The Poultry Keeper

susyrosyworzy · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Posts: 48

Hi - on another website (Downsizer.net), it was recommended that shredded newspaper makes very good (recyclable) nest box bedding and can then be put in the compost bin. Is this all OK, before I go and do it, or is there anything against doing this?

Thanks for your help, again, folks - jolly good site, this - now I need the hens to learn to read it - after all, one of them likes sitting on laps and watching the telly - perhaps she can use the internet?

suse

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

My only thought is that they will attempt to eat the shredded bits. I have never tried it though. Maybe others on here have. Confused

Aussie Chick · Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 4:38 pm Post subject:

I thought I read somewhere about the ink on the paper, but I could have dreamt that! Not sure, sorry.

jaydee67 · Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 5:52 pm Post subject:

I think(but please check) that the ink now used in the 'black and white sections' is now vegetable based but to avoid the colour pages. The ink may 'stick' to wet eggs when they are first laid - so you may be able to read your eggs too! Another point - if the shreddings are long they may wrap around the hens legs and this could be a problem. I have used cross shredded paper in my coop - but have a prob getting it now.

NannyP · Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 6:08 pm Post subject:

I've been adding shredded paper to the shavings, but have decided not to as it sticks to the eggs and makes a mess. Confused

debcat · Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 6:17 pm Post subject:

I've tried shredded paper, it sticks to the eggs leaving print on them Confused

Have gone back to shavings now

lilly the pink · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 78 Location: Wiltshire

I have tried shredded paper too but I found it got very messy very quickly and didn't absorb much moisture. It stuck to the eggs and to the hens feet and got very clogged up with poo. I stopped using it because it had to be changed every day really and I have too many houses to make that practical.

nigel · Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 6:42 am Post subject:

I agree that shredded paper got very soggy very quickly. I use 50% large wood shavings 50% chopped straw in mine now.

I don'T mix it myself, I use a horse bedding from Sundowner, it's sprayed in eucalyptus oil as well. So it smells nice and (allegedly) keeps insects at bay.

Sueeltringham · Joined: 05 Aug 2005 Posts: 10 Location: Northumberland

I've used paper from our shredder. Wow, what a mess! We get lots of breezy winds here and there were bits of paper all over the garden. Plus, the hens seemed to kick most of it out of their house!

Sue

Two Pots Bantams · Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 29 Location: Cambridgeshire

We put our shredded paper in the compost heap .
As long as you cover it over straight away it composts quite well .
We only use Hemcore as bedding except with the chicks when we use wood shavings .

Colin .

HeatherBB · Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 154 Location: Chelmsford

I only use newspaper as a 'liner' on the bottom and put shaving on top of it - it just makes it easier and quicker to clean out as you can more or less lift the bulk of the shavings out in one go. (If thought it might also give a little more protection to the wooden base) dontknow

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

When I had my first small house I used to put just shavings down, but was a little sorry to see the poo marking the bottom. So ~ house number 2 ~ I had a piece of perspex cut to size and put the wood shavings on that. Then ~ big house 8' x 6' shed I bought heavy duty polythene and lined the floor and about 12" up the sides ~ stapled in place, then the shavings. Later I read someone put newspaper in so I started to put that under the perches to collect the majority of the poo. I have to admit though that I didn't always remember to take newspaper down at night when I closed the nestboxes off.

dubois · Joined: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 6

I use shavings in the nest box and shredded paper under the perches. The paper needs to be cross cut to stop the birds getting tangled in it and the paper needs to be newspaper as it soaks up the mess much better than ordinary paper. It rots down well. I do line the base with sheet newspaper first just for ease of collection.