Hudson Valley NY *chat thread*

[charlie14]

Is there an agway? I'm in Kerhonkson and we have a feed store and Kelders farm for feed, shavings ect ..

 

[charlie14]

I have caught one of my hens trying to sleep on all the eggs,could she be testing out the idea of going broody? tonight she hopped up and stood there while I collected the eggs then she went up on the roost. It is the second time, last week her sister wad in another box with a bunch of decoy eggs and she was on all the real eggs.

 

[LSzajko]

Quote:
Hmmm..somebody at TSC dropped the ball. I wonder if this has anything to do with the shortage of wood pellets a couple of weeks ago. The wood mills can't keep up with the supply of wood products, it seems. Walmart may carry them but I can't confirm that. I avoid Walmart at all costs. My anxiety threshold can't handle it. I peeked at the video of your chicks last night. SO cute!!! Now I want some...

 

[LSzajko]

Quote:
It's funny you mention that charlie. I thought one of my Buff Orps was broody last weekend. I went to check on her and she squawked at me so I left her alone. The next day she had quit.

 

[Brznwench]

Quote:

 

[Coupe]

I know tsc in highland has tons of shavings in...I was just there yesterday picking up feed.
Im debating over useing hay or shaving this year..I normaly use hay because I can get it cheaper..but I would like somthing easyer to manage. Who uses shavings in their coops? And how much do you go through in the summer months?

 

[Brznwench]

I went to Pine Bush today and that TSC was out as well and admitted to a shortage from their supplier. They had plenty of cedar shavings and pine chips..but not the dust free needed for chickens. Got what I needed from the Pine Bush Agway. Actually a better price per cubic volume than tsc. I know where to shop now.
On the subject of hay for coops..I thought I read that hay and straw hold more moisture and mold than shavings and that hay for some reason is a nono. To use straw in the nest boxes. I always thought hay and straw were the same thing. So much conflicting info.

 

[LSzajko]

I know tsc in highland has tons of shavings in...I was just there yesterday picking up feed.
Im debating over useing hay or shaving this year..I normaly use hay because I can get it cheaper..but I would like somthing easyer to manage. Who uses shavings in their coops? And how much do you go through in the summer months?

I use shavings and Sweet PDZ on the coop floors and hay in the nesting boxes. I think I went through about 4 bags of shavings last Summer.
I'm considering trying shredded shavings. DH built a really nice composter with a car wash soap barrel last Spring. I checked it last week and it's ready to use so I want to dump what's in the composter into the garden and start another batch ASAP...was hoping shredded shavings would break down faster. Have you tried shredded shavings? Anyone? Pros? Cons?

Can't wait to clean out those coops. They're starting to smell

 

[charlie14]

I use mostly hay in the nest boxes, they kick the shavings right out. I use sand on the floor for super easy clean up. Be careful not to use cedar apearently it has something in it that makes it hard for chickens to breath.
(Hay has seeds straw does not)

 

[LSzajko]

I went to Pine Bush today and that TSC was out as well and admitted to a shortage from their supplier. They had plenty of cedar shavings and pine chips..but not the dust free needed for chickens. Got what I needed from the Pine Bush Agway. Actually a better price per cubic volume than tsc. I know where to shop now.
On the subject of hay for coops..I thought I read that hay and straw hold more moisture and mold than shavings and that hay for some reason is a nono. To use straw in the nest boxes. I always thought hay and straw were the same thing. So much conflicting info.

My DH (aka Old MacDonald) told me hay has seeds/nutrients (to feed cows, goats and horses). Straw is more of a ground cover and insulator. Most people use straw in the nesting boxes and/or coops. Not sure if straw and hay hold more moisture and mold vs. shavings. I was out of shavings so I used some hay in the coops for extra insulation during those frigid days we had. I read somewhere that hay (or was it straw?

) is hollow so it helps trap warm air. It was snowy and cold and I was out of pine shavings and didn't want to drive out to Chester or Highland so I used hay since we had several bales in the garage.

It's a good thing you didn't get cedar shavings. Cedar irritates chickens' lungs. IF/when it ever gets warmer, I want need to do a deep-cleaning of my coops. I hope this shortage is short-lived!