smelly babies :(

[lynda66]

the babies have started to get smelly much quicker now, not helped by the fact i ran out of shavings when i cleaned em out yesterday, top tip chickens just on straw ...... stink ...... best get down to pet shop and get some more ..... *tuts*

on a less smelly note, DS stayed over last night, and if i can ever get him out of bed we're gonna put the chicken shed roof on

[SarzWix]

*holds nose whilst replying to this thread

Yay for roof on the hut though, sounds like they need to be moving out soon

[lynda66]

it's weird, cos they haven't been smelly at all, till now, straw obviously isn't as absorbent as shavings ....... or maybe it was the sausage rolls they had yesterday lol .... but yup, i think they will be moving out this week if i can get the shed finished, and some leccy to the shed, as they still need heat....... plus i'm sick of the house being covered in straw lol

[SarzWix]

That's a fair poiint, I don't think straw does soak up much. I notice a difference with the kittens when we have different types of litter - usually buy whatever's on offer, but some are less stinky than others They are being allowed to go in & out today - cat flap is wedged open, so hopefully we'll soon be down to one tray out in the utility room. It's not pleasant having one sat in the dining room....

Hope the roof building is going well

[lynda66]

the roof is kind of on ..... just needs some nails before we get a gust of wind lol.

[Glutton4...]

...straw obviously isn't as absorbent as shavings ...

I've always found shavings to be best. Certainly for stables, now my OH doesn't complain I smell of 'horse wee' when I come home . I also use wood-based cat-litter for Her Ladyship's tray, cos that's one smell I cannot stand. Also it lasts much longer than the disgusting gray stuff.

[lynda66]

i'd run out of shavings, and they really needed cleaning out ..... i'll get some tomorrow and chuck em in ....... i did find with the wood pellet cat litter (had some left from the cat) they kept trying to eat it, they eat less of the proper shavings.

[Two_Sheds]

I only use shredded newspaper for my guinea pigs bedding ... it's really absorbent, and free (apart from �15 for the shredder)

Any good for chickens, or not really?

[lynda66]

i'd be a bit worried about them eating it with the ink, cos they are like toddlers at the moment, eating and pecking at everything.

[Two_Sheds]

It's vegetable-based ink. http://www.animal-bedding.co.uk/animal-bedding.htm

[lynda66]

looked good till i saw this bit

NOTE: Shredded paper bedding can be harmful to cheek pouched animals (Hamsters etc.) and would not be suitable in this case. Special ranges of Shred-a- Bed are available for this family of animals.

would that mean that it going into their crops, similar to a pouch?? cause problems?? i just know they are gonna eat it lol

[Two_Sheds]

Would they eat paper? Do they eat shavings? (straw and hay are food, so they would eat them of course)

[lynda66]

yeah they eat shavings, and hay and straw, and cardboard, and basically anything in front of them lol, though i do think they are getting slighty more idea about what tastes nice and what doesn't ........ they are chickens, their brain is about the size of a peanut..... and in mine probably more like a sesame seed

[lizzylemon]

i'd be a bit worried about them eating it with the ink, cos they are like toddlers at the moment, eating and pecking at everything.

I think you're right not to use newspaper because of the ink. I used it for a hampster once when I was much younger and the poor thing just wouldn't wake up one day. It was stone dead and only then did people tell me not to use newspaper for animal bedding....I felt traumatised for months thinking I poisoned(?) my poor little hammy.

[lynda66]

well, i solved the smelly problem ...... got some shavings and they don't smell again ...... it's quite weird lol