Substrate for pen

[aart]

Coarse wood chipping is the best, IMO.
Has worked well here but I do have sandy soil that drains fairly well, tho I have had to dig a few trenches to control run off....and I don't have ducks, that's a whole other ball game.
I also have a place to store a large load of chippings that I got from the tree trimmers.

My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.

More pics here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/albums/runs.7427859/

 

[Brooks_]

I would avoid anything with dye.

I reject those even for their intended purpose.

 

[Brooks_]

The easiest thing to find around me is black mulch. I looked for natural wood chips and can’t seem to fin any..

Pine bark?

 

[Knighstar679]

Pine bark?

Like I said I can’t seem to find any plain chips or bark for gardening. I can find bark in bags for reptiles but basic ones

 

[Knighstar679]

Coarse wood chipping is the best, IMO.
Has worked well here but I do have sandy soil that drains fairly well, tho I have had to dig a few trenches to control run off....and I don't have ducks, that's a whole other ball game.
I also have a place to store a large load of chippings that I got from the tree trimmers.

My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.

More pics here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/albums/runs.7427859/

Land where I live is very clay filled. So it holds water very well. All over the place. I am putting dirt rocks and such I. Those spots and building it up. But I have to hope the ducks don’t renoodle it all away.

 

[Brooks_]

Like I said I can’t seem to find any plain chips or bark for gardening. I can find bark in bags for reptiles but basic ones

I did a cursory search for your area and could only find colored or cedar. I wouldn't use either. Maybe the selection will improve when the weather gets better?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Like I said I can’t seem to find any plain chips or bark for gardening. I can find bark in bags for reptiles but basic ones

Do you have room for a whole pile? Might check if chipdrop.com can hook you up with local tree services looking to dump a pile or two.

 

[Knighstar679]

Do you have room for a whole pile? Might check if chipdrop.com can hook you up with local tree services looking to dump a pile or two.

I was wondering could I use a course pine flake mixed with horse pine pellets? I can acquire those easily enough and they cost about the same as mulch.

 

[3KillerBs]

I was wondering could I use a course pine flake mixed with horse pine pellets? I can acquire those easily enough and they cost about the same as mulch.

They'll break down faster, but they will be better for the chickens than the dyed mulch.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

One, how big an area do you need to fill, and how deep??

I recommend Leaf Litter if you can get it free from your property. Check with services like ChipDrop, and barring that, assuming you are buying quantity, check with local materials suppliers like these guys, or these guys, and these guys.

and if you are really, REALLY lucky, your city works or county works department might do something like this. Looks like Seneca county has done so in the past [I think, my internet is $#!+, and the page won't load on my cell phone right now]