Substrate for pen

[Knighstar679]

I have read mixed things on this. I want to use mulch in my run to help keep the ground from erroding away on me. But one person has said it should be fine another said it might cause problems.

I could use some more thoughts on this. Will my chickens be ok with mulch down in my pen, I figured it will look tons better than just tossing wood chips on the ground

 

[KingD]

It will look fantastic for a couple of weeks until the hens decide to dig it all up. It will become a muddy poopy mess.
No harm giving it a go though.

 

[21hens-incharge]

What kind of mulch are you looking at using?

 

[Knighstar679]

It will look fantastic for a couple of weeks until the hens decide to dig it all up. It will become a muddy poopy mess.
No harm giving it a go though.

I know I will have to keep raking it and such to keep it looking simi presentable. It’s already a muddy mess though so it can’t get much worse

 

[Knighstar679]

What kind of mulch are you looking at using?

I was going to try and avoid cedar mulch. Is there one I should use over another?

 

[KingD]

I know I will have to keep raking it and such to keep it looking simi presentable. It’s already a muddy mess though so it can’t get much worse

No. That's good.
I'd be interested to see how it turned out. My run is ruined at the moment.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I was going to try and avoid cedar mulch. Is there one I should use over another?

I would avoid anything with dye.

 

[Knighstar679]

No. That's good.
I'd be interested to see how it turned out. My run is ruined at the moment.

My pen is lake duck at the moment! Ducks are loving it. Me not to much.

I am going fill in all their drill holes.

 

[Knighstar679]

I would avoid anything with dye.

I had planned to stick with natural things.

 

[3KillerBs]

It will look fantastic for a couple of weeks until the hens decide to dig it all up. It will become a muddy poopy mess.
No harm giving it a go though.

If your run litter turns into a muddy mess either you have a problem with your ground drainage that needs to be addressed or you are not using enough litter in your run.

You don't want to put down too heavy a layer all at once, but to build it up a few inches at a time with the goal of getting 6-12 inches of assorted organic material.

Any dry organic material that is locally available will work, though wood chips are the best for a muddy area and last the longest.

That's plain wood chips like you get from a tree service or, if you can't get them, plain, undyed mulch. Avoid both cedar and dyed mulch.