Hemcore - how much will I need?

[pinksleepybear]

Is there anyone who can help me with a rough calculation? I've built a chicken run 8ft by 12ft, the base is paving slabs, but I want to put down Hemcore or similar. Does anyone know how many bales of Hemcore I'll need? I don't know how deep it should be for hens either - can anyone help?

It's just that the only supplier is a 30 minute drive away and I don't have room to store spare bales, so I want to buy the right amount straight off.


Thanks very much for any help,
Louise

[Sue]

Hi
I've got a run 9x9ft and have just started using Aubiose, similar to Hemcore. I put down a 20 kilo bag full which gave a nice deep layer. I've got three more bags in my shed which means when it rains I get wet - no room for me as well...
Sue

[jayjay giant]

Hi there,
My run is 24ft x 10ft. I use straw to line the run because it is cheap and rots down so quickly. The rotted straw and muck then goes into the composter for a couple of months before being used to mulch the vegetable plot.
However as regards to how much you require i would say don't skimp, the thicker the layer you can use the better. I empty half my run every 6 weeks and fill it back up to about 3 inches high with fresh straw. Every week i top dress the whole run with half a bail just to keep it fresh and provide some digging interest for the birds. The whole run is turned over a couple of times a day by the birds themselves and fresh droppings quickly covered.
The system works very well and there is virtually no smell, even in the height of summer.
All this said, in windy conditions the fresh straw does blow around a bit and can make a bit of a mess moving it from storage to the run. I think hemcore will solve these mess problems, but my birds are happy clean and healthy so i will stick with the straw for the time being.
I will keep my eye on this thread and hopefully someone with first hand experience of hemcore will reply,
Good luck with whichever medium you use.
Jayjay

[vicky]

I'd guess at probably one bale, there is a lot compressed in there...but I'd buy more (if you can get them in your car!), I store mine in the run just covered by a bit of plastic and they are fine. Otherwise it's a bit of a faf to clean them out as you have to plan to get to the shop first

[CDave]

I personally wouldn't use hemcore for an outside run. I rots down quicker than straw and it's qite fine so would guess it could blow around a fair bit. Great stuff for indoors though.

[Bephlam]

I use hemcore, but inside only. I've found that outside it just blows everywhere and makes the entire garden look a state and a half. I use chipped wood outside....much better, and less messy.

[pinksleepybear]

Thanks for the advice anyone. Although my run is outside, it's covered and has gravel boards 6inches up the sides. Would the hemcore still blow around too much?

[Eyren]

I haven't had any trouble with hemcore in my eglu - I used garden twine to attach strips of 1cm black mesh (the bird/pond netting sort), about 25-30in high, along both sides and it keeps it in pretty well. Mind you, my garden is small and well-sheltered by fences, so it wouldn't necessarily work for everyone!