aubiose

[raine]

Hi all, been looking for the run bedding etc and thought this looked good. Where would i get it from and do people have it delivered or what? Originally, i thought I'd use bark chippings as i know where to get this but i read that it's not good for the hens!
thanks

[shirlthegirl43]

Sue uses it but I haven't heard of it before.

[FionaH]

Its used for horses quite a bit so I would try your local animal feed merchant

[elizajay]

I use it for my hens. It is quite expensive but lasts well. I put straw or shredded paper on top. The poo falls through the straw easily and dries out when it hits the aubiose. The paper isn't as good and gets a bit damp. I was told not to use auboise alone because it sticks to the eggs when they are still damp.

[dozey1]

Hi, I use Easi Bed, they use it for horses, and it is really good, Only about £8 a massive bag.I then put Dust extracted wood shavings on the top followed by some straw. Easy to clean. I still have half a bag left after 2 months...

[Two_Sheds]

I have to look it up. Aubiose is from that wonder-plant, hemp.
Aubiose Ltd | The Natural Alternative Horse bedding, the orignal hemp bedding

[Twinkle]

there's another brand of hemp bedding as well - Hemcore.
There's a website where stockists are listed...
Hemcore Ltd: Products - Hemcore Animal Bedding

[Sue]

Raine
Yes, I'm using it for the first time, trying to cut costs as straw and woodshavings were costing so much. I think it's fine as a base layer as it compacts down very quickly but next time I go to the feed merchants I'll get a bale of straw (although storage space is my problem, hence paying so much for small quantities of straw and woodshavings from petshop). That then I think would be much better.
However it is cheaper, I paid £7.43 for 20 kilos and put a whole bag down in the run and have been using another as daily top ups after poo picking and in the henhouse and that bag is still not used up after a month.
Their run is covered and due to all the bad weather I staple-gunned heavy plastic sheeting to 3 sides of the run to give them protection from wind and rain. As well as protecting them it has stopped the run floor turning into a smelly wet mess as well, so don't know how the aubiose would have stood up to this.
The one problem I've found is that I'm continually having to clean their claws. Where they rake through they end up with accumulations of fibre from the hemp on their claws and I'm worried about this hardening and getting impossible to remove, not their favourite activity so that's a fun job.
Not too many problems with the aubiose sticking to the eggs - when they lay in their nest box but two of the newbies insist on laying under the perches and a mix of poo and aubiose is not pleasant!
I'd go for hemcore if I could get it - a British product after all, Hemcore is French but can't get it locally.
It also looks as if it will be better for use in the compost bin and as a mulch. I put the henhouse clearings - heavily laden with poo in the compost bin and the rest from the run goes on the mulch pile and so far it does appear to have a faster breakdown rate which is to be welcomed.
hope that helps
Sue

[raine]

Many thanks all-I 've ordered a bag as i haven't found a local supplier but the delivery costs are huge! I'm going to have a good scout around soon and then i might find some alternatives! Can anyone tell me the bark that IS alright for chooks as that might be easier to find!

[dozey1]

You need wood chip from people who chop down trees. it is quite cheap if you can find a local firm. Bark is no good as it can give them fungus on their feet.

[Eyren]

I had my chickens on bark for ages and didn't have any trouble, but their run was covered so it didn't get terribly wet. As dozey says, wood chip is better if you can get it. Try your local tree surgeon, as they have to pay to dispose of their waste - our lottie site got a free delivery of shredded leylandii last year thanks to a quick-thinking plotholder!