this sort of stuff on websites, then it gets blown up into something big because, naturally, other peeps want to do the best for their chooks.

 

I hope "Ooops, word censored!"ody lets their girls eat anything containing chlorophyll - I've heard it can cause them to turn green if they eat more than 15 tons a day.

 

Totally agree here. The internet has a lot to answer for. Just because its on the world wide web it must be fact

 

Who was it who said 'a little knowledge is a dangerous thing' ? Think they must have been reading this site..

 

..I'm new to this chicken malarky and I browse on here everyday. Its a fantastic source of information/guidance and general amusement, hats off to the mods etc. However, it really makes me laugh when I see someone posting as an authority about a topic/question on here when only a matter of weeks ago they were asking questions themselves. If anyone takes offence at this then I apologise but you've got to wonder why you've been offended

[Guest]

it really makes me laugh when I see someone posting as an authority about a topic/question on here when only a matter of weeks ago they were asking questions themselves. If anyone takes offence at this then I apologise but you've got to wonder why you've been offended

 

i think that was uncalled for, i was just trying to help.