Looking for rice hulls bedding

YokohamaWA · **Joined:** Wed Feb 27, 2013 9:26 pm **Posts:** 1

Many won't get it in because they have to buy pellets of the bales and its not cheap. Our local won't get it unless I buy the pellet load

weedfreewithchooks · **Joined:** Fri Mar 01, 2013 5:37 am **Posts:** 3

Possibly my first stupid question as my first post but do the chickens eat the rice hulls?

TheNoob · **Joined:** Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:37 am **Posts:** 1

The very same question I was thinking and wanted to ask. Also is it ok as mulch after use?

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

weedfreewithchooks wrote:

Possibly my first stupid question as my first post but do the chickens eat the rice hulls?

Hi and welcome to the forum ^ I see this is your first post
fyi = there are no stupid questions – the only silly question is the one not asked
Yes the chooks eat some of the hulls

TheNoob wrote:

The very same question I was thinking and wanted to ask. Also is it ok as mulch after use?

Also – welcome to the forum ^ yr first post as well
Yes mulch = but it needs to be sat and composted for 6-12mths first due to the poop in it – the composting process eliminates the chook poop burn to any plants and any grains not eaten are ‘cooked’ in the composting process
note that if not properly composted that some of the rice still in with the hulls and the grains will sprout/grow

weedfreewithchooks · **Joined:** Fri Mar 01, 2013 5:37 am **Posts:** 3

Thanks soozorp can I assume its ok for them long term and do they control themselves on how much they eat?

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

Yes – they get bored with it pretty quickly = not much taste to it being the hull

but it is excellent for dust baths = they can do that for HOURS

Nirf · **Joined:** Fri Mar 08, 2013 8:05 pm **Posts:** 1

Yes its great stuff been using it for 3 years and found less health issues too but replacing it regular is a must guys

weedfreewithchooks · **Joined:** Fri Mar 01, 2013 5:37 am **Posts:** 3

Thanks again soozorps I would hate to think they just sat their all day eating it [smilie=a_holycrap.gif]

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

Nirf wrote:

replacing it regular is a must guys

forgot that bit = than657

Nirf

the size of the pen and number of chooks would dictate how often you change it
and make sure the rice hulls don’t get rain on them - they retain the moisture and go 'off'
the idea is to keep the pen dry

a good rule of thumb =
for every mouthful of feed that goes in the same amount of poop goes out - so work on that quantity to estimate when the pen needs cleaning out - equal quantities of rice hulls to poop as a maximum
don’t just do it once a year tho or you will do your back in and potentially have sick birds

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