Canadians check in here....

[Toast n Jelly]

Granny Sue!

 

[poussin_noir]

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Welcome!

 

[LynneP]

Snow out west, snow in the middle, snow heading east YAGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Wanted to mention shortages of bedding in certain places across Canada. Because of those $400 rebates given to pellet stove buyers there is a shortage of pellets. Huge numbers of sawmills and other businesses are investing in pellet machines, creating shortage of sawdust and sometimes of shavings, which are also popular in bulk as fuel. Keep a supply of bedding on hand for shortages, country-wide. Already being felt here. I have my bedding, do YOU!

 

[Toast n Jelly]

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I wasn't aware of the rebates but know that one of the reasons that there's a shortage here is because one of the mfg. burnt down. Prices are going up as a consequence of less availability.

BTW I use them for litter in my rabbit poopy boxes

and have used it for kitty litter...what bedding do you use it for?

Edited to add that I was speaking of wood pellets and not shavings...sorry.

 

[2468Chickensrgr8]

I have been hearing the same thing ...about shortage of shavings...we live in a Minnonite(Sp) area so we can hopefully get some "proper" shavings ....

 

[LynneP]

Yes, I heard the Quebec fire really made the difference. It's the shavings I use, and found a local guy who is thinking about covering the shavings he makes from cutting shakes. He uses maple, birch, poplar, elm...my backup plan. I should be all right until March or so, and I have a little more storage space if I panic and get more bales before the supply runs out at the co-op. I can always switch to peat moss which works well but leaves the coop so dark.

I've heard of folks using the pellets themselves for animal bedding and litter and I considered it, but for chickens the wood pellets resemble their layer pellets so much I'm leery about ingestion/impaction and reduced nutrition.

 

[Toast n Jelly]

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For bedding and nests I use timothy hay.....They pick at it in the winter months along with hanging veggies. Have you considered hay?

 

[Chick_a_dee]

I haven't heard of a shavings shortage, I mean I know they're expensive, bu they're always expensive.

 

[Toast n Jelly]

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Actually I was speaking of the wood pellets going up ...I really don't know about the shavings since I don't use them.

 

[LynneP]

I do use hay, especially in the nest boxes, and I use bales to let the girls jump down from platforms inside and out. I like shavings for the floor, but with a loft full of hay, I wouldn't be stuck for bedding!