Home made wood chips

[Big dreams]

Is there any reason that I could not run branches etc. through a chipper and use it for my coop? I believe the woods would be wild cherry, alder, maybe some pine and fir hmmm and hemlock... so are all those ok for shavings on the floor of the coop?

 

[Hobbley_Farm]

that's what I plan on doing. I don't see why not. May want to keep cedar out. We bought a chipper specifically for this purpose.

 

[Big dreams]

The only thing I am wondering about is the dampness, you know like if I use green wood, am I going to have to spread it out to dry for awhile before use? What do you think, or did you think about that yet? Summer won't be a problem but this winter, not so sure maybe I should just make a bunch at once.... When its not raining, by the way I live near Seattle, lots of rain.

 

[patandchickens]

I would not put freshly-chipped green material inside a coop, *especially* not in any depth of more than an inch or so but really not at all. It will make things humid, but moreover all the piles of tree chippings I've ever been acquainted with develop a FIERCE case of mold under the surface in a day or two.

You'd want it dried to some reasonable degree first.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Clay In Iowa]

Quote:
I concur. Wait till the branches are dry OR till you will have 3 or 4 days of very warm dry weather. Spread them out in the sun and let them dry out.

 

[Big dreams]

Ok, thats what I was thinking if I make them in the summer and spread them on a tarp make sure they are good and dry then I can store them in the garage and use them when needed as long as they look good and dry after storage. Sound good?