Planning for winter: winter bedding

[tlck9]

I have two that perch and two that sit on the floor, but one of the two that perch, sometimes lays eggs so I have to put bedding under to ensure no more cracked eggs

Although I poo pick everyday so they dont have to sit it in

[bluemoon]

Glad to hear everyone's using hemcore, I was accused of spoiling my hens by the lady in Titmus suppliers when I bought the french version of it- Aubiose I think it's called. I think it's really good and lasts ages for my three.

We use Aubiose, but I tend to refer to it as Hemcore because everyone knows what I mean. I too have been told that it's a bit too posh for my chickens, but I'm thinking as a gardener too. Aubiose/Hemcore rots down far faster and with better results than wood-shavings. I know from the experience of trying to compost our rabbit's bedding that shavings take forever and even then don't make a particularly good compost, and with three chicken houses I'd be buried under the stuff before it had the time to rot down. Besides nothing is too good for my chooks and Aubious is more economical in the long run because it doesn't hold in the damp or clump up, so you need to change it less often and it doesn't need a particularly thick layer. I also have a theory that although shavings might feel softer the Aubiose is better for softness too. I base this purely on the fact that during the summer I thought I had enough left, but ran out and ended up putting shavings in one of the nest boxes, the eggs in that particular nest box were all either cracked or broken every day until I changed it.

[tlck9]

anyone come across cosy coup?

[snakeshack]

cosy coop now on sale in pets at home,as well as a range of feeders food and potions,
layers pellets are a little steep but if you are in the suburbs like me its still cheaper than a delivery charge.