Flooring with woodchips?

[Echilde]

I thought I did too but it definitely gets warn in there. It's been in the 90s with stupid high humidity here for a few weeks so that may be part of the problem

 

[Cryss]

I use pine shavings inside the coop but I've always used free woodchips in the run. Wood absorbs water keeping the run dry. It composts so it doesn't need to be removed. That being said , in the fall we do collect some of the soil leaving behind the intact woodchips by sifting out the intact woodchips. This rich compost goes on top of the garden. By spring it has done the fertilizing for us. Check out Paul Gautchi and his back to eden gardening on YouTube. He's the reason I got chickens.

 

[HopeSprings]

Yup my father runs a tree cutting business so we have access to free woodchips. I floor my runs with it sometime I layer sand and pine straw before woodchips to help drain. I'm in NC as well but could get pics. It just rained here as well so I don't have a good example really everything is wet.

Where in NC? I'm near Asheville and could use a chip source!

 

[Cryss]

Where in NC? I'm near Asheville and could use a chip source!

I don't know about NC but in NJ you just contact a local tree service and let them know that you will accept a truckload of chips. It saves them driving to and paying at a dump, especially if you find out who works for the state tree cleanup in your area. You can also try signing up for chipdrop.com .

 

[mountainchickens]

Thank you everyone! I will look at some of the recommended Youtube channels/videos about woodchips We don't have a covered run, but that would be OK, right? I've read PVC poultry netting on the ground under the woodchips is good for drainage... has anyone tried this?
Thank you again!

 

[gtaus]

Where in NC? I'm near Asheville and could use a chip source!

It took me a while to find free wood chips where I live in northern Minnesota. But the local county environmental landfill takes wood chips from tree services. They charge the tree service people for dumping their chips, but anyone can come and load up a trailer full of woodchips to take home for free. If you are lucky, a tree service may be close enough that they would be happy to dump their chips in your yard rather than paying to dispose of them at the county landfill.

But know your options. I went to one tree service place that had mounds of woodchips piled high in his back yard. I asked him if he wanted to get rid of any of his chips, and he said he would "only" charge me $40 a pickup load. I just smiled and thanked him, and left.

 

[Squishychicken]

I'm in vass NC

 

[blackdog043]

We don't have a covered run, but that would be OK, right? I've read PVC poultry netting on the ground under the woodchips is good for drainage... has anyone tried this?

Wood chips are fine in an open run. Do not put any netting or wire inside the run. The chickens could dig down to it and possibly hurt their feet. To keep predators out use an apron around the outside of your coop and run.

Think of the run as a nice mulched flower bed. You can also add yard/ garden waste, dry leaves, pine needles small pieces of wood/tree branches. A nice mixture of stuff works well. Your run shouldn't smell or draw flies and the poop will break down. Add more stuff as needed. If your run doesn't have a drainage problem it won't stay wet.

Here's mine in the fall, I was adding yard and garden waste.

 

[aart]

Do not put any netting or wire inside the run. The chickens could dig down to it and possibly hurt their feet. To keep predators out use an apron around the outside of your coop and run.

Ditto Dat!^^^

What kind of bedding you use may depend on how you manage the manure.
This is about cleaning, but covers my big picture

-I use poop boards under roosts with thin(<1/2") layer of sand/PDZ mix, sifted daily(takes 5-10mins) into bucket going to friends compost.

-Scrape big or wet poops off roost and ramps as needed.

-Pine shavings on coop floor, add some occasionally, totally changed out once or twice a year, old shavings added to run.

- My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

-Nests are bedded with straw, add some occasionally, change out if needed(broken egg).

There is no odor, unless a fresh cecal has been dropped and when I open the bucket to add more poop.

That's how I keep it 'clean', have not found any reason to clean 'deeper' in 5 years.

 

[Ellieschickies]

Hi! Does anyone floor their run with woodchips or similar coarse mulch? Anyone have any pics? Are there any cons to this, or is it a good setup? We are thinking about flooring the run with woodchips. Thank you!

We have wood chips in the run for our chicks and they love it. Really clean and no smell so far