Leaves as bedding

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

I currently have Bradford pear, columnar oak, and American elm and I want to put some in my run/coop is it safe

 

[GodLovesU]

I have used leaves in the run before with no problems.I have different trees however.

 

[saysfaa]

Yes. Those are safe.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Yes, leaves are amazing to use in the run. They absorb poop, give the chickens something to scratch in, and turn into great compost.

Today was my first big leaf day of the year, so there was a lot of grass mixed in, which the flock went crazy for.

 

[aart]

Leaves can make a decent addition to run bedding.
Best to use dry leaves and watch they don't shingle and mat.

 

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

Leaves can make a decent addition to run bedding.
Best to use dry leaves and watch they don't shingle and mat.

I just put about 4 trash bags full and it’s a super thin layer that barely covers the whole thing and by just I mean I just came inside and sat down so they are all exploring it and my guineas are just staring at them and screaming.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

In the run, I just dump them all in and let the flock knock down the piles. My run isn't covered so they get wet when it rains.

If I were going to use them in the coop itself, I'd want them to be dry, and probably shredded up a bit with the mower to avoid issues with matting.

 

[Sally PB]

I think the phrase, "In seconds flat!" must have been coined by someone watching chickens level a pile of leaves. Maybe the original punctuation was, "In seconds! Flat!"

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Doesn't seem to take long, and cubic feet of leaves become a thin dusting over the surface. I think I usually throw six heaping gorilla carts full (at least 42 cu ft) into an area of about 150 sq ft - and an hour later, that's like 1-2" of leaf litter. By the next morning, its maybe 1/2", except in the corners.

 

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

Doesn't seem to take long, and cubic feet of leaves become a thin dusting over the surface. I think I usually throw six heaping gorilla carts full (at least 42 cu ft) into an area of about 150 sq ft - and an hour later, that's like 1-2" of leaf litter. By the next morning, its maybe 1/2", except in the corners.

My run is 20x10 feet and coop is 9x6