Wanted to use tree mulch for chicken and geese.

[Pgw]

I have several downed trees from Helene and wanted to use for new chickens and geese. Have a Sycamore and pine. My question is how to keep. Should I keep in a container, let it air dry etc... I am housing my coups under a 3 sided pole barn. Didn't know how to store that much mulch to prevent mold issues.

 

[aart]

I assume you ran the branches thru a chipper?
Also assume you mean to use this in a run rather than in a coop?
Pile it up somewhere out of the way, let it sit for a week or so.
Scrape the outer of pile off and spread thinly in your run.
Do this about once a week and you should be fine.
It's the best bedding for runs, IMO.

 

[DelawareBeesnHens]

Green undried trees will always produce wet green chips. No way for you to stop the mulching process if you put it in a large pile -- just nature doing its thing. While it makes for good substrate, there isn't any good way to stop the mulching process unless you have a way to kiln dry the tree prior to chipping and store the dried chips in a pole barn or a place where it will not get direct/indirect moisture from rain.

I mean, if you have large equipment at your home -- you could always do daily rotations with a tractor to the mulch pile to bring the wet to the top and the dry onto the mid/bottom. That'll take some dedication and am not sure if it's worth the time in doing that . It'll stop the mold for sure but will not stop the mulching/composting activities.

 

[perkolator]

I get a few drops of wood chips like this every year for my chicken area and for mulching the property, and just keep a pile around. Have used it when it's fresh off the truck, a few weeks later when it's hot and filled with mycelium, and when it's cooled down and aged. Chickens haven't complained, lol.

 

[aart]

the mulching process

Do you mean the composting process?
Yep, they'll break down in a pile, and the green stuff can become toxic in a pile......but there are ways to manage that as I and @perkolator have explained.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you don't need to use it immediately I'd pile it up somewhere out in the open and let it sit and air out - a couple months would be my preference, but at least a few weeks, to reduce risk of aspergillus.

Most wood molds are normal and not harmful, I dig up all sorts of mold in my wood piles and it's a natural part of the wood breaking down.

 

[Pgw]

Thanks to all for the wonderful advice!!!!