[Flowerpower136]

I was using woodshavings in coop and straw in nest boxes, but following recommendation from Joyful (thank you!), have converted to Hemcore, and like it a lot, so will be using it for both coop and boxes in future.  The farm shop where I get most things from stocks it, and it didn't seem to add anything extra to the total.

Everything in the coop seems much cleaner because it's far easier to poo pick out of the Hemcore.  Seem to end up with a relatively neat lump of poo, rather than anything messy and squelched.  Then just a quick 'fluff up' of the Hemcore, and they're all snuggly again.

I was using a layer of newspaper under the woodshavings, but as others have said, it's really bulky to dispose of, and gets crumbled up and messy, and to be honest, it's easier just to sweep the shavings out without the paper underneath, so stopped doing that.  Though whilst it's so very cold, have started again, great wadges of whole newspapers, to act as a bit of insulation.  Will stop this when weather improves though.

Straw makes for comfy cosy nests, but because of its hollow structure, there is a risk that it might provide a hiding place for red mite.  Basically straw is stalks (and bedding), and hay is grass (and food - but not for hens).

[IMOmimey]

DooDoo beware sawdust...It can cause really nasty respiratory problems, and not only for the chickens.  Breathing sawdust when you clean them them out can cause lung probs 

[Big Bird]

We use shredded paper in the nest boxes and nothing under the perch.  The poo drops through a metal grid floor into a tray.  I know peolpe have different views about shredded paper but we have never had any problems with it.  We change it every week and have a free supply of it.

Our girls only use the coop for sleeping in and are free range the rest of the time.

BB

[doodoo]

Hiya i use straw in the nest box and the rest of the coop is woodshavings as one member said earlier and my girls do the same, they sleep on the perch and in the nest box at times, as long as the nest box is snuggly to lay, i think the rest of the coop is personal preference, some use shavings some use newspaper, see what works best for you, our girls are like us humans theyre all different and so are their owners xx

did mean woodshavings an not sawdust

[neil9797]

OK folks, thanks for that. I think we can consider this question well and truly answered! Rgds, N

[neil9797]

The supplier I'm going to use for all my bits stocks Aubiose instead of Hemcore. Is that OK?

[dizzylizzie]

hi, i think that is vey similar...lovely stuff, your girls will love it

[neil9797]

splendid!