Leaves in chicken run turning black, good or bad?

[rosemarythyme]

I spent about 20 minutes this morning piling the leaves in the chicken run into a large heap. It only took my 10 chickens about 5 minutes to level it down to nothing. I wonder if my time was well spent?

No reason to rake it/pile it other than to provide them amusement. Of course as you discovered, 20 minutes of work for you = 5 minutes of destruction for them.

 

[gtaus]

No reason to rake it/pile it other than to provide them amusement. Of course as you discovered, 20 minutes of work for you = 5 minutes of destruction for them.

Yeah, and I'm not kidding either.

 

[Hughes Wildlife Farm]

Very nice. I scored some bags full of leaves from one of my neighbors this year. He was all excited that I took the bags off his hands and saved him a trip to the landfill. I was all excited about having dry, bagged leaves in plastic bags that I can use this winter. Win-win for everybody.

I used them to as bedding in the run and coop last winter, the girls didnt mulch up the leaves in tbe coop, and WOW was it hard to clear out of the coop at the end of winter (since I just keep adding and adding to cover poops. So I think I will use wood chips at least in the coop, for winter... Gets too cold to be out there cleaning coops in the hard winter

 

[gtaus]

the girls didnt mulch up the leaves in tbe coop, and WOW was it hard to clear out of the coop at the end of winter (since I just keep adding and adding to cover poops. So I think I will use wood chips at least in the coop, for winter... Gets too cold to be out there cleaning coops in the hard winter

Good to know. I currently have wood chips in the coop. I have lots of wood chips ready to use this winter. Looks like I will just continue using the wood chips in the coop. I use the deep litter system, so I don't plan on cleaning out the coop again until next spring.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I used them to as bedding in the run and coop last winter, the girls didnt mulch up the leaves in tbe coop, and WOW was it hard to clear out of the coop at the end of winter (since I just keep adding and adding to cover poops. So I think I will use wood chips at least in the coop, for winter...

I wouldn't use leaves in a coop, unless you know the coop can handle true deep litter. Instead of breaking down properly they just get gross. Wood shavings, chips, pellets, etc are a better choice

 

[NH Chicken Mama]

if you can't free range them for predator reasons but want to let them forage a bit outside the run, let them out an hour before sun set and stand out there with them. Predators won't want to attack with you standing with them. Its what I did before I was comfortable letting them forage the yard all day long. (they return to the coop before the sun sets)

Yes they definitely head right for their coop at night! Once they've spent a few nights in there it's the only place for them - I had my nephew over this past weekend, he thought he was being helpful by closing the run while the chickens were inside. Well, one was still out hiding among the trees or something. When I went out (in the dark) I was scared half to death when my light hit a dark animal on top of the coop! She wanted to be in her bed, and the closest she could get was the roof! (And this is not the first time I've had a hen try to roost on top when the other option wasn't palatable - going through a leg mite treatment with me haha).

 

[NH Chicken Mama]

Good to know. I currently have wood chips in the coop. I have lots of wood chips ready to use this winter. Looks like I will just continue using the wood chips in the coop. I use the deep litter system, so I don't plan on cleaning out the coop again until next spring.

I was just discussing getting some wood chipping action happening this weekend. Do they need to be aged? Or can I use fresh chips?

 

[NH Chicken Mama]

I spent about 20 minutes this morning piling the leaves in the chicken run into a large heap. It only took my 10 chickens about 5 minutes to level it down to nothing. I wonder if my time was well spent? Would I be better off just throwing scratch and/or other grains on the leaves as they are and just let the chickens work through it? They seem to like a large pile of leaves, but I certainly spend more time building the pile then it takes them to tear it apart.

Sounds like me, walking through my yard with a hose to break up the poo so it doesn't get stuck in the family's shoes. My entourage follows along behind me, dropping presents the whole way.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I was just discussing getting some wood chipping action happening this weekend. Do they need to be aged? Or can I use fresh chips?

Aged is the safest route, there's a small chance of aspergillius with fresh chips. Wood oils are also more pronounced in fresh chips (that "nice woodsy smell") so aging gives time for those oils to escape and dissipate, which is better for the chickens respiratory systems.

If you MUST use fresh chips due to something like condition of the run, for example a big mud problem, use thin layers as possible and build it up over time.

 

[NH Chicken Mama]

Aged is the safest route, there's a small chance of aspergillius with fresh chips. Wood oils are also more pronounced in fresh chips (that "nice woodsy smell") so aging gives time for those oils to escape and dissipate, which is better for the chickens respiratory systems.

Ok, I had a feeling that I had read that somewhere. Thank you for confirming for me. I'll mulch my gardens with it for the winter and then utilize it next year in the run after it has overwintered.