Rice Husks

HOPPYCHOOK · **Joined:** Tue Jun 14, 2011 6:11 pm **Posts:** 3

Does anyone know where I can buy rice husks for my brooder? I live in springwood Qld I do not mind driving a little to pick them up

Buzzard · **Joined:** Sun Jan 30, 2011 8:21 pm **Posts:** 168

In answer to your question, why rice husks? I use sugar cane mulch and have never had any issues from chickens to pheasant chicks.

OakA · **Posted:** Tue Jun 14, 2011 7:11 pm

Sorry I'm unable to assist where you might get rice hulls in your area.
I have to also ask, Why rice hulls???
My experience has been they are not absorbent, they do drain freely but the moisture settles below the litter, the chicks stand in droppings and then the rice hulls stick to thier feet, they attract mice with the small amount of grains contained.They also have an inhibiting effect on plant growth if used as a compost in the garden when the brooder is cleaned.
I much prefer softwood shavings, are clean, smell fresh and are absorbent, the only drawback is if used as a compost later take some nitrogen in the process of breaking down.
I find straws and some other legume mulches are course for the young chicks to bed on, compact with manure and moisture and if flies have access can become maggot infested.
In all with everything considered I feel shavings are the best option.
Good luck.

HOPPYCHOOK · **Joined:** Tue Jun 14, 2011 6:11 pm **Posts:** 3

I was told to use them so thats why I was asking but it would be easier to use sugar cane or hay as I can get that just down the road. Thanks I am so glad I asked now

Sherley · **Joined:** Mon Jun 20, 2011 2:28 pm **Posts:** 1

I was told the same thing about the mice and so I use wood shavings instead and its great

Quality-All-The-Way · **Joined:** Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:42 am **Posts:** 8

Rice hulls are perfectly fine to use in a brooder as all brooders should be vermin proof anyway so that should not be an issue

OakA · **Posted:** Wed Jun 22, 2011 9:12 am

I appreciate your point of view Q-A-T-W but you have obviously not lived through a mouse plague as some areas are experiencing now, where I am for one.
Not just an odd mouse in the feed shed but estimated at 8000: to the hectare.
Any food source encourages them in and they completely devastate everything,crops in the paddock, emerging planted grains, food in the cupboard, clothing, linen, electricals, even the family car is not safe with them building nests on a warm engine and chewing through any and all electrical systems, rendering the vehicle lifeless, they even get into the air vents and build nests o'nite.
Your comment does not address the fact that rice hulls are not absorbent anyway and moisture in and around a brooder is not healthy for the growing chicks.
Vermin proofing a brooder area can only go so far, some vermin are almost impossible to exclude completely, particularly when in plague proportions.
Add to this the danger of baiting, a practice you would not encourage in or around any poultry and the best remedy is to not encourage them in, in the first place.
Rice hulls are not the best option and soft wood shavings by far the superior alternative.

HOPPYCHOOK · **Joined:** Tue Jun 14, 2011 6:11 pm **Posts:** 3

I went with straw in the end just to be safe from mice. Thank you all so much you have all been so helpful

Quality-All-The-Way · **Joined:** Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:42 am **Posts:** 8

Your right no I have not experienced a mouse plague and certainly feel for those that have

OakA · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 8:04 am

Many of us not "HAVE" experienced a mouse plague although I did further west in the 80's but at present "ARE" experiencing a plague and all reports are it is moving east and not declining, effecting many of the grain growing areas of the central and far west of the state.
If this keeps up we no doubt will all pay higher prices in future for our feed grains, so even if you don't have the mice there will almost surely be a flow on to us all.

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