Curious about hay/straw bales

[Melissa Malone]

Ive been reading about having a straw bale or hay bale in the run area for chickens to play on and snack on. Any thoughts or reccommendations?

 

[DobieLover]

Unless your run is covered I wouldn't use either. They will mold.
I use stumps, branch perches and wood chips in the run for avian entertainment.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

If you think your chickens might be bored, this article might help!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ke-your-run-more-fun-for-your-chickens.67370/

 

[Melissa Malone]

Unless your run is covered I wouldn't use either. They will mold.
I use stumps, branch perches and wood chips in the run for avian entertainment.

Ok my run is covered but I don’t want to have mold issues down the road. Thanks so much

 

[perkolator]

I have dumped old straw bales in my run several times, can't say I've ever noticed any issues with molding, just decomposition like normal when it gets wet. I'm talking loose straw bale that the chickens can spread around - not something that's still baled up tight and sitting there wet rotting from the inside out.

 

[3KillerBs]

I use intact straw bales in my run. They make good wind baffles in the winter and are useful clutter all year round. If you cut one tie the chickens will have a blast tearing the bale apart over the next several weeks so that makes a great boredom-buster.

However, I will add two very important notes:

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I have exceedingly, even excessively well-drained, sandy soil. Thus the bales never sit in a puddle (though they do grown mushrooms sometimes after heavy rain.​

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When the bale has deteriorated I do not spread it in the chicken run, I spread it in my garden. While spreading it I make sure to wear a mask and then I water it down well to wash spores into the ground.​

Your mileage may vary.

 

[Scottin8a]

Ive been reading about having a straw bale or hay bale in the run area for chickens to play on and snack on. Any thoughts or reccommendations?

I buy hay bails every year for garden and chickens. I tear apart the bails and cover the runs a few inches deep with it. In a week or three I use it in the garden for mulch. The chickens remove most of the weed seeds and add a bit of fertilizer to it. It will add some weed seeds to your garden but is very manageable and any molded hay goes to the compost pile.

 

[CKfarm22]

Ive been reading about having a straw bale or hay bale in the run area for chickens to play on and snack on. Any thoughts or reccommendations?

No!! Straw and hay bale will mold and it will get your chickens sick! Although some are worried about pine shavings having toxins, it worked for us. They like to dig around in the shavings!

 

[3KillerBs]

Here are some of my recent thoughts on straw in the run: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/thoughts-on-bedding-litter-why-i-chose-straw-today.1481550/