mulched wood for run

[Bram]

the local electric company is busy trimming and mulching....so I got a load of free mulch. Would probably be mostly maple, but who knows really what all is in there. I have an open run my girls spend most of their day in and it has some low spots...right now, muddy low spots. Can I safely put this newly mulched wood in the open air run? I put in straw and grass clippings sometimes to give them something to scratch in and hopefully fill in eventually.....is this a good idea or not?

 

[4 the Birds]

Perhaps... Mulch is usually pretty moist and full of beefy chunks of wood. I would use that around your vegetation and buy a few blocks of pine chips. They are thin, dry, and ideal in the coop (less than 10 bucks).

 

[Bram]

I use compressed pine shavings in the coop and enclosed run. This freshly muched/chipped wood is targeted to be used in the open air - 'outdoor run'. I've read some about not using cedar anything for chickens and I'm concerned that since I don't know the content of this mulch I could be risking my hens' health. I know the safe answer, 'when in doubt, don't' but this stuff is free and a plenty! Whaddyathink?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Use the mulch around plants, and use SAND in your run

 

[wsmith]

the local electric company is busy trimming and mulching....so I got a load of free mulch. Would probably be mostly maple, but who knows really what all is in there. I have an open run my girls spend most of their day in and it has some low spots...right now, muddy low spots. Can I safely put this newly mulched wood in the open air run? I put in straw and grass clippings sometimes to give them something to scratch in and hopefully fill in eventually.....is this a good idea or not?

Chickens love to scratch around in mulch and look for bugs and scratch grains that you put out. Nothing woring with it. It keeps them busy.