INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[ChickCrazed]

Ok so far the brahma pair is gone and the legbar. I still have 2 free gorgeous silkie Roos (maybe one) one is blue partridge and the other splash partridge. The blue might be taken. Also have 2 plump blrw pullets one that will be the start of your showline, one with incomplete lacing but great type. Easy fix on her.

Sounds like you are getting rid of some good stuff!!! Why are you getting rid of them?

 

[twoboystwogirls]

I just found out that a tree trimmer near me has piles and piles of wood chips. His wife said I can come and get all I want for free (delivery would be a fee). Should I put this in just the run, or should I put it in the coop as well. We have always done straw in the coop but I keep hearing people say they are using woodchips. Are wood chips better than straw?

 

[LonelyPageTurne]

Howdy peoples. I still have 2 free silkie roos left and 2 gorgeous blue laced red pullets. Take the silkies and I will give you both of the blue laces reds for $50

 

[Leahs Mom]

I just found out that a tree trimmer near me has piles and piles of wood chips. His wife said I can come and get all I want for free (delivery would be a fee). Should I put this in just the run, or should I put it in the coop as well. We have always done straw in the coop but I keep hearing people say they are using woodchips. Are wood chips better than straw?

I think that most folks avoid the straw for 2 reasons. One is that it takes a LONG TIME to break down very well. The other is that because of that, those little "straws" that are hollow are a great place for mites to hid in and proliferate.

Oh...just thought of the third reason - it does tend toward mold if it gets wet. Even when you throw it outside in the outdoor run after you use it, you can still end up with mold in the straw. And when they poo, it just tends to sit on top of it rather than when you have smaller pieces that can cover it. Some folks get chopped straw because of that.

 

[Candy442]

Hey Leahs Mom where do you get your birds processed for such low price?

We only have dirt in run and use only pine shavings...straw only in nest boxes.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I just found out that a tree trimmer near me has piles and piles of wood chips. His wife said I can come and get all I want for free (delivery would be a fee). Should I put this in just the run, or should I put it in the coop as well. We have always done straw in the coop but I keep hearing people say they are using woodchips. Are wood chips better than straw?

Another thing....@SallyinIndiana says she puts some of the wood chips inside mixed w/the finer shavings. I've not used them inside myself but only on the outside run.

Then I put the old indoor shavings out in the run too when I clean out the inside. I always leave some of the old shavings inside to kind of "start" the new stuff and to keep a bit of the beneficial stuff going from the old batch in there. Since I have vinyl on my floor, I'll also on occasion dig some dirt and throw it in with the shavings also. If I had a wood floor I wouldn't do that.

In the outdoor run, just keep building up more and more shavings and wood chips. As it rains, snows, etc., things will keep breaking down and the worms, and beneficial microbes in the soil can proliferate under it.

This last spring we dug some of the dirt out from under the shavings and my daughter started a whole above-ground garden with that soil. Best veggie garden she's ever had. My other daughter took some to add to their existing beds too. I seriously have never seen such healthy soil before.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I have large breeds and the pine chips work well in the coop in the spring - fall. I have not found any great winter bedding that won;t freeze and thaw without a smell. But I did have ducks with the chickens last winter. I know come winter the shavings from the stores have to be replaced or have a decent amount of dirt tossed in to really start a good litter.
We buy the shavings for the chick brooding then toss them in where they are needed, the run and the coops, but more in the runs as I like the looks of them for the first few days and I see the runs more.
Smaller breeds might have trouble with some of the rougher edges of the tree trimmings when jumping down from the roost.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Has anyone put mulch in their run before? Maybe that is what you guys mean by wood chips-but I think saw dust when I hear wood chips

 

[Leahs Mom]

Has anyone put mulch in their run before? Maybe that is what you guys mean by wood chips-but I think saw dust when I hear wood chips

Yes. The wood chips would in other terms be called mulch.

But...If you purchase mulch in the bags from the store they are often dyed and may have other additives that may not be a good choice to use around the animals.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Oh...

And when I have the trimmers drop leave the piles of wood chippings, I usually let them "cure". Meaning I let them set there for awhile before using. The first batch I left until there were worms inhabiting the pile. It was about 4-6 months I think.

I don't know if you need to cure them that long. But a short curing period is probably good.