Will potting soil hurt my chickens?

[aart]

Just keep adding dry stuff as you can get it.
Don't add too much of one material or it can pack into a nasty anaerobic mess.
Chickens will spread most of it out for you.

I was able to start with a big load of tree trimmings from the power company that had been aged(6 months) at a friends place, it was a nice mix of sizes and shapes. the more tender stuff breaks down pretty quick so I collect dry leaves in the fall (stored in feed bags in a shed) and add them occasionally, and other garden trimmings.

Best to let grass clipping dry before adding. I let my grass grow tall, mow and spread it out with discharge pattern, leave it to dry a few day, then push it into rows with the mower discharge, rake it up and add to run.

 

[thytay&chickenmomma]

Just keep adding dry stuff as you can get it.
Don't add too much of one material or it can pack into a nasty anaerobic mess.
Chickens will spread most of it out for you.

I was able to start with a big load of tree trimmings from the power company that had been aged(6 months) at a friends place, it was a nice mix of sizes and shapes. the more tender stuff breaks down pretty quick so I collect dry leaves in the fall (stored in feed bags in a shed) and add them occasionally, and other garden trimmings.

Best to let grass clipping dry before adding. I let my grass grow tall, mow and spread it out with discharge pattern, leave it to dry a few day, then push it into rows with the mower discharge, rake it up and add to run.

I will definitely be adding some tree trimmings then and adding dry material as I can. I will also scoop up dry leaves and store in bags in my shed and add every now and then. I had been adding quite a bit at a time, just like the hay/straw I tried, so I was probably adding too much at one time and it would clump up in the mud then mold. Thanks for all of the info, learning as I go, and all of the advice is much appreciated.

 

[aart]

I will definitely be adding some tree trimmings then

Best to add older, aged trimming chips....the fresh ones can cause mold blooms.

 

[Ekoury]

I have been throwing bags of regular top soil in the chicken run to cut down on the red clay mud mess when it rains and it has helped tremendously. I am now out of the top soil and ran to the store looking to buy more and no one near me has any, only potting soil left. Can I use bags of potting soil or will some of the additives in potting soil hurt my chickens? Thanks

 

[Ekoury]

I have 8 game cocks. I bought a rooster and two hens from a very reputable breeder. I raised as a kid and wanted to again now that I built a house where I'm allowed to do so. My first brood turned out great. Great parents. Now 6 months old I had 4 beautiful roosters and one hen. On Saturday I decided to fill holes in the the very well maintained run with Scotts Topsoil. Well on Wednesday morning one of my beautiful roosters could not walk and I recognized it as neurological not injury. I could not get a local vet to see quickly and watched him die about 8 hours later of Botulism toxin I'm sure from top soil. My broken hearted wife and I cleaned and bleached run. Hope no more will be affected.

 

[aart]

Scotts Topsoil. Well on Wednesday morning one of my beautiful roosters could not walk and I recognized it as neurological not injury. I could not get a local vet to see quickly and watched him die about 8 hours later of Botulism toxin I'm sure from top soil.

More likely to be the chemicals(fertilizer, etc) in the bagged soil.

 

[Wynter Willow]

Adding soil is a short term solution.
You need a good mix of dry plant matter.
First, correct any drainage issues.
What is your climate? (add location to profile)

Hi Anne, I am new here. I know this is an old post regarding potting soil and it’s possible toxicity to chickens. I have a small backyard garden with herbs in pots for my 3 chickens. (New to chickens as well) I found them digging in the top soil and maybe eating some. I took some of their hemp bedding and put it on the top of the soil to discourage them from eating it. I read somewhere hemp bedding is good for plants. Any input you might have would be appreciated. The chicks are 7 weeks old and are indoor/outdoor. The discovery of plant soil is of great interest to them. The potting soil is miracle grow. Not ideal for them to eat. I didn’t think of this until they started getting into it. Next time all organic soil. This was on hand so it’s what I used pre-chickens. Much to chicken proof—-its like having toddlers.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Hi Anne, I am new here. I know this is an old post regarding potting soil and it’s possible toxicity to chickens. I have a small backyard garden with herbs in pots for my 3 chickens. (New to chickens as well) I found them digging in the top soil and maybe eating some. I took some of their hemp bedding and put it on the top of the soil to discourage them from eating it. I read somewhere hemp bedding is good for plants. Any input you might have would be appreciated. The chicks are 7 weeks old and are indoor/outdoor. The discovery of plant soil is of great interest to them. The potting soil is miracle grow. Not ideal for them to eat. I didn’t think of this until they started getting into it. Next time all organic soil. This was on hand so it’s what I used pre-chickens. Much to chicken proof—-its like having toddlers.

Sadly, aart passed away this spring. She was an immense treasure here, never to be replaced.

I can well imagine that hemp bedding, like nearly every other plant product, would be good for soil, but it’s insanely expensive to use for that purpose. I use it as nest box bedding. There are many organic products you can use to improve your soil, if that’s your goal. Hit a good garden center (in other words, not Home Depot or Lowe’s), and ask for help regarding “organic soil amendments.”

-You might want to start a new thread for further questions and discussions. This one’s a bit old. Good luck!

 

[Wynter Willow]

Sadly, aart passed away this spring. She was an immense treasure here, never to be replaced.

I can well imagine that hemp bedding, like nearly every other plant product, would be good for soil, but it’s insanely expensive to use for that purpose. I use it as nest box bedding. There are many organic products you can use to improve your soil, if that’s your goal. Hit a good garden center (in other words, not Home Depot or Lowe’s), and ask for help regarding “organic soil amendments.”

-You might want to start a new thread for further questions and discussions. This one’s a bit old. Good luck!

I am sorry for the loss of your precious Aart. Thank you for responding. You’re a gem I will start a new thread. Still figuring out how to navigate here.