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LisaYolkUm said:
Hello all! I am wondering if anyone knows where I might buy inexpensive straw bales? I am thinking they might help with keeping the girls warm over the winter.

As I am near King of Prussia area...........sometimes things are more expensive................I wonder if anyone has any leads for cost effective straw bales?

Lancaster area? or Chester county more remote areas? Northern Montgomery county?

thanks in advance!
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Lisa:

My two cents...but, Pickering has bales and 50lb blocks of pine shavings for about $8.00-8.50...imho the pine is a better buy....be careful there is a difference between hay and straw....if you're committed to straw bales, wait til after 10/31.....imho......
 
LisaYolkUm said:
Hello all!   I am wondering if anyone knows where I might buy inexpensive straw bales?     I am thinking they might help with keeping the girls warm over the winter.

As I am near King of Prussia area...........sometimes things are more expensive................I wonder if anyone has any leads for cost effective straw bales?

Lancaster area?   or Chester county more remote areas?   Northern Montgomery county? 

thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

If you are willing to drive, wingstone has straw for sale. (actually, her hubby does). Price is way under 8
 
wingstone said:
been drinking raw milk for years, never had a problem with it

The chicken thing, I like to be different,,in order to have those rare breeds, I realize it will cost more.....
I have normal chicken Also.
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Hmmm, interesting. And I have the same take on rare breeds, I was just wondering if there was something I was missing about it all lol.


sharron said:
i have a dexter, i drink her milk, much better than whats in the store, they do say it's risky, health wise, but if you know where the milks coming from, like your own place, i don't think its risky. dexters are hardier than most other cows.
yes, i have paid a pretty penny for some chicks, or eggs, but i do it cause i like the birds, its not a collectors thing, but some people want to cash in on the "cash chicken", only do it for the money.in my oho
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Is it possible to pasteurize your own milk? But yeah, I feel like it is not gross when it comes from your own backyard.

LisaYolkUm said:
Hello all! I am wondering if anyone knows where I might buy inexpensive straw bales? I am thinking they might help with keeping the girls warm over the winter.

As I am near King of Prussia area...........sometimes things are more expensive................I wonder if anyone has any leads for cost effective straw bales?

Lancaster area? or Chester county more remote areas? Northern Montgomery county?

thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

I get mine from David Feed Mill Inc which is right near Bucks Country Community College. It says you are in a Philly suburb. So am I. Not sure where KOP is exactly (sorry, bad with directions). But I get bales of straw there for 5.95

stake said:
Lisa:

My two cents...but, Pickering has bales and 50lb blocks of pine shavings for about $8.00-8.50...imho the pine is a better buy....be careful there is a difference between hay and straw....if you're committed to straw bales, wait til after 10/31.....imho......
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Straw is a little annoying, but I am used to it now. The girls make a big event from scratching around in it every Saturday when I clean the coop.
he.gif
A good portion ends up flying out.

But 10/31 lol.
 
rdilbarova said:
Hmmm, interesting. And I have the same take on rare breeds, I was just wondering if there was something I was missing about it all lol.



Is it possible to pasteurize your own milk? But yeah, I feel like it is not gross when it comes from your own backyard.


I get mine from David Feed Mill Inc which is right near Bucks Country Community College. It says you are in a Philly suburb. So am I. Not sure where KOP is exactly (sorry, bad with directions). But I get bales of straw there for 5.95

Straw is a little annoying, but I am used to it now. The girls make a big event from scratching around in it every Saturday when I clean the coop.
he.gif
A good portion ends up flying out.

But 10/31 lol.
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yes you can pasteurize it yourself, my vet suggested buying a machine that does it but i did some reading, all you really need is a big enough boiler and thermometer to bring it to a temp of 145 degrees and keep it there for so long, i forget now how long, but since i know where the milks coming from and that my cow is healthy, why bother?
 
stake said:
Humm:

Lisa needs to buy a bird or two and get a bale thrown in for free....
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oh my! cant buy a bird at this time!

re straw vs hay................basically I am thinking the insulating effects of bale of whatever.................as a wall next to the coop or maybe just outside of the run? Maybe as flooring if needed but I use pine shavings inside the coop.

I keep forgetting which is which...........one is for feed and one is not...........hay straw...........its all the same for me!

I saw some all straw bale or Hay bale coops with the walls all made of this stuff and a metal roof. They said that is reduces the mite or bug problem...........but to me I am thinking bugs gotta love living in the bales..............but they remove the walls once a year.

so how are mites and bugs a bigger problem in a wood coop...................I am thinking I just don't know enough about mites at this time.

I do put some DE in ( food grade) but not in all the nooks and crannies as they suggest..................anyway


my main question is where to buy inexpensive bales of hay/straw
then whats up with the mites issue?
 
Hi Lisa, Hay is feed, Straw is bedding. Do not use hay for bedding. I've heard that mites can come in straw bales, I can't be certain, but I would say that this is true as I've had mites here before and it is always in a coop that has straw. I wouldn't worry so much about warmth in the winter, it can actually be a disservice to your birds to keep a coop too warm as their bodies will adapt to the warmer temperature and then when they are outside foraging in the cold they are not prepared. Ventilation is your friend.

Oops! ETA: I get my straw in Lancaster where I get my hay. I'm sure you can pick up straw just about anywhere this time of year as people are decorating for fall.
 
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Yep, I got straw do not quote me on this but I think it is 3 a bale.......
Lisa you are over thinking all of this,,,did you mention what breeds of birds you have,,,you can do more harm than good by keeping things to warm for some breeds
I also have about 200 extra pounds of wheat left and some corn(not on the cob)
 

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