bedding and ventilation

hello everyone

need some advice please

I put wood shavings on the bottom of the coop not too thick and hay in the nest boxes, they seem happy enough and it is quite quick and easy to clean, my friend who is going to look after the hens while we are away for Christmas has today covered the bottom of the coop in thick layers of hay she says to keep them warm overnite also she wants to cover up the ventilation holes that are on the side of the coop I have said no we cannot do that as they do need ventilation, not too sure either if that is way too much hay and that they will be ok with just wood shavings and hay in the nest boxes

any comments would be appreciated so I can give her the correct advise
before we go away in 2 weeks time

pauline

i'm pretty new to keeping hens too but i definately wouldn't block the ventilation holes.

we use straw throughout our little henhouse; we can't get dust free wood shavings only very fine ones which i thought would be too easy for them to inhale - so it's just straw for us

hi

thanks for the advice I will replace the hay with straw and impart your words of wisdom

Pauline

Tell your friend to todel off  :oops: keep all the ventilation holes open and straw and shavings on the floor and in the nest boxes. And once a day if you feed pellets, throw a handful of corn on the floor , that way the chicks will scratch it up and turn it over and in 6 months time you will have excellent fertiliser for the garden and eggs

hi

I have told her all about the info on this site and what everyone has said and she will now do things the correct way so thankyou for your help.

 

But you knew the answers already Pauline