Wood Chips for run

[AmberP1982]

Has anyone ever used Chip Drop to get wood chips for their run? I am thinking about using them and need opinions. My run is a muddy mess when it rains....gross to go out and be with the ladies like that. Do you all recommend wood chips? If so, what kind of wood is best? Thanks

 

[DobieLover]

I have not used Chip Drop because of the volume that would be delivered.

My and the other local municipalities collect curbside branches from tax payers and run them through a chipper. One municipality runs them through a shredder for a slightly finer mix. They have enormous piles of mixed hard and soft wood chips for the resident to take for free for mulching.

I love the wood chips because they are organic, they keep things dry (but mainly my solid run roof does) and it gives the birds something to scratch around in when they are in there.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I use wood chips but I source them from my own yard, since we generate plenty whenever branches (or a whole tree) need to come down. Generally would recommend a mix of chips in different sizes, so you get aeration and drainage to help with the mud issue.

 

[aart]

Great run bedding, have used it for 10+ years now.
But I have a place to store the large pile you get from tree trimmers.

If you have a drainage issue, fix that first.

I've read mostly bad stuff about chipdrop.
Either there was a bunch of trash, large log chunks, dumped in middle of driveway...or they never got them.
It's a crap shoot.

If you have the space to store the large pile, you're better off calling a local tree trimmer, they are usually happy to get rid of them.

 

[AmberP1982]

I have not used Chip Drop because of the volume that would be delivered.

My and the other local municipalities collect curbside branches from tax payers and run them through a chipper. One municipality runs them through a shredder for a slightly finer mix. They have enormous piles of mixed hard and soft wood chips for the resident to take for free for mulching.
View attachment 3895292
I love the wood chips because they are organic, they keep things dry (but mainly my solid run roof does) and it gives the birds something to scratch around in when they are in there.
View attachment 3895293

Thank you! How thick is your bedding? We are thinking of doing atleast 9 inches thick. How do your ladies do their sand baths???

 

[ChicNmom]

I would fix the drainage problem first. We dug a little trench around our coop because heavy rain and snow melt would sometime end up in the coop. With out fixing that I would be concerned the woods chips would get moldy.

My pile of extra chips just to use on pathways is kept dry under a tarp but the lower part near the ground does get some mold in it.

 

[aart]

We are thinking of doing atleast 9 inches thick.

No need to go that thick, mine work fine at just 2-3 inches.
The goal is to compost the poops and soak up any temporary excess rains water. They can still dig thru the chips to dust bathe.

Matter of fact, piling fresh wood chipping deeply can cause a mold bloom bad enough to be toxic to chickens. Good technique is to scrape off the outer part of the pile and spread an inch thick in run until it's good and dry, then a week or so later add another inch.

 

[DobieLover]

Thank you! How thick is your bedding? We are thinking of doing atleast 9 inches thick. How do your ladies do their sand baths???

My birds bathe in the run. I don't have any sand anywhere in my setup.

The bedding varies from none to about 6" due to ground variation.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I would fix the drainage problem first. We dug a little trench around our coop because heavy rain and snow melt would sometime end up in the coop. With out fixing that I would be concerned the woods chips would get moldy.

My pile of extra chips just to use on pathways is kept dry under a tarp but the lower part near the ground does get some mold in it.

Agree on drainage but (probably depending on climate) we traditionally keep chip piles uncovered here in the PNW, even with all the rain. It's fine if it gets wet or even starts to mold on the bottom, but mold problems would be far worse with a tarp holding moisture in the pile than letting it air out.

 

[Vee_Bri]

I would fix the drainage problem first. We dug a little trench around our coop because heavy rain and snow melt would sometime end up in the coop. With out fixing that I would be concerned the woods chips would get moldy.

My pile of extra chips just to use on pathways is kept dry under a tarp but the lower part near the ground does get some mold in it.

Can you please explain the trench you dug? My 8x12 run floods every spring when the snow melts despite different hacks I’ve tried. It’s so frustrating!