Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[LeslieDJoyce]

Does anyone here use the pelleted pine shavings in their coops?  Are they hard on the chickens legs when they jump down off the roost or are they pretty soft and break up easily?

Someone local is moving and selling a ton of Natures bedding brand for $3/bag, really good deal if they are good for the chickens

I got several bags on a deal like that once. They are great for brooders because they fluff into sawdust when they get wet. For adults we mixed them in with other bedding and thought it was fine. No problems. But I'd mix in some bigger stuff too for a better overall texture in deep litter.

I know some people think the pellets are the bees knees for chicken bedding.

 

[bnjrob]

Does anyone here use the pelleted pine shavings in their coops? Are they hard on the chickens legs when they jump down off the roost or are they pretty soft and break up easily?

Someone local is moving and selling a ton of Natures bedding brand for $3/bag, really good deal if they are good for the chickens

The only problem I have had is that the chickens would not eat pellet style food after they had the pine pellets in their coop and found out that the pine pellets were not edible. So I am stuck with always having to get crumbles since they won't even touch pellet shapes now.

 

[Zanna]

The only problem I have had is that the chickens would not eat pellet style food after they had the pine pellets in their coop and found out that the pine pellets were not edible. So I am stuck with always having to get crumbles since they won't even touch pellet shapes now.

Good reason not to go there, Thanks much!

 

[Zanna]

I got several bags on a deal like that once. They are great for brooders because they fluff into sawdust when they get wet. For adults we mixed them in with other bedding and thought it was fine. No problems. But I'd mix in some bigger stuff too for a better overall texture in deep litter.

I know some people think the pellets are the bees knees for chicken bedding.

I have dirt floor coops with lots of sand on top. Add shavings for deep litter in the winter, shovel it out in the Spring and have just the sand for the summer. Another concern was that it would turn the sand to muck in the winter.......

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: I didnt use them in the coop but I used them on the walkway to the coop. Dumped a few bags, watered & voila !!! Nice mud free walkway

 

[Zanna]

I didnt use them in the coop but I used them on the walkway to the coop. Dumped a few bags, watered & voila !!! Nice mud free walkway

It gets so wet here I would be concerned it would turn to muck. Sand solves the mud problem.

Taking six birds, 4 NH and 2 BCM to my first show the 18th. I think there is a good line up of judges and it is a double show so if you pay twice, birds get judged twice. Have no clue what I am doing Anyone have any advice for me? My birds are calm so I am only going to cage train for a week. They get penned up Sunday.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

It gets so wet here I would be concerned it would turn to muck.  Sand solves the mud problem.

Taking six birds, 4 NH and 2 BCM to my first show the 18th.  I think there is a good line up of judges and it is a double show so if you pay twice, birds get judged twice.  Have no clue what I am doing   Anyone have any advice for me?  My birds are calm so I am only going to cage train for a week.  They get penned up Sunday.

There was a post on Facebook in the Delaware club page ... but actually linked in from the Marans page about just this thing. It gave good-sounding advice about when to bathe the birds and also suggested putting the show birds on a scratch diet prior to showing for more manageable poo! Ha! I'd never have thought of that.

I hope you share with us some of your impressions and experiences as a first time shower.

 

[Zanna]

There was a post on Facebook in the Delaware club page ... but actually linked in from the Marans page about just this thing. It gave good-sounding advice about when to bathe the birds and also suggested putting the show birds on a scratch diet prior to showing for more manageable poo! Ha! I'd never have thought of that.

I hope you share with us some of your impressions and experiences as a first time shower.

I read that, it was written by Rip Stalvey who is one of the judges at the show. Figured I ought to pay attention Thinking my most challenging thing will be getting them dry after their baths. Don't want to use the blow dryer on them and I think the temperature outside may be a little cool next week for air drying outside. This week would have been ideal, 80's + and all. Read an old showing chickens book and it said to put them in a room with a wood stove..........

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

In my experience wood stuff does get kinda sour when it gets soggy. Sawdust is somewhat more sour than shavings. We use lots of both sawdust and shavings for various things on the farm, so put big scoops of shavings in some of our paths between the house and coops. It does work well for mud, but it did get a little bit sour the first winter. Now that the birds are free ranging in that area they LOVE it for dust bathing and for scratching around (the best Chicken TV happens there). The original path of shavings is now all scattered so I won't be surprised if we have to bring more over this winter. We sometimes bring over scoops of the sawdust to put in bare spots in the original poultry pasture. My theory is that sour sawdust is still healthier than the bare spots. Better bugs and nice and fluffy cuz the birds constantly scratch it.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I read that, it was written by Rip Stalvey who is one of the judges at the show.  Figured I ought to pay attention   Thinking my most challenging thing will be getting them dry after their baths.  Don't want to use the blow dryer on them and I think the temperature outside may be a little cool next week for air drying outside.  This week would have been ideal, 80's + and all.  Read an old showing chickens book and it said to put them in a room with a wood stove..........

Maybe put them beside the wood stove well before you wipe them with the kerosene rag.