Has anyone tried this...?

[kellykate]

Cocoa Shell Mulch -- It says it is an Organic Mulch made from the shells of the cocoa bean. I just put it down in my run. Has a nice color and smells like cocoa butter. I read somewhere it was pet safe unless ingested in LARGE quantities by dogs --my area is fenced so that shouldn't be a problem. But started to wonder what would happen if it got ingested by the chickens -- so far they haven't even tried just scratching around look for bugs underneath -- they are out of the pen the majority of the day -- clucking around the yard but have access to it. Anyhow, just wondering if anyone has had experience with this product.

Hope I didn't goof by putting it down???

 

[Kitsap Cluckers]

Where did you purchase it from? I'm interested in checking it out. Please keep us posted and let us know how it works out.

 

[gocrow77]

I have heard dog owners/breeders say it's a "no no" because it's cocoa and someone's dog ate it and died. Don't know if anything like that would apply to chickens, but I have seen it and avoided using it anywhere on my place because of that. Could have been a one in a million thing though - not sure. You know how things can quickly get out of hand on the internet and things get exaggerated as well. Could you google Cocoa Shell Mulch toxicity to see what comes up?

 

[kellykate]

Yup -- all I could find was stuff about dogs and occasionally cats. But nothing on chickens -- I'm giving it a try. I am assuming it wouldn't be on the market if birds -- such as robins, sparrows, wrens -- that fly around all day amongst it were dropping dead. And like I said they aren't in there much in the summer -- they cruise the yard mainly. If I see them really gobbling it down I may try something new.

I purchased it at my local feedstore.

 

[ROC4K]

I don't use it for the run but it is wonderful in the garden. Makes the place smell like a chocolate factory!

 

[JenEric Farms]

Where did you buy it? Was it somewhere local or did you order it? I think I'd like to try it in my run as well. I currently have hay down and I hate it.

 

[kellykate]

Yeah it was just at my local feed store. You could google it and maybe someone around you sells it. So far . . . I am giving it a huge thumbs up! Smells like cocoa butter -- chickens don't eat it -- looks nice -- covered the mud! Yahoooo!

 

[JenEric Farms]

I live in Maine! Which store carries it?

 

[kellykate]

Wahoo -- sorry I didn't look to see where you were! I got it in North Yarmouth at Ames Farm Center.

 

[JenEric Farms]

Thanks! I'll check it out, I've been looking to get something different to put down and something that smells like chocolate seems GREAT!