Strawing out Release Pens

[webber]

Do you spread straw out insde your release pens prior to your poults being delivered?

 

 

My preference is not to, so as to prevent Aspergillosis, which is a killer.

 

I agree with strawing feed rides as the leaves fall.

 

What's your opinion?

Serious replies only please.

 

webber

[Bleeh]

I never straw out release pens, it's too much hassel, it's a waste of materials, - and as you say can bring on Aspergillosis. If you are that worried about the lack of material on the floor, you should move your pen (as anywhere that's so bare wouldn't be ideal for realeasing anyhow).

 

Infact, they only time I do use Straw in a pen, is using it as a building material (Place two bales with a sheet of corragated iron for a shelter, and so on).

 

And, Yes, Straw rides are very effective, and you should stick to using them, - infact anything that has straw on it can prove effective at holding pheasants (even horse muck heaps!)

 

 

Do you spread straw out insde your release pens prior to your poults being delivered?

 

 

My preference is not to, so as to prevent Aspergillosis, which is a killer.

 

I agree with strawing feed rides as the leaves fall.

 

What's your opinion?

Serious replies only please.

 

webber

[tuck1]

Not a keeper any more, but never have in the past. The clearing that goes on prior to the arrival of poults always seems to produce a fair bit of brash, which was left inside, aside from that, there always seemed to be a fair amount of cover in them generally, and good for scratching about.

[nipper]

Release pens ,,,,NO

Feed rides ,,,,,Yes

[scolopax]

Straw takes too long to dry out once wet and thus encorages bacteria etc. The key to good disease prevention is to try and have the pen as dry as possible, thats why disease outbreaks are always much more frequent during wet summers. I don't even like having straw bales inside the pen, outside they are great, pheasants love to scrat at them for a grain or two of wheat but I would not put them in a release pen.

[proTOM1]

Straw takes too long to dry out once wet and thus encorages bacteria etc. The key to good disease prevention is to try and have the pen as dry as possible, thats why disease outbreaks are always much more frequent during wet summers. I don't even like having straw bales inside the pen, outside they are great, pheasants love to scrat at them for a grain or two of wheat but I would not put them in a release pen.

 

 

 

I once strawed in side the pen and had so much trouble loss of birds through disease and then it is a pain to keep it cleaned out every time it gets wet . Now have no need as we are all partridge , 9000 of the ******* !

[Suffolk shooter]

Webber,

 

I put straw in the pen in a couple of areas, just to provide something different and keep birds from boredom, don't lay it too thick or you'll suffer with many bacterial/fungial diseases once wet as it breaks down. Never had a problem myself with deaths through this method, not to say it doesn't happen though.

 

But on the whole, keep it to the rides once birds are out and walking around, stops them straying as they have to hunt around more for food in it than at feeders. Only problem then I've found is an increase in Rats, squirrels and other vermin, but get the tunnel traps out and spend a good bit of time before birds go in ridding the area of squizzers, rat hole locations etc and you should be ok.

 

SS