[pink-chicken]

We've been buying bags of 'feild' straw for the girls. I put it in their nest box and sprinkle some around the larger run as they like to grub around in it and eat some smaller bits at the same time. We went to buy some yesterday but the supplier had been changed, the replacement looked really ropey and dirty. The Barley straw looked so much better so we bought that instead. Is it still OK for them? Probably all the same but I just wanted to be sure. Worried new mum and all that 

Hopefully it's OK that they eat straw as I know hay is harmful for them 

Jan.x

[Casey76]

I don't think it would make a difference for your girls.

Barley straw is more palatable for horses, so it can be used as a hay replacer (sparingly).  Horses bedded on barley usually eat a lot of their bed, which is why the differentiation is made

[pink-chicken]

Thank you Casey  I've heard it's good for ponds too, takes out any excess green pond slime  Glad that it's safe for the girlies so just off to give them some now.

Jan.x

[joyfull]

I've used barley straw for my chickens and had no problems.
It is used in ponds as it is supposed to help the removal of blue green algae.

[hillfooter]

No problem with barley straw I'd say though as it's more palatible they might be more encouaged to eat it.

Fresh hay is not harmful to chickens to eat but rather hay is generally not recommended because being less sterile than straw, it is more susceptable to mould, some species of which can be toxic.  Also wet hay which has dried can be very dusty and contain mould spores which are dangerous for chx respiratory tracts.

Regards

[karlooben]

i have used both with my girls and had no probs , but with the horses well mine perfer the wheat straw to the barley  they now have barley straw as its cheaper then wheat but during the winter months if they eat thier bed i dont mind it helps to keep them warmer .

[pink-chicken]

Thank's everyone  I've been changing their nest box and this stuff smells so fresh and good that I could eat it myself 

Hillfooter hay would be pretty harmful by the sound of things and thank you for pointing out the reason why as I wasn't sure but did think that it's not so good for them. 

Jan.x