Old Bedding

[Russo's Roost]

I am sorry if I am asking a question that has been asked and answered before, I searched and couldn't find the answer so here we go.
I haven't cleaned out the coop completely since November, I am about to do it. When I pick up all the pine shavings and straw is ther any reason why I wouldn't want to put it on the ground in their outdoor pen. I have diligently picked up any droppings all winter 3 times a day and it doesn't even smell but I thougth I would ask what the experts thought. The ground is kind of wet and I thought the bedding might help a little to keep their feet dry.
Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[dappertophatter]

If it dosen't smell ammonia-y or is terribly dirty, yeah, go ahead! Way to reuse your bedding- never thought about that before!

 

[kathyinmo]

If you throw it out in the run, and it gets wet from the rain, it will mold and STINK! Ask me how I know!

 

[Cindiloohoo]

I've done it too. It will stink and mold sometimes if it isn't cleaned up after the rain, but it DOES help with the muddy muck as a temporary fix!

 

[patandchickens]

I would NOT suggest putting it in the run under most circumstances. It will get wet and mucky this time of year, and stink; also as it decomposes into tiny particles it will make your run soil more water-retentive aka "soggy", and if your run has ANY tendency towards muddiness it'll make it much worse.

The only two circumstances under which you *might* want to consider putting it into the run would be a) if the run is so well roofed and walled that it is essentially indoors and virtually never gets wet, neither from rain nor from rising water from below; or b) if you have horrible mud in the run right now, and are willing to trade the eventual labor (which is REALLY laborious!) of shovelling all the skanky wet merged-with-the-mud bedding back OUT of the run, in exchange for having it lift the chickens up above mud level right *now*.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Russo's Roost]

Thanks Kathy
Thanks Cindyloo
Thanks Pat
We have 3 answers and all possibilities are covered.
Yes
No
Maybee.

Since nobody came up with a deffinate dangerous or unhealthy reason not to use the bedding in the pen I am going to go for it and give it a try.
I have an area that isn't too muddy but still a little muddy so I will try it there and see how it goes.
I'll try to remember to post an update in a couple of weeks.

Barry

 

[patman75]

compost it. Great of the garden after it breaks down.