Curious, how old are your birds?
and.....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
How long to age chips is tricky...soooo many variables.
Just keep the layers thin.
Add a thin layer of straw too, will kick the stinks butt quick and help dry out the chips.