Using fresh wood chip in a chicken run

[aart]

Any chips that are a month old or more should be fine.

Yep!
Let the pile sit for a time, then scrape off the outer layer and put an inch or two into the run at a time.
It's when they are piled up thick that the trapped moisture allows mold/mildew/etc to proliferate. They need air exposure to prevent that.

 

[cbsfusek]

Reviving this thread because I have a follow up question - I have a chip pile that I know is safe in terms of the type of wood, but it's been sitting for several months and the weather has now turned wet, so even having a few inches dry at a time will be very tough to make happen... If the chips are well aged like this, are we less worried about the types of mold growing in them versus very fresh chips? Or do they need to be dry regardless? I live in the Pacific Northwest so drying things outside of the summer time is pretty impossible. Their run is large and completely open/no ventilation issues as it won't be going in the coop itself.

Thank you!!

 

[aart]

If the chips are well aged like this, are we less worried about the types of mold growing in them versus very fresh chips?

Correct.
The mold we worry about with fresh chips is the aspergillus that grows on live trees combined with freshly chipped green wood/leaves piled up to incubate.
There might be other growth of molds and fungii in the pile, most are harmless.

Their run is large and completely open/no ventilation issues as it won't be going in the coop itself.

So they are going to get wet, which is no problem...and actually helps break down the poops.
See my post #11 above.

 

[rosemarythyme]

the weather has now turned wet, so even having a few inches dry at a time will be very tough to make happen... If the chips are well aged like this, are we less worried about the types of mold growing in them versus very fresh chips? Or do they need to be dry regardless? I live in the Pacific Northwest so drying things outside of the summer time is pretty impossible. Their run is large and completely open/no ventilation issues as it won't be going in the coop itself.

No they don't need to be dry. I just skim off the ones on the surface as a habit and they can go straight into the run, wet or dry. If this was for a coop, I'd try to wait for a drier spell just to get chips that are surface dry, but even putting damp chips in is okay as long as there's plenty of ventilation to allow them to dry out (and I do it in layers so they can air out before I put more in).

 

[cbsfusek]

Awesome, thank you both so much!