[nuzuki]

I have a couple of questions in regards to bedding in the coop. Im preparing for putting my first batch of chickens outside for the first time. What I am wondering is how many of you use straw? and where do you buy the straw? If I were to find a famr and buy a bail of straw, how much should I pay? Id like to think its no more than £5 a bail and that a bail would last maybe 3-6months.

Up untill now I have been using the wood shavings from poundland, they have 2 for £1 which seemed a good offer or better than tescos or wilkos. Should I just stick with wood shavings or would straw be better for the bigger chicks/chickens?

Thanks so much for your advice

[joyfull]

wood shavings can be bought in huge sacks as can hemcore, rapport, easibed etc all of which are better than straw.

[Sassy]

Personally I would stick with the shavings. You can buy a large bale for under a tenner at equestrian/agricultural stores - it will be dust extracted which is good for the chooks. The problem with agricultural straw is it is usually very dusty and not good for your chooks. The large shavings last me nearly a year and I use them for 6 hens, 3 ducks and 5 quails.

[splash101]

i get a huge bale of straw for £3.25 and a huge bale of dust extracted shavings for £6 - £7

my current chickens dont like it and kick it out of the coop! My last chickens were ok with it just in the nest boxes so it lasts for ever

Straw really bulks out the compost bins too  , even tried burning it but it doesnt burn well either.

What area are you in?

[Chrysalis]

Like Joyfull said, go for something like Rapport - in our local wy**stay farm store  - it's about £7 and lasts ages, smaells great and the hens like it!  It also rots down well as compost after use.  Best stuff we've used....

[symonep]

i agree with the others, we ended up using a bale of hay as a seat at the allottment as the chooks did not like it and it was hard to store

[GrannieAnnie]

Hay is also not good for them Symone, they will eat it and can get impacted crop.

Straw is hollow and holds damp, so can develop mould spores which can lead to respiratory diseases.

Nuzuki, if you put your rough location into your profile, it could make it easier for people more local to give you advice.

[symonep]

Sorry meant straw not hay   either way we didn't use it as it did indeed go mouldy

[GrannieAnnie]

 

[nuzuki]

Thanks for the replies, I shall look into buying a bulk amount of wood shavings and forget the idea of straw. For some reason I got in my head that straw was for chickens and wood shavings was for chicks. I am near Bicester in Oxfordshire so shall update my profile to show this

[Casey76]

Nuzuki, if you go to a feed merchant or tack shop (for horses) you will most likely be able to buy dust extracted shavings much cheaper than at a pet hsop or garden centre.

You can normally buy them in 240L / 25kg square bales, and for a few chickens it will probably last about 6 months for about £8.

[nuzuki]

Brilliant, thanks Casey. Its nice to know a ball park figure so I dont pay over the odds.

[Craigx]

hello,

i hope this isnt a dead thread, but i pay 3.25 for a bail of hay, but where r u from as that may help?(unless im blind, then i appoligize)


if your able to, try requesting on pages such as free cycle, preloved, 

Craig