Quote: Where did you read that? Never have heard that.
My experience has been..............
My chickens been in straw for years.
I know others been using it for years also.
Straw is much cheaper, lasts longer, you get more then shavings, and the beauty of it all is taking it to your compost pile when it's ready.
Straw also is great for when your they can't free range you can throw bird seed in it and keep them entertained all day looking for their crack.
My experience has been..............
My chickens been in straw for years.
I know others been using it for years also.
Straw is much cheaper, lasts longer, you get more then shavings, and the beauty of it all is taking it to your compost pile when it's ready.
Straw also is great for when your they can't free range you can throw bird seed in it and keep them entertained all day looking for their crack.
We're keeping the dominant big guy of the whole bunch ( my daughter named him Karl ) and he's still friendly enough to pick up and will sit in your lap. Not sure if his disposition will change once he's really into the ladies! We had a long talk with our youngest about that ( not quite 5).. he likes to herd the chickens around the yard and tries to catch them/chase them. He doesn't want to hurt them of course, but we talked about how Karl might see him as a threat to his girls and start attacking him if he doesn't cut it out. I think that sunk in: Karl is already twice the size of everybody else and has very sharp feet. At this point we're still sweetening him (the bird) up by holding him and hand feeding him treats and scratch. He's a pretty cool cockerel, I have to say (GLW). The other boys are quite friendly too, and will fly up and perch on your chair...Nugget decided he really wanted my dinner one night as I was out in the yard eating and watching the chicken show...and hopped up on my knees to clean my plate for me. Silly bird. We were almost unanimous in our desire to re home the boys as pets rather than give them away for eating. This batch came as day old chicks from a hatchery, were raised in a brooder box in the house, held daily and given names...just can't see letting somebody eat a bird that we know has a personality! DH is more practical: just get 'em gone before they start to really cause trouble. They're just now getting to where they will square off and come at each other with hackles raised...but Karl always wins.
