Did I waste my money?

[Mybackyardpeepers]

Cedar is toxic to chickens because their respiratory systems are nothing like ours. They can't expel gases that they inhale. Each breath goes through several sets of lungs before it reaches the final lung and is expelled. Don't use cedar shavings.

Cedar mulch has been no problem, the heat on the other hand is stressing me out more! Thank you.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

Dirt.


This is peat moss.View attachment 1828962 View attachment 1828963

Hmmmm. What happens when it gets wet? What I was going for was something that stayed dry under the covered side so when the kids and chickens are out feet stay some what decent if that makes sense.

 

[Kiki]

Hmmmm. What happens when it gets wet? What I was going for was something that stayed dry under the covered side so when the kids and chickens are out feet stay some what decent if that makes sense.

I'd mix a big bag or two in with your shavings and see.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

I'd mix a big bag or two in with your shavings and see.

Great. Thank you.

 

[Kiki]

The more kinda of 'stuff' you have in you run the better. Read this:

Here in southern Oregon it has been rainy for the last few weeks on and off. My run is sooooo muddy. I actually slipped once! Anyhow, what is the most practical cost efficient way to fix this problem during these rainy months?

In the spring hubby and I plan on building a fully covered run. At this moment in time the expenses are not feasible. Suggestions!?

When creating a bird habitat, think of where the wild fowl live....in the forest. Recreate that floor and you'll start to see and smell a huge difference in where your chickens live and they will be healthier and more content. Leaves, twigs, bark, small amounts of straw or hay~small, mind you, pine needles and cones, wood chips, etc. As deep as you can build it. No more mud, no more bad smells or flies. The litter pack acts like a big sponge, wicking moisture down, leaving the top springy and dryer. It keeps the soil under the run from becoming too compacted, thus allowing the rains to take the excess nitrogen of the manure down to the worms that will ascend under the litter for that nutrition. Try to avoid too much of any one material unless it would be leaves...that's mostly what you will find decaying on the forest floor. A lot of people want to use wood shavings but they are expensive and all one particle size, not letting air into the pile. Wood chips would be a better option than shavings, if you can get them as they have varying particle size and contain leaf matter.

You create food, activity and healthier footing for your chickens in one, cheap, easy to maintain move. You can then throw lawn clippings, garden refuse, kitchen scraps, weeds, etc. into that litter pack and what the chickens don't eat they will bury and the worms will consume it. They will be living on a living compost pile instead of a slick, muddy, poopy moonscape filled with little pools of putrid water.

And you can do the same thing in your coop:

 

[paintedChix]

Great! I was thinking more of a shrubby type plant or tree type but don't want anything that is going to get big. Googling is hurting my head and getting me no where.

Why not consider a shrub type plant that has fruit for them? You would need to protect young plants until they are well grown up by netting or fencing them off for a bit, but if in the run, they can hop up and help themselves once the plants are established. Keeping them in the mulched in wood chips would help with them being scratched out of the ground... or keeping them netted/fenced any time that you see the chickens starting to dig too much.

Some considerations are blue berries, goose berries, currants, honey berry, goji berry. There are other berry types that will make a nice shady shrub. Or do trees you can prune down small - fig tree, elderberry tree/shrub, mulberry tree/shrub, pomegranate.
If you use strawberries, I'd do those in a upright or hanging growing situation in the run or do outside of the run. Mine have always quickly destroyed strawberry beds...

Or go with the thorny type nitrogen fixers - silver berry, sea berry, autumn olive.

Some of these are considered invasive, some aren't allowed depending on where you are located and some may not do well in your growing zone. But it's a consideration.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

Why not consider a shrub type plant that has fruit for them? You would need to protect young plants until they are well grown up by netting or fencing them off for a bit, but if in the run, they can hop up and help themselves once the plants are established. Keeping them in the mulched in wood chips would help with them being scratched out of the ground... or keeping them netted/fenced any time that you see the chickens starting to dig too much.

Some considerations are blue berries, goose berries, currants, honey berry, goji berry. There are other berry types that will make a nice shady shrub. Or do trees you can prune down small - fig tree, elderberry tree/shrub, mulberry tree/shrub, pomegranate.
If you use strawberries, I'd do those in a upright or hanging growing situation in the run or do outside of the run. Mine have always quickly destroyed strawberry beds...

Or go with the thorny type nitrogen fixers - silver berry, sea berry, autumn olive.

Some of these are considered invasive, some aren't allowed depending on where you are located and some may not do well in your growing zone. But it's a consideration.

This is awesome! I was thinking bushy type but of course the people at the stores are not chicken people so not very helpful. Thank you!!!

 

[superfoot53]

Hi all. So yesterday I went out and spent almost $100.00 towards my chickens run. Now I'm questioning if I wasted my money, and may even be harming my babies. The problem is there is so much conflicting information out there. My run is 20x10 half coveted, half uncovered. So here are my questions:
1). I purchased 4 bags of Virgin Cedar Mulch, after reading it can't have any coloring to it so I spreading it all nicely around my covered side of my run then decided to triple check safety. I saw a site that said it is NOT safe around chickens. What is true safe or unsafe, do I need to go out and rake up 4 bags of mulch before I let my girls out for the day?
2). I bought 3 plants to go inside the run for the not covered side for some shade. 2 Nortwind Switch Grass and 1 Adagio Grass plant because the guy advised me they were hardy for my area and I would have to replace them every year. I have read several articles saying ornate grass plants are safe, are mine?
3) Also I have read fern plant are safe too, but are all breeds? There are around 5 different names of ferns here and wanted to get a Queen Fern.
Thank!!!

 

[superfoot53]

Hi all. So yesterday I went out and spent almost $100.00 towards my chickens run. Now I'm questioning if I wasted my money, and may even be harming my babies. The problem is there is so much conflicting information out there. My run is 20x10 half coveted, half uncovered. So here are my questions:
1). I purchased 4 bags of Virgin Cedar Mulch, after reading it can't have any coloring to it so I spreading it all nicely around my covered side of my run then decided to triple check safety. I saw a site that said it is NOT safe around chickens. What is true safe or unsafe, do I need to go out and rake up 4 bags of mulch before I let my girls out for the day?
2). I bought 3 plants to go inside the run for the not covered side for some shade. 2 Nortwind Switch Grass and 1 Adagio Grass plant because the guy advised me they were hardy for my area and I would have to replace them every year. I have read several articles saying ornate grass plants are safe, are mine?
3) Also I have read fern plant are safe too, but are all breeds? There are around 5 different names of ferns here and wanted to get a Queen Fern.
Thank!!!

I don’t know about harm from outdoor usage of cedar. My thought would be it might drive away bugs they might otherwise eat. In the future you might consider calling a local tree service and have them dump a load of wood chips when in your area. They are glad to get rid of them and should be free. My chickens loved going through it in their run and the pile.

 

[paintedChix]

When you aren't totally tired of google, you tube or pinterest - check out permaculture sites, food forests, edible lawns, edible forest and foods for chickens. You can hang planters off your run, too - and keep herbs in them that are great for chickens. I've just started with herbs this year and am getting ready to put a bunch of mint in some of the chicken pens.

I found out last night that the Kentucky colonel mint is NOT one that I will drink in tea... Spearmint is awesome though!