Bark Chippings

[istanley24]

Hi All,

I want to get some bark chippings to put down as a floorbase in my chicken run, it would all be put down on top of the ground (it used to have grass on it, but the chickens have had it all torn up now). Is there any particular chippings I should get?

Cheers,

Ian.

 

[silkiechicken]

Personally I like to keep dirt floors because I'd be afraid of splinters in wood chips and it's harder for them to scratch, dust in, and get grit from. If you get chips, I guess anything other than cedar would work.

 

[devora]

Ian, have you thought of straw? It is nice and soft for them and they manipulate it easily making places to rest. Also, it will compost easily.

 

[pattycake]

I have chips in my run and I like them. It doesn't get muddy, the chicks can easily scratch a hole to dust in, and though I poop-scoop daily, whatever I miss gets turned underneath and dries up or dissolves into the soil.

I just used the chips made when I had a pine tree cut down -- I recommend NOT getting cedar or anything that's been dyed. And the bags don't always tell you when the chips have been dyed. You have to ask yourself, Does wood actually come in that color??