[colliebird]

I used to have poultry and fowl when I lived abroad and used either
rice hulls or chaff for bedding in the nest boxes.
Now I'm living in the UK and want to get some POL hens and use the same bedding, but I can't seem to find it anywhere, and some agricultural shops don't know what I'm talking about  
Has anyone used this and if so, where did you get it from?

2nd question:  I want to use a solar panel for electric fencing for
my hens.  Any ideas where I can buy one?  I'm near Lincoln.

 :flower:

[poultrygeist]

Hi and welcome colliebird.  

Not sure if either of those products would be available. Whereabouts were you when you used them ?
They sound like they were waste products from other processes, which I doubt would be available in the UK.

I'm not sure if a solar panel would provide enough power to charge an electric fence, unless you know of a product that's on the market.

Good luck with both searches and maybe someone will know of suppliers.

Rob  

[colliebird]

Hi Rob,

Thanks for your reply.

It was in Switzerland and the chaff and rice hulls were considered the cleanest, lightest bedding, because straw and hay can harbour parasites.

I used solar panels for the flocks of sheep I had and it was plenty strong (got caught on it myself a few times!!).  Otherwise I'll just have to
hitch up to mains, which isn't very convenient.
 :?

[compostqueen]

Aubiose is used for chooks and is leftovers from flax processing.  Absorbs wee and smells. £10 a huge sack

[colliebird]

I'm learning a lot the first time I post here!!!!  I've never heard of aubiose, and another forum mentions hemcore.
Is it very fine/dusty?

[Jellyhead]

Have a look on Ebay for the solar panel. I looked up poultry fencing on there after reading something that Bodger wrote about it and I am sure I saw solar panels for fencing:D

[colliebird]

I'm learning a lot the first time I post here!!!!  I've never heard of aubiose, and another forum mentions hemcore.
Is it very fine/dusty?
The small outdoor run  8' x 3' is on grass, and their indoor space is about
5' x 11' and I can stand up in it.
I was thinking of putting wood shavings on the floor inside and something "more comfortable" in the nesting box.  Outside will stay
natural.
Any suggestions for a comfortable life for my chucks will be gratefully received.  I can't afford to give them "Buckingham Palace accommodation, but a nice cheap and easy comfy pad.

 :flower:

[colliebird]

Off topic, but how do you get photos on these pages?



 :?:

[Aunt Sally]

Off topic, but how do you get photos on these pages?



 :?:

Like this: Posting Pictures

[KathyH]

I use aubiose for autumn/spring bedding for our tortoise in his indoor run  
Its cheap and goes on the garden compost afterwards and makes it go like a train!
It is a bit dusty when you lay it down at first so I put it in while wearing a mask and let it settle before putting the tortoise back in - only a few minutes!

You can get it from a farmer's supply shop or somewhere that supplies horsey things (they use it for horse bedding)

[Miller]

Aubiose is marketed as a horse bedding and when you first fill the stable you have to water it in to settle the bed/dust then deep litter it (doesn't work well with horses on a full daily muck out) Hemcore I find the same with horses.

You might find something like easibed/laysoft (horse beddings again) work well  both are like small wood chips rather than shavings - I use Laysoft on the floor of the hen house now instead of shavings as it's easier to pick the poo out of without removing loads of shavings and it's cheaper than wood shavings too.

Has anyone ever used shredded paper in nestboxes? OH works in print so can get as much as we want but it is in long strands

[GrannieAnnie]

Hi Valerie!!!!  Did we speak the other day???  lol

We have ordered some electric fencing for the chooks, and they said you can charge up the energising box with a leisure battery, and I looked on Ebay and got a trickle charger solar panel for 12v use for £12.75 incl P&P

[colliebird]

Hi Grannie Annie,  yes we did speak the other day and you told me you'd have some POL from October (is that right?)
Small world.
I've been told I can get a unit for an electric fence that will do mains or 12v for about £85, which is a lot cheaper than most people have quoted me.  Now I'm looking for some reasonably priced electric netting for
chickens, 25m.  I can always add on to that later depending on how my hens fare.  I shall probably get a Bluebell, a Sussex Star and a Black Rock to start with.  I hope hens aren't racist!!!

 :flower: