For use in a chicken run?
You know the drill, use chips from outside of pile and add a 1-3" layer in run every week or two(or as needed).
Growing plants in 'woody' soil can greatly reduce nitrogen available to plants.
Thanks, @aart and @DobieLover.If they are in an area that gets sun and lots of wind to dry them, yes.
Most of the woodchips will be going on the garden, probably. That heavy soil needs something, and where I piled some compost (chicken bedding/poop and leaves) has a much better texture.
I do want to put some chips in the chicken run too. I'll scrape stuff off the surface of the pile for the chickens. For the garden, I'll probably be shoveling into the trailer to haul up the hill to the garden. It's a pretty steep hill; Jeep help is much appreciated with that.
Yes, I'd read that chips/wood added to soil can reduce the nitrogen available to plants, as it gets tied up with breaking down the wood. I have a plan for that.