Can mulch be used as bedding?

[rosemarythyme]

How finely mulched is this stuff? A mix of sizes or very fine or...?

I use wood chips in my coop and run without issue. I see some other folks aren't fans, saying it's heavy and gets wet - except it shouldn't be getting wet inside the coop so not sure how moisture would be a problem, and it's not at all heavy or difficult to shovel around. Bags of sand would be far heavier.

Ideally you should let the mulch sit a while outside before using, that's the main downside.

 

[crazy4ChickensNducks]

How finely mulched is this stuff? A mix of sizes or very fine or...?

I use wood chips in my coop and run without issue. I see some other folks aren't fans, saying it's heavy and gets wet - except it shouldn't be getting wet inside the coop so not sure how moisture would be a problem, and it's not at all heavy or difficult to shovel around. Bags of sand would be far heavier.

Ideally you should let the mulch sit a while outside before using, that's the main downside.

I think the op is talking about mulch not wood shavings

 

[MROO]

Ideally you should let the mulch sit a while outside before using, that's the main downside.

X2 on this. I have finely shredded hardwood mulch in my runs. It works great - harbors edible bugs and composts itself. I use it in my coop, as well, but not alone. It's mixed with pine shavings and pine needles. Well, actually, I put it in as "piles" and let the biddies mix it up. They love it! You should definitely let the fresh stuff sit for a bit before using it with your birds, though. Fresh wood, especially bark, needs a time to "cook out" any issues.

 

[RinaRoo]

Definitely not fine. Large pieces are estimated at 4 inches at most in length. Now though I have 2 piles at about 4 feet high, and 6-7 feet in diameter. The largest tree, the red oak was 213 feet in length, and over 4 feet in diameter.

It's all 'wet' for now, since it was mulched today. I think I'll continue to buy shaved pine for the coop, and use the mulch for the run once it has dried some.

 

[RinaRoo]

Even if I have to let it sit a while, It's still 'free' in a sense. It's here and I may as well use it for something while I can.

X2 on this. I have finely shredded hardwood mulch in my runs. It works great - harbors edible bugs and composts itself. I use it in my coop, as well, but not alone. It's mixed with pine shavings and pine needles. Well, actually, I put it in as "piles" and let the biddies mix it up. They love it! You should definitely let the fresh stuff sit for a bit before using it with your birds, though. Fresh wood, especially bark, needs a time to "cook out" any issues.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I think the op is talking about mulch not wood shavings

Some "mulch" is cut really fine, some chunkier. Ideally for chickens a mix of sizes is optimal... for example the chunky stuff allows for drainage when used in a run, while the fine stuff helps absorb poop in a coop. So it was important to know what the OP had on hand, to know if it would work.

Definitely not fine. Large pieces are estimated at 4 inches at most in length. Now though I have 2 piles at about 4 feet high, and 6-7 feet in diameter.

I think I'll continue to buy shaved pine for the coop, and use the mulch for the run once it has dried some.

Sounds like that should work fine for both coop and run as a base material, once it sits awhile. Ideally I'd say 6 months to a year to avoid bad mold or fungus blooms, and to let sap, oils etc. work its way out of the wood.

 

[aart]

I think I'll continue to buy shaved pine for the coop, and use the mulch for the run once it has dried some.

An excellent idea!