Bedding.

[woodruffsdad]

In the hen house I always put down a thick layer of wood flakes with an even thicker layer of clean, dry straw on top.

I have recently been alerted to the benefits of Aubiose to help alleviate the wet ground in my chicken's run.

Could I also use Aubiose as bedding in their house in place of straw?

 

[Bickerton]

I can't stand straw, I started with aubiose, I did sometimes find it a little dusty though. I moved onto wood pellets now, love em, easy to just sieve every morning

 

[chrismahon]

We use Aubiose in the coops in Winter as it absorbs moisture and keeps them dry. In Summer it is too dry and dusty to use so we use wood shavings instead. We never use straw as it harbours red mite in the hollow stems. We do however use hay only in the nesting boxes as the hens like to make little nests from it.

 

[Marigold]

I use Aubiose for both run floor covering, coop floor covering, and in the nestboxes. I've not found it dusty at any time of the year, and it is highly absorbent. If poo picked regularly it lasts a long time. I did once try hay in the nestboxes but found it just hot messy if I had a hen who pooed in there. Also I've read that hay isn't too good in a coop because it can give off dust and spores which affect the hens' breathing, just as it gives people hay fever,

 

[Bickerton]

This stuff

http://www.corleybiowood.co.uk/Stable.htm

Put it in a trug bucket, fill with water till it comes thru the pellets, leave 30 mins and tip it out. Very economical as just shovel it and pass the dirty bits through a riddle

 

[Poppy7]

I swear by Aubiose too! Smells good, easy to clean, nice on chooks feet and a bag lasts me for ages.

I used to use it on the floor of their outside run as well but I've converted to micro bark chippings for there instead.

I still use straw in their nest boxes though. It just looks comfy!

 

[Lucylou]

Poppy7 - where do you buy your micro bark chippings? I assume these are not the regular bark chippings from a garden centre. I need something for the run, its like a quagmire with this weather & I know normal ones are not recommended.