Arizona Chickens

[SonoranChick]

The wood chips were a horrible idea everything is soaked and mucky and will need to be removed as soon as the rain stops (which it looks like maybe Wednesday according to the news!) One of their food containers was right where water dripped through the roof, so it's wet too. The worst part is there is a huge leak in the nest box so it's just a wet, soggy mess in there and the poor girls have no where nice to lay. I'm so bummed. I did a lot of work to get the wood chips in and now they all need to come out. I'm going back to dirt guys! And fixing the leak in the nest box ASAP. Then putting down hay or maybe wood chips in there again. The interesting thing is that there are some dry areas in both the coop and the run for the chickens to retreat to, but they really seem to prefer being out in the rain. Just the barnevelder is hanging out in the dry sand in the coop. Everyone is outside playing in the rain!

 

[cavemanrich]

But I think you worry TOOOOO MUCH.. The chips will dry up when rains stop. In one area of my yard I place a 6 inch layer of wood chips. I get them free from a tree service company. I get plenty of rain, and since the chips are in the open, they get soaked. When rains stop ,,,,,,, soon chips dry. After a few years, I need to replenish with new chips, since these just turned back to earth. Have been doing this for over 30 years and never encountered any issues. My initial use was for my dogs to have a place to take care of business.

 

[SonoranChick]

But I think you worry TOOOOO MUCH.. The chips will dry up when rains stop. In one area of my yard I place a 6 inch layer of wood chips. I get them free from a tree service company. I get plenty of rain, and since the chips are in the open, they get soaked. When rains stop ,,,,,,, soon chips dry. After a few years, I need to replenish with new chips, since these just turned back to earth. Have been doing this for over 30 years and never encountered any issues. My initial use was for my dogs to have a place to take care of business.

Oh this makes me feel so much better! I didn't think they would dry out, I feel like I read somewhere they could mold and then you have a really big problem. Maybe that would pertain more to humid parts of the country...I know if we don't have rain it's dry as a bone, and it's rare to get rain like this. Thank you so much for this info. I would be fine letting the chips dry out in the run. I really liked not having to scoop poop in that area since putting them down. I will definitely have to mend the leaky nest box and refill the chips in there, but that's not a huge task. I was going to use the wet chips from the nest box in the compost so they won't go to waste. And yes I definitely worry to much lol

 

[meetthebubus]

The wood chips were a horrible idea everything is soaked and mucky and will need to be removed as soon as the rain stops (which it looks like maybe Wednesday according to the news!) One of their food containers was right where water dripped through the roof, so it's wet too. The worst part is there is a huge leak in the nest box so it's just a wet, soggy mess in there and the poor girls have no where nice to lay. I'm so bummed. I did a lot of work to get the wood chips in and now they all need to come out. I'm going back to dirt guys! And fixing the leak in the nest box ASAP. Then putting down hay or maybe wood chips in there again. The interesting thing is that there are some dry areas in both the coop and the run for the chickens to retreat to, but they really seem to prefer being out in the rain. Just the barnevelder is hanging out in the dry sand in the coop. Everyone is outside playing in the rain!

Not to put worry back to ya, but mold can generate here, I get it under the food dish or block that hasn't been moved for a week and it's moist...

I hope they can dry out depending on if they get sun and how deep they are I personally think the dirt is a good idea, for me I take out the old and dump,a barrow load of new and wala! New patches to scratch through.., get grit from, and take baths in... all in one!

 

[cavemanrich]

I think the problems arise when the piles of chips are HIGH HEAPS that don't have a chance to dry. That is why I just place a layer about 6 inches or less. I get the whole dump truck load, and it is FREE
I also never throw out any grass clippings. I spread it in the run area but not over 3 or 4 inches deep. It dries out and provides good dry/clean footing for my chickens. When it gets rained on, it still is cleaner than ground/mud. In no time it dries. Again I like to note that if grass would be in a large pile, the decomposition would start like KWIK. Then you have a MESS instead of clean footing.
I have read threads that, peeps had grass clippings in their runs, and their chickens died of impacted crop. I do not doubt that it is possible. I have been doing the grass clippings over 20 years now, and never encountered Impacted crop. My chickens just keep themselves busy scratching thru the grass and searching out tastier things. They always have feed and a side of scratch (treats) available.

 

[SonoranChick]

This is all good info to keep in mind! My wood chips are only about 3, maybe 4 inches deep. I was planning on adding more soon. If these dry out by the end of the week I will just keep them and add some more. If they stay mucky even after the rain stops, I will put them in the compost.

 

[igorsMistress]

@SonoranChick

I used wood chips to improve the soil in areas of my yard that used to be slippery, soggy messes. Give them time to break down and work their magic.

 

[BlueBaby]

The wood chips were a horrible idea everything is soaked and mucky and will need to be removed as soon as the rain stops (which it looks like maybe Wednesday according to the news!) One of their food containers was right where water dripped through the roof, so it's wet too. The worst part is there is a huge leak in the nest box so it's just a wet, soggy mess in there and the poor girls have no where nice to lay. I'm so bummed. I did a lot of work to get the wood chips in and now they all need to come out. I'm going back to dirt guys! And fixing the leak in the nest box ASAP. Then putting down hay or maybe wood chips in there again. The interesting thing is that there are some dry areas in both the coop and the run for the chickens to retreat to, but they really seem to prefer being out in the rain. Just the barnevelder is hanging out in the dry sand in the coop. Everyone is outside playing in the rain!

Well, at least you know now where the problem area's out there are, so that you can find a remedy for them. Talking about playing in the rain, about 1/2 of my girls are out there in the pen in it, and my 4 rooster's are singing in the rain!

 

[DesertChic]

Cute!


Anyone get rain? We got dumped on quickly and then lots of drizzle. Cooled down alot,a
Welcome fall!

It rained all of yesterday afternoon and evening; all night long, and so far all day at my house with just a few breaks. I'm soaked, and my chickens are very annoyed at Mother Nature for thinking they're ducks.

 

[SonoranChick]

It rained all of yesterday afternoon and evening; all night long, and so far all day at my house with just a few breaks. I'm soaked, and my chickens are very annoyed at Mother Nature for thinking they're ducks.

Haha I called mine "ducks" today. They are so funny in the rain.