MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

No. I use pine shavings.

According to an AI, hemp is cleanest as it has some inherent anti microbial properties. I haven't looked into it any further yet, I'm too busy at work, but I will.

 

[RoyalChick]

According to an AI, hemp is cleanest as it has some inherent anti microbial properties. I haven't looked into it any further yet, I'm too busy at work, but I will.

People on BYC who have used it all say they love it but at least here it is very expensive and my ladies don’t seem to be u happy with pine shavings.

 

[MaryJanet]

People on BYC who have used it all say they love it but at least here it is very expensive and my ladies don’t seem to be u happy with pine shavings.

I've always used straw but Mary's lesion is a symptom of uterine infection. Nest box hygiene is a casual factor in uterine infections so of course I'm looking into alternatives to straw.

 

[MaryJanet]

Thinking about it, there would be all sorts of nasties on straw. Mouse pee, fox poop, who knows what from out in the fields.

No doubt wood shavings are cleaner. After all, timber has to be clean enough for people to handle.

 

[RoyalChick]

Thinking about it, there would be all sorts of nasties on straw. Mouse pee, fox poop, who knows what from out in the fields.

No doubt wood shavings are cleaner. After all, timber has to be clean enough for people to handle.

The wood shavings I get are a byproduct of sawmills I believe. The shavings are kiln dried and bagged. I find them quite an appealing product with very little dust. The bags are sold as bedding for small animals.

 

[fuentemoon]

We used to use chopped straw and liked it, but then had a mite issue and switched first to sand and then shavings. No more mite issues since ditching the straw. I would love to use hemp it is so soft, but at more than twice the price it doesn't seem worth it.

 

[MaryJanet]

I ran the suggestion of changing the nest box bedding past the vet who said, "It's her genetics - her ancestors were selectively bred for egg production and slaughter; not for reproductive health and longevity. Really, it's not your husbandry; don't you have that other old hen who's doing ok?"

Yes, I do. Peggy, who was sick only once and that was a long time ago.

But I may still change from straw in the nests because I no longer think it's as clean as it looks.

 

[MaryJanet]

Living the good life.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

According to an AI, hemp is cleanest as it has some inherent anti microbial properties. I haven't looked into it any further yet, I'm too busy at work, but I will.

I use it and love it. It’s expensive, but I go through it VERY slowly. They started laying in late May and I’m not even halfway through the bag yet.

The girls seem happy with it too. Easy to arrange for that just-right nest.