[BestBreast]

Hi, I was wondering what you all thought to this....
 
I spoke to a friend today who keeps chickens has said she has been given a large bag of wood chippings/dust from a local merchant (not sure which). She uses it in her house with thick cardboard underneath. She has been doing this for some time with no ill effects.

Would you??

Also I was at a local farm and noticed thay had really large saw shavings on the floor of the hen house. There was no one about to ask at the time and have not been back yet due to the snow. Have any of you used brought these before and if so where from.
They also had really fine straw (looked really snug) again I will ask but do any of you use something similar. My membersip finishes early next week (hope the snow clears) so may not get to ask 

Thanks

[poultrygeist]

You have to be careful about sawdust because it can give them respiratory problems.

You're safer using dust extracted shavigns suitable for horses or pets.

We had some barley straw last bale and it was a bit finer and did the job. I don't really know much abotu straw but I'm learning !

Rob

[Celery]

There is a company that shreds wheat straw  into bales for the horse people. In the process they remove the dust.

[poultrygeist]

Woohoo !

It's the South Lincs posse !

It's a pity we can't buy wood shavings direct from Snowflake up the road. Apparently they have a depot in Manchester or somewhere and you have to buy from there

But they are well compressed and go a long way. I've just bought a bale of straw from Birchgrove at Pinchbeck. I think it was £2.50 and lasts us ages.

Rob

[Celery]

This is on a old airfield at Coleby I think it run buy somebody called Baxters.They are contract farmers at Sleaford.
Whats the weather like in Boston?
                                                    Celery 

[poultrygeist]

Was -2.8c about half an hour ago. Clear.

No snow forecast until sunday night and what's laying is now very wet and dirty.

Rob

[Celery]

I have been out tonight just seen a friend it was clear.I hear that its going to be bad on Sunday.
My Mum phoned and told me she had got her car stuck on her drive.I told to lock it up and I will come and move it tomorrow.But where she lives it is on a slope.That what I got on for tomorrow.
 I take 3 is a posse.                                 

[poultrygeist]

Checked the max/min this morning.

Got down to -6.7c 

Had to pour some warm water on the chickens' drinker. Thawing nicely now. Very picturesque with the sun on it.

I'm pleased I don't have to be anywhere this morning.

Rob

[naughty nick]

something that my local builders merchant said to me was    " our wood shavings are dust extracted but we also cut up 'treated timber'  and this can contain arsnic  :ohmy:and other preservatives"     ok it is FREE but I still buy it from our pet supplies as I dont want to take a chance

[Sassy]

I've used both wheat and barley straw for my chooks.

Wheat straw is pale and shorter in length than barley straw which is much yellower.

[nicchick]

Sorry to hijack this thread but has anyone heard of a new product by bed-down that is made from rape straw? I've just bought a bale of hemcore to try as the wood chips take forever to rot. The lady at the pet shop said they are having to look at alternatives to wood chips because of the downturn in the building trade. I wanted to try aubiose but no-one round here does it. Previous to this we used a wood shaving and straw mix.

[raeburg]

Bliss is made from oil seed raper straw.

[nicchick]

thanks, I couldn't remember the name! Is it any good? Nic.

[BestBreast]

Thanks for replies.

I tried going to the farm today but after getting stuck in the snow to get in (single track lane, there had to be another car coming towards me!) they were closed due to ice.  Thank goodness for the people behind me they were very well preped for the snow and with a little pushing, some hessian sacks and luck I was free from the snowy verge. I do think the hessian sacks were a big help. It is definantly better than trying to dig your way out with only a car windcreen scrappher!!! (thats another story )

When I find out anymore I will post info.

Diane

[raeburg]

thanks, I couldn't remember the name! Is it any good? Nic.

It was fine for the chickens but I couldn't bear the smell of it!  I've got something called Jopack which is a flax bedding and that seems to be very good as well.