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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 17, 2007 9:32:52 GMT 1
I am planning to fill up rubbish bags with leaves with the kids at school so we can compare the rotting rate with our leaf bin....but I only buy biodegradable black bags...which will decompose fastest - the bags or the leaves? Should I go and buy some nasty bags.....? Is this a silly question? :  |
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Post by Sleepy on Oct 17, 2007 9:36:44 GMT 1
I am planning to fill up rubbish bags with leaves with the kids at school so we can compare the rotting rate with our leaf bin....but I only buy biodegradable black bags...which will decompose fastest - the bags or the leaves? Should I go and buy some nasty bags.....? Is this a silly question? : Stick with the biodegradable. They should last long enough. And may give an indication as to the 'readiness of the leafmould. Explain to the kids about the biodegradable bags and your uncertainty, and let them in on the knowledge that the bags you are using are an experiment in itself ;D Sometimes 'let us both find out together' is better than 'this is how it's done'. |
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 17, 2007 9:48:54 GMT 1
You're right. Thanks dear.
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Post by debbiem on Oct 17, 2007 10:01:19 GMT 1
It's not a silly question at all - we filled up normal black bin bags with all the stuff from cleaning out the chickens, but when it came to lifting them to move them somewhere the contents had rotted down nicely but so had the binbags and they just disintegrated!!! But then again they were left under a tree in cold and damp for a long time - I'd still try the biodegradable ones too. |
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 17, 2007 10:03:38 GMT 1
Have you had any eggs yet then? Have the chooks gone into moult yet? If not - you might still find some eggs........
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Post by debbiem on Oct 17, 2007 10:05:24 GMT 1
Absolutely NOTHING!!!!  They are still hanging around and rushing me every time they see me - there's still time this year I hope!!!! |
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 17, 2007 10:12:18 GMT 1
Well, since they're young they prolly won't go into moult this year so there's always hope......have you been back to the supplier? It's very odd......
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Post by debbiem on Oct 17, 2007 10:19:01 GMT 1
There seem to be a lot of other chicken keepers who are waiting for that first egg at the moment. My girls are getting very red combs and a couple are getting more bwarkish every day, and their wattles are growing too. It CAN'T be much longer!! I might ring the supplier and ask her if she has any left from the flock they came from and whether any have laid yet....
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 17, 2007 10:21:31 GMT 1
Actually I think that may be a very good idea. Um, are you sure they're not roosters..........?
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Post by debbiem on Oct 17, 2007 10:23:39 GMT 1
 Definitely girls.
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 17, 2007 10:25:17 GMT 1
Well, maybe they are being too well fed......you could try just giving them layers pellets for a while...and I still think the old egg in the nestbox is a good idea  |
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Post by Sleepy on Oct 17, 2007 10:30:39 GMT 1
There seem to be a lot of other chicken keepers who are waiting for that first egg at the moment. My girls are getting very red combs and a couple are getting more bwarkish every day, and their wattles are growing too. It CAN'T be much longer!! I might ring the supplier and ask her if she has any left from the flock they came from and whether any have laid yet.... How frequent are the contractions? |
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Post by debbiem on Oct 17, 2007 10:31:34 GMT 1
They seemed to despise layers pellets but I've cut right down on the scraps AND the corn, and starting keeping them in the run for longer. Funny thing - they do eat the layers when the corn's not around........ A couple of cupfuls a day of corn, one in the morning, one in the evening - the rest of the time it's PELLETS sorry girls. |
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Post by owdboggy on Oct 17, 2007 10:42:41 GMT 1
Corn is not really that good for laying hens. The pellets contain all the vitamins, calcium etc. they should have whereas corn just fills their crops and has a lot less nutritional value. We only give corn as an incentive to get them to come in at night. If you are feeding on scraps then they really should have some extra calcium too in the form of oyster grit.
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