[gsc]

Does anyone use this?  And does it matter if there is a bit of shredded paper in with it?

[compostqueen]

No, I compost it 

i think your chooks would appreciate something that will absorb moisture (eg wee and poo and absorb smells)  Not essential but your hens will thank you   

Hemcore, Aubiose and the like

[greenun]

Chuck everything into the chookyard, weeds, paper, anything you would put in the compost. The chooks will scratch it poo on it and do the job for you.

[Sassy]

See this link http://www.walmsleypremierbed.co.uk/index.htm.

I have read the testimonials page and know some of the people particularly the vet at Ledston who is very respected in his field.

[gsc]

Interesting - thank you all.

[ehs284]

We shredded paper when we first got the chooks, but stopped when we saw one eating a strip - don't know if this would apply to card, I guess it depends on the thickness.

[hillfooter]

Does anyone use this NOT ME?  And does it matter if there is a bit of shredded paper in with itNOT IF YOU DON'T USE IT?

Be sensible and stick with Hemcore, or softwood shavings (Snowflakes are best).  

Good house design with minimum unecessary floor space and inaccessible under perch dropping zones will ensure good sanatory conditions, reduce and simplify maintenance and will minimise the amount needed and reduce the cost of the litter so you don't need to use such risky materials.

HF

[jhub]

I switched to Hemcore after reading reviews on this site and am so pleased I did; it is so absorbent, masks the smell- I am very sensitive that my coop and run are close to my neighbour's summer house, and composts well.
I have 3 chickens and  a bale which will last for months.
Jane

[joyfull]

I use hemcore as it is so absorbant,however I have found out that my sablepoots do seem to have an allergy to being so close to it. They never perch and ended up with eye infections and sneezing along with rattly chest which no antibiotics seemed to cure (tried aureomycin, denegard, tylan plus denegard and tylan combined). I have since put slatted perches (omlet eglu type) on the ground just above the hemcore so it is still there to absorb but they are not having their faces touching it and so far they are fine (says she touching her head). Have concluded that it must be the citronella scent that is the problem.

[gsc]

An interesting range of opinions - thanks all.

I will try the hemcore but I have a huge amount of cardboard which I end up shredding or having to take to the tip.  It's too much to add to the compost heaps without it being out of balance.  I was looking to use it in another way.

Sassy - just re-read the Walmsley Premier Card/Paper link and it seems they advocate it for poutry as well.  I may buy some and se how it compares to other stuff including my own shredded card.

[jhub]

Joy,
do you damp down the Hemcore? I think it's recommended when it's used in horse stables so could  it be the dust that causes problems??? Just a thought.
Jane

[gsc]

Is Hemcore very dusty then?  It's one of the problems I have with bedding being asthmatic.

[joyfull]

you don't damp down for chickens it is only for horses. the problem with the 2 adult poots is that they won't perch (have been trying since November  ) and I know Mrs Poot sleeps leaning forward with her beak touching the ground.

[hillfooter]

you don't damp down for chickens it is only for horses. the problem with the 2 adult poots is that they won't perch (have been trying since November  ) and I know Mrs Poot sleeps leaning forward with her beak touching the ground.

Well if they had a fully slatted floor they'd have no choice would they Joyfull?  Stupid Dutch birds!  I once had a Dutch girl friend who used to sleep with ....but that's another story!

HF

[Casey76]

Fiesty this morning aren't we Hilly? 

Gay, I probably wouldn't use cardboard as a litter.  It isn't absorbant, so you would find that you have to clean out every day.

(I wouldn't use card for my horse either... as a horse bedding cardboard gets very heavy and *smelly* - it also flies around the yard easily - though obviously it does rot down quickly)

I've used hemcore once, unfortunately it is twice the price of my normal litter so I won't be buying it very often, but I found it very nice.  It has a very pleasant smell, and I didn't find it dusty. 

I can see why you may want to damp it for horse bedding though - because the pieces are so small they tend to be stirred up easily.  If you have great huge hoofs stiring it up it might be a bit of a problem, but with chooks (being light on their feet) then not so much.

It was also very absorbant and made poo picking easy.  It was economical in a way, because by using a cat litter scoop you can get even all the small bits of poo while leaving the majority of the bed itact, so you lose only a little each time to clean the bed.

I think my bag (7L I think) put in the coop all at once lasted about a month before I had to take everything out and start with a fresh bed.

Now, if I can find a place that will sell in in proper bales (24kg) rather than bags for rodent bedding I would probably change as it would probably be more cost effective... but it is very new to my area.