In recent years, Bedmax Ltd have found that more and more game rearers, game farmers and gamekeepers are using Stockmax Shavings as part of their strategy for combatting disease in their game bird pens. This is why they feel that it is important to showcase this healthy pine bedding for game birds and also gun dogs, on their stand, number M1569, at the Game Fair, being held at Ragley Hall from 27th-29th July, 2018.
Neil Cornish, of Palmers Green Game Farm in Norfolk, who has been using Stockmax for 12 years, describes the bedding as “highly recommended for game rearers”.“Here at Palmers Green Game Farm, we rear over 200,000 game birds of both pheasants and partridges and it is integral that these are well looked after. Stockmax Shavings are large flakes, with minimal dust, and spreads very easily.
Birds lose heat through their feet very quickly, and that is why we like Stockmax because it helps to keep them warm and the moisture drains to the bottom. In 2010, we had a problem where the birds were losing a lot of heat in the sunshine parlour, and now, since using Stockmax, the problem has been completely reversed.”
However, the same qualities that have made them the leading brand of shavings for larger animals also makes them perfect for the smallest game bird chicks at the most vulnerable time of their lives. Made predominantly from UK sourced softwood pine timber, the shavings have scientifically proven antiseptic properties. The shavings are dried to sterilising temperatures during manufacture to remove dust and small particles which can otherwise impair breathing, or in the case of game bird chicks, appear to be a tempting food.
Neil advises: “I make the bed around three to four inches thick, and because we have never had any problems with the gamebirds eating the shavings, I would highly recommend Stockmax to all game rearers. As a business it simply is imperative that the birds are reared to the highest possible standards, and I can honestly say that Stockmax contributes well to this. Here at Palmers Green Game Farm we also sell at lot of Stockmax to the game keepers we deal with.”
Stockmax shavings are cut larger to create a deeper, more resilient bed. This creates a deep, warm, insulating bed for chicks, but crucially they are too large for chicks to ingest. The priority for any game bird rearer or gamekeeper is to ensure the welfare and the healthy development of the greatest possible number of birds.
With Stockmax the bedding stays very clean and dry, it is economical and easy to use, and it will keep in place for several weeks. That’s why, every year, more rearers and gamekeepers are choosing Stockmax shavings.
