[gibbo]

I have been investigating different types of bedding and wondered if anyone had an oppinion on wether they prefer standered wood chippings or a product called hempcore.  The price of the hempcore is about £6 more than the wood chippings.  I find that the wood chipping take a long time to rot down in the compost and also my hens like to nibble at the chippings so wondered if it was worth paying out for somthing different.

[orchardlady]

I use a product called Aubiose which is about the same sort of thing as Hempcore. I think it's fantastic. the hens do not eat it and is extremely absorbent.

[Aunt Sally]

I use Aubiose too.  Hemcore is similar but not as good in my opinion.

[darkbrowneggs]

I have always used Hemcore, though felt it was very expensive.  I have just bought a similar product which was cheaper, but seems just as good.  It is too cold and dark now, but I will look in the daylight, and post the name.

All the best
Sue
Dark Brown Eggs       like the little Santa Smilies 

[joyfull]

I sometimes use a similar product called rapport which is the pulp of the oil seed rape plant, made by the same company that makes hemcore.

[loam ranger]

I use Nedzbedz & Betterwell bedding @ £7.70 & £7.00 a bale, both are oilseed rape based . I pefer it as it composts better than wood shavings.
Geoff

[FERDY]

Paper shavings is free & straw is very cheap(£3 a bale)

[Aunt Sally]

What do you use Ferdy ?

[Brushcutter]

I use snowflake softchip. Slighlty chipier than shavings. I am intruiged by hempcore type products, may have to try it out!

[Debsie]

I use easibed, seems to be ok

[Foghorn-Leghorn]

I use hemcore and the first couple of bags I bought (in spring/summer) were really good - a nice light colour, lots of fluffy, insulating fibres amongst the bigger chips whereas the last few bags are disappointing in comparision as the hemcore is a lot darker in colour and doesn't seem as good quality (unless I'm assuming this due to the dark colour  ). 
I don't know if this is down to a different harvest of hemp or something?  I am considering trying an alternative bedding now as Hemcore is expensive and it doesn't seem as good quality as earlier in the year to be worth the cost.

[amckeen]

The cheaper alternative to Hemcore is Rapport - it is from the same company and is the same sort of bedding but is from the oilseed rape plant.  It is a few pounds cheaper than Hemcore.

I use Hemcore because my local petshop had a stock of it at £11 a bale but they had a bale of Rapport spare over the summer so used it then.  It was £8.  I actually thought it smelled nicer than the Hemcore and retained its 'fresh' smell longer.

I would happily continue using Hemcore as I can't really fault it, but will try to order Rapport for the next batch.

[gibbo]

Thanks everyone for all your comments. I might treat the girls to a bale of hemcore next time.  I have looked around for a simialr product but have not found any other local suppliers, it was only by chance that i came accross the hemcore.  Is anyone from East Devon, if so what supplier's do you use or know of?

[FERDY]

What do you use Ferdy ?

I use a mix of each & change/compost weekly. I also use wood chip for the outside run, it's also free from tree surgeons and I compost as required (big compost heap).