Run Floor for Wet Weather

[jeria]

Our city has an area you can go pick up shredded tree material, free. I started using it as mulch a number of years ago and ended up with awful poison oak (on the edge of hospital admission) from it and have been fighting it in the corner of my yard I used it on now for 7 years trying to eradicate it. So beware of what might be in your area.

 

[biophiliac]

OOOOOHHH! @aart that is beautiful stuff!

Like @jeria I got most of mine from the city recycling area...at first I was ignorant of the Aspergillus danger and I was just lucky. Now I know to let it age

 

[aart]

OOOOOHHH! @aart that is beautiful stuff!

Like @jeria I got most of mine from the city recycling area...at first I was ignorant of the Aspergillus danger and I was just lucky. Now I know to let it age

Whether a mold bloom will happen with all freshly chipped trimmings is probably variable to region, micro-climate, and materials...but the high volume of moisture in chipped green wood and leaves is a perfect habitat for many organisms to bloom....and some can be toxic in high numbers, best to let it age for sure.

Maybe @biophiliac read about Terry H's experience with fresh chips, bird deaths, and a poultry lab's testing of materials and dead bird tissues?
I wonder how many other bird deaths attributed to general respiratory illness was actually from mold blooms(Aspergillus and others) from fresh chippings.

 

[biophiliac]

Whether a mold bloom will happen with all freshly chipped trimmings is probably variable to region, micro-climate, and materials...but the high volume of moisture in chipped green wood and leaves is a perfect habitat for many organisms to bloom....and some can be toxic in high numbers, best to let it age for sure.

Maybe @biophiliac read about Terry H's experience with fresh chips, bird deaths, and a poultry lab's testing of materials and dead bird tissues?
I wonder how many other bird deaths attributed to general respiratory illness was actually from mold blooms(Aspergillus and others) from fresh chippings.

Agreed on all 3 of Aarts points. My birds hatched in feb so when I started building deep litter in the spring conditions were not ideal for mold blooms and since tree trimming had not yet started for the year, I was getting chips left over from the previous year. I still looked it over and removed any clumps that looked moldy just bc of the yuck factor. Twigs and such from the yard are good to add in to keep the texture 'fluffy'. The so called 'ramial branch' trimmings are great for texture, but they are the one to be most cautious of with all the green mixed in. Its nice to visit the birds and not have to stand in a lot of poop.

Yes, Terry H post was so valuable!(I couldnt remember her name)

And I wonder the same thing!

 

[Usmc1968]

Howdy folks, new user here. This is exactly the information I was looking for. I live in Maryland and have a small flock of 13 chickens. During the day they free range around the 1 acre fenced part of our property. At night they sleep in a nice coop with a 16'Lx6'Wx4'H run. It is covered in chicken wire so it is open to the elements. My problem is the run (dirt base) gets super nasty mushy and smelly after a few months. I throw grass clippings in there to help with the smell but need a more permanent solution than me climbing in there and shoveling the nasty stuff out of there. We just had a large Elm tree taken down so I have PLENTY of chips/mulch from this. I will mix the large pieces in to see if this helps
Thanks
Semper Fi
Andrew

 

[biophiliac]

Glad you found us, Thank for your service in the Marine Corps. I believe a proper substrate is very important for the health of the flock and I see you agree. If you go to the search engine and type in "deep litter method" , posted by "Beekissed" you will find the info PRICELESS! As you see, green grass by itself ain't gonna help

One of my favorite materials is a kind of longish, soft pine needle that turns gold in the fall and sheds off the tree. Its looks like pure gold straw when you first put it in, sheds water nicely and it is not hollow like straw which may harbor pests. Works well in the nest box too. My neighbor 'let' me rake his yard and I got 3 bags of it! Then the birds mix it in with everything else. Deep litter creates an environment for bugs to thrive which the hens enjoy hunting for.

 

[biophiliac]

Or better yet the link @aart provided in post # 6 in the best summary in case you did't see it.

 

[Usmc1968]

Great! Thank you. And it was my honor and pleasure to serve.

Semper Fi
Andrew