Ok for Run Litter?

[Meg-in-MT]

You know what, I just checked and supposedly it’s not. I dunno.

Huh, that's funny. I went to post that and you'd posted the same thing. I figured we had to be right Maybe it's that they aren't

 

[rosemarythyme]

Although I use deep litter and it works very well for me, if you've been using sand and have liked it, I don't really see a need to change it.

If you do want to try it, I'd look up the various materials that you have as I don't know what may or may not be toxic to birds. Also don't chop up the materials too fine, you want some chunkiness to provide aeration and drainage.

 

[Nellzmom]

How do you 'chop' it up?
Keep the greens and browns balanced....if it gets stinky, add more browns.
Too many fresh grass clippings can get moldy and/or clog crops.

We cut any twigs or branches into 2-3 inch pieces with hand clippers. Any branches of 2 inches or more we use loppers and use it as kindling for the fire pit.

 

[Nellzmom]

Thank you all for your responses! I’ll definitely research which of our ingredients are toxic to chickens & leave out the horse nettle. I just chopped up our tomato plants (nightshade family) and will check on those too.

I’d like to try something different to give them more to scratch around in. They dig around in the sand a little, but not as much as they do in their small tractor. I guess I’m just trying to spoil them

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

I’d like to try something different to give them more to scratch around in. They dig around in the sand a little, but not as much as they do in their small tractor. I guess I’m just trying to spoil them

If you get a good mix and it really starts to compost, it'll attract all kinds of worms and other little critters that your flock will just LOVE digging for and enjoying. And free protein supplements!

I will go into my run and turn a few spots with a pitchfork. The girls go nuts for it!

 

[igorsMistress]

Thank you all for your responses! I’ll definitely research which of our ingredients are toxic to chickens & leave out the horse nettle. I just chopped up our tomato plants (nightshade family) and will check on those too.

I’d like to try something different to give them more to scratch around in. They dig around in the sand a little, but not as much as they do in their small tractor. I guess I’m just trying to spoil them

The nightshades are definitely toxic to the birds. The fruit is ok but the greens are not.

 

[Folly's place]

Yes, leave out the tomato plants!
When birds are out free ranging, they tend to be very selective, and avoid toxic, bad tasting plants. In a coop or run, with fewer choices and less to do, offering toxic plants is a very bad idea.
Mary