I have no idea what I am doing

[CayugaJana]

Sorry, I'm no straw expert.

My very favorite is the golden brown pine straw! It sheds water like crazy! I collect it from my neighbor's yard.

That sounds really interesting. I’ve never heard of that kind. We must not have a lot of it here in the Midwest where I live. That’s great your neighbor has it and you can just walk over and get it.

 

[biophiliac]

That sounds really interesting. I’ve never heard of that kind. We must not have a lot of it here in the Midwest where I live. That’s great your neighbor has it and you can just walk over and get it.

It's a certain kind of pine tree and the 'needles' are about 5 in long and very soft and flexible, not pokey and sharp like short needles. When the sun hits them right they look like gold. I'll have to ask my neighbor what kind they are!

 

[WVduckchick]

I always heard there was something about hay that was dangerous for chicks and ducks, but don't remember what.

 

[Kusanar]

Is the wax put on after cutting?

Lol, no, it's part of the plant. Ever try to compost straw or ornamental grasses? They take FOREVER compared to normal grass (what hay is made from) due to the waxy slick feeling on the outside of the strands.

Though, nothing beats Willow Oak leaves or Rubber Plant leaves for taking forever to break down. No idea why Willow Oak leaves take so long,but they can take 2 years in a HOT compost pile... Rubber plants are full of latex, so that makes sense as to why they don't want to break down... trying to compost rubber...

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I always heard there was something about hay that was dangerous for chicks and ducks, but don't remember what.

If anything I would think repository problems due to the moisture content
If it did get moldy? I forget what it's called . . . but I think with their set up and as clean as they keep it they could use whatever.

 

[Pyxis]

If anything I would think repository problems due to the moisture content
If it did get moldy? I forget what it's called . . . but I think with their set up and as clean as they keep it they could use whatever.

It can be a source of aspergillosis if it gets wet. I use it in my nesting boxes and don't worry about it since it can't get wet in there.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

It can be a source of aspergillosis if it gets wet. I use it in my nesting boxes and don't worry about it since it can't get wet in there.

That's the word I was looking for! Thanks pyxis

 

[Animal family]

I use Flock Fresh which is a mix of grass and hay and has zeolite in it for freshness and helps compost it. During the winter I use straw because it’s cheap and keeps my two warmer. It’s hollow so it insulates better and I can put it on snow to protect their feet. They don’t tend to eat the straw either, although they certainly dig through it!

 

[Steven Mazzo]

I use Flock Fresh which is a mix of grass and hay and has zeolite in it for freshness and helps compost it. During the winter I use straw because it’s cheap and keeps my two warmer. It’s hollow so it insulates better and I can put it on snow to protect their feet. They don’t tend to eat the straw either, although they certainly dig through it!

I like the idea of the mix, maybe I can find that. I have been putting a layer of hay on top of the straw only because Its easy to clean the poop daily off of the hay.

 

[Kusanar]

You can actually make hay less likely to form a matted mess by chopping it up small. Do you have a lawn mower? (you have a lawn, but a lot of people use a service) If so, you can spread the hay out on the grass and run it over with the mower a few times, then rake it up and put it in empty feed bags until you need it. The mix above "mix of grass and hay and has zeolite in it" is just hay. Hay is simply dried grass and I seriously doubt that the company packages wet grass with hay, that's just BEGGING for a mold problem in the bag. Also, Zeolite is the same stuff as Stall Fresh or Sweet PDZ, both are sold as horse products in 20 lb bags but it is the same stuff and you can sprinkle it in the area to keep ammonia down.