[Rubellite]

Now I've moved the girls into their new quartes I think the straw on da floor would be better replaced with shavings or woodchips (easier to poo pick).
Remember a recent thread but can't find it - which is better?
Thanks
 

[poppies]

Hi I agree when we could'nt get any shaving's we started to use straw which at the time I thought was better but could'nt keep it so clean and as you say it's easier to poo pick with shavings

[GrannieAnnie]

I mentioned the article in Poultry World which was saying about if the straw gets damp like it does, mould spores can grow and give the chooks respiratory problems.  As straw is hollow, the dampe stays in it for longer than with shavings.  I'm a shaving girl I'm afraid!

[grumpydad]

have also read that straw can attract and cause problems with lice and red mite. we use woodshavings and hemp mix, newspaper under the perch, which is easy to roll up every morning, and then compost, very easy to keep clean

[Sassy]

I prefer shavings and was told by a real chicken vet! - they do exist albeit sparsely - that bark is not a good idea as that also can contain lots of spores which can affect chooks airways, not sure about woodchips.

[Rubellite]

Thanks all. I'll be off to the suppliers tomorrow to see what I can find 

[joyce c]

I prefer shavings and was told by a real chicken vet! - they do exist albeit sparsely - that bark is not a good idea as that also can contain lots of spores which can affect chooks airways, not sure about woodchips.

Just before I acquired my 2 wynandottes, I had purchased a garden shredder, so I keep my shavings from that, I just hope I'm doing the right thing. Only had these little girls 2 month!!

[joyfull]

I use hemcore with mine very very absorbent .

[joyce c]

I use hemcore with mine very very absorbent .

Sorry for the ignorance but what i Hemcore.?

[Kate and her Ducks]

I use hemcorre too. It is horse bedding stuff made of hemp. It is very absorbant and keeps any smells away (very important with ducks as you just can't poo pick most of it!). Bit pricy at about £8.50 for 20kg but lasts ages. Wouldn't go back to straw or shavings.

[nicchick]

I like hemcore too. It lasts in the house and smells nice. It sort of clumps around the wet stuff so you use less. Composts down quickly too, which is what was important to us. Nic.

[Brambles]

I keep meaning to try hemcore...  Just got into the habbit of buying wood shavings.   One thing to remember is that if you use wood shavings, it MUST be dust extracted otherwise it can give the hens respiratory problems, I would expect that all good suppliers will only sell the dust extracted though...

[Sparr0wman]

One thing to remember is that if you use wood shavings, it MUST be dust extracted

I can get shavings from my local wood yard, it is soft wood and hard wood. i havn't tried it yet, what do you think? does anyone use this type of stuff?

[Fifitrix]

I use Aubose.  It's for horses really.  An avid chicken keeper (well more avid and experienced than me!) recommended it to me.  I use it in the pen too.  It's good for keeping odours down.