Can I Use Old..and I mean Old...Hay for Chicken Litter?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

I have chicks that are about ready to go into the new chicken coop. We have some old hay in the barn (I'm not sure how old, but still in complete bales but some is REAL dry, dusty). Can we use it for chicken litter or will the little guys get sick from it?

-- Karen (db0421@yahoo.com), October 29, 2001

Answers

I would be afraid of mites in it and mold.it would probably be better if you put the old hay in compost but protect yourself from the mites with long sleeve shirt and pants.

-- Terry Lipe (elipe@fidnet.com), October 29, 2001.

thats what I have always used, old free hay

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), October 30, 2001.

We use old hay for a lot of things and I can never remember mites in it. Maybe it depends on the climate?? We are in Michigan and have pretty hard winters. I have used old hay in the chicken coop before and they just love it.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), October 30, 2001.

I too have used old hay. I feed the good hay. Chickens scratch about and take dust baths so a little dust in the hay shouldn't hurt. Shake it outside first if you are worried.

-- PJC (zpjc5_@hotmail.com), October 30, 2001.

smell of it... if not nasty and moldy, is probably ok

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), October 30, 2001.


aaah...chewww! I wouldn't be able to go into the coop to tend to the hens! :) Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), October 30, 2001.

Whether you use it for chicks or not, save it for planting potatoes. The best potatoes I had this year were mulched with a foot of old hay the ducks had been on.

-- seraphima (gardener@com.post), October 30, 2001.

If the hay isn't moldy you ought to be OK but check it carefully first. Poultry are very sensitive to molds.

={(Oak)-

-- Live Oak (oneliveoak@yahoo.com), October 31, 2001.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ