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Chicken keepers

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Original poster

Whats in your chicken house/eglu?

21 replies

NutterlyUts · 27/12/2008 18:54

I currently have a mix of absorbant rabbit bedding left over from my old bunny (I think its called Carefresh?) under the roosting bar with, sprinkled with bocashi (Sp?) bran, and thenh sawdust in the nest box, but I'm not too happy with it, so am looking for suggestions, especially for the nest.. The sawdust seems to evaporate each morning I previously had shredded paper, but didn't feel it was very safe - i was scared of wrapped up legs

OP posts:
needmorecoffee · 27/12/2008 19:03

newspaper sheets. Can then ;ift them and poo straight out.

ChasingSquirrels · 27/12/2008 19:05

I have sheets of newspaper, and straw/hay (??) in the nest box.
Take out the top couple of sheets of newspaper when I remember most days.

TurkeyLurkyWithAllTheTrimmings · 27/12/2008 19:18

I have sawdust under perches which make it easy to lift the piles of poo out and straw in nest boxes.

Doodle2U · 28/12/2008 23:36

Straw in the nest box (never hay as it's bad for chickens breathing - apparently).

I buy straw in bags from the agricultural suppliers now - .75p for a sack. We did buy a bail of straw for about 2 quid but it was a pig to store.

Easibed under the roosting bars BUT am seriously concerned it's introduced redmite because it's wood base (we have a Cube). Newspapers don't compost quick enough for me, so need a better solution.

ChasingSquirrels · 28/12/2008 23:46

empty poo into compost from newspaper (wuick shake would do it), then newspaper into recycling compost?

Original poster
NutterlyUts · 29/12/2008 12:07

I've just cleaned out my eglu (omg @ how fab it is for cleaning. never fails to amaze me ) and done sawdust all over as I had an unopened one from my old bunny.
I will see how this goes, but I think I might be trialling each of these options over time to see

OP posts:
Doodle2U · 29/12/2008 13:57

ChasingSquirrels, I've been tipping poo and newspaper into the compost bin(s) but the newspaper seems to take an age to compost (even with composting speeder upper products thrown in).

I could put the newspaper into the card & paper recycling bin (that the council take every two weeks) but seperating poo & paper seems a bit of a fag.

Sawdust & Easibed both wood based - any other ideas?

bronze · 29/12/2008 13:59

hemcore, though its the last of my stock so will have to move onto auboise soon.

Doodle2U · 29/12/2008 14:03

Oooo-er bronze, I'd forgotten about hemcore and auboise - was told about those products my Mumsnetters when I first got my chickens! I shall investigate.

Is hemcore getting scarce or something - is that why you're moving to auboise?

bronze · 29/12/2008 14:14

The hemcore place burned down so I'm not sure whats happening with them. I suspect they're probably up and running again but obviously they have to have time to restock

bramblebooks · 02/01/2009 22:03

What's auboise and where is it from?

It's going to be very cold over the next few days, any advice for a newbie eglu owner - do I need to put extra straw in the eglu to help to keep them warm?

Doodle2U · 03/01/2009 21:17

Bramble, the Eglu has a double thickness, insulated wall. It keeps it cool in summer and warm in winter. Plus, chickens are "well 'ard"!

Close the door each evening and the Eglu will warm itself up with the chicken's body heat.

That's the theory anyway - it better be bloody right coz I've got the Cube and this is our first winter! [eeek]

Auboise is a natural horse bedding but I've not used it yet.

bronze · 03/01/2009 21:22

they have duvets. I don't even shut the door of mine and they're fine

Doodle2U · 03/01/2009 21:26

Duvets stuffed with their own feathers I'll be bound!

How are ya young Bronze? How many chickens have you got?

bronze · 03/01/2009 21:33

10 at the moment. Alive anyway
Nothing fancy well the silver laced wyandottes really pretty but she aint half noisy

Doodle2U · 03/01/2009 21:50

Ah, I'm still on 3 hybrids. I keep wittering on about buying two blue Silkies, for fun really but I keep putting it off because the neighbour on one side is a bit nowty and complaining about the odd bit of clucking with the three we've got already miserable git.

I love the lacey breeds - the feathers are amazing.

pinkmagic1 · 03/01/2009 21:55

I think Silkies are meant to be quite quiet. We have 2 Polish bantams who are extremely quiet, the cocks where a different matter and had to go mind you! We had a couple of them brown hybrids once and they did seem to make a lot more noise in comparison.

Doodle2U · 03/01/2009 22:11

Hi pinkmagic - I thought I'd read some where else that Silkies were, on the whole, a fairly quiet breed. TBH, my three are not that noisey but I'm feeling a bit spikey because of odd comments made by this particular neighbour. Maybe I'll grow some balls and buy a pair in the Spring!

bronze · 04/01/2009 09:40

I want something blue. Would love a blue or lavender miniature orpington and also something that lays blue eggs but I think I'll wait til I have more space.

Some neighbours like to complain about everything. I'm lucky mine are lovely

thesockmonsterofdoom · 10/01/2009 10:20

I have newspaper in the poo trays, easiest to clean out. Shredded paper in the nest box, and wood chip and aubiose in the run. I also want something blue next year. I am however getting fed up of the mud at the moment.

Takver · 10/01/2009 11:02

We mostly use sawdust sometimes with a layer of old hay (yes, I know its not great, but we don't do arable so don't have straw) underneath.

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