Straw or hay?

[dexterdoglancashire]

Which is better? Ive got a bale of straw to put down on the ground and also use it inside the coop, would hay be better to use inside? Is there a difference?

[Snadger]

I think hay is more suscptible to carceogenic moulds so straw is generally recommended.......or so i'm led to believe!

[Eco-Chic]

From what I've read, the surest way to introduce red mite is strew hay around

[Two_Sheds]

Hay is for eating, straw is for bedding. http://www.homestead-farm.net/KidsLinks/Hay.html

[Sue]

Hi Dexter
Straw always for the reasons given, you could put the bale in their run and let them do the strewing, it gives them something to do and if its put somewhere that catches the little sun we're getting now, I often see mine, all in a row having a sunbath on what's left of the bale.

Also at the moment have you thought of leaves, they make a good run cover on top of megazorb or woodshavings and when the hens have trodden it all down and added some poo it makes a good addition to a leaf pile. And it's free!

Sue

[Two_Sheds]

Also at the moment have you thought of leaves

I just gave my guinea pigs the last sunflower leaves, and they went mad for them.
Good for poultry too apparently: botanical.com - A Modern Herbal | Sunflower

[petal]

Straw is cheaper and I have heard that hay can get tangled around their legs.

[Snadger]

Hay is for eating, straw is for bedding. Hey! What's Hay?

Simplistic but true in my eyes!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi Dexter
Straw always for the reasons given, you could put the bale in their run and let them do the strewing, it gives them something to do and if its put somewhere that catches the little sun we're getting now, I often see mine, all in a row having a sunbath on what's left of the bale.

Also at the moment have you thought of leaves, they make a good run cover on top of megazorb or woodshavings and when the hens have trodden it all down and added some poo it makes a good addition to a leaf pile. And it's free!

Sue

Hi Sue
The girls actually did that anyway. I left the bale of straw in the greenhouse and they demolished it within the space of a week! I hadn't thought of leaves in the run though. I would use them, but with all the rain here all the leaves are absolutely sodden. May use them in the future though.
Thanks
Bernie

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hay is for eating, straw is for bedding. Hey! What's Hay?

Do you know Two Sheds, I never knew that! Thanks, it was really interesting - and answered my questions!

[tlck9]

can straw/hay cause impacted crops as well as grass?

[RichmondHens]

In theory yes it would, but chickens don't eat either hay or straw as it's too dry and fibrous. It would have to be a desperate starving chicken to try and tackle it.

[tlck9]

In theory yes it would, but chickens don't eat either hay or straw as it's too dry and fibrous. It would have to be a desperate starving chicken to try and tackle it.

Puts my mind at rest then, they are fully fed, so hopefully no hiccups with this then