WWYD: Winter run decision.

[TOMTE]

- Wood chips. I get these for free from local tree companies who are delighted to get rid of them. The chickens love them and freezing has never been an issue.

- Leaves. Free as I live in a clearing in the woods. Chickens go nuts with happiness because they are always full of bugs. Over a few months they really disappear and I think cause dust.

I've heard about woodchips being great too. A local tree company has been working hard all summer chopping down loads of trees in the area... I wonder if they have any woodchips they'd be willing to part with for free?

We also have plenty of access to leaves since we live in the woods! They do get shredded so quickly though. But they're great for the soil once they break down, making it richer and darker. Plus the decomp process mixed with chicken poop and other stuff helps beneficial bacteria thrive. Compost

If you can get yourself a nice layer at least 6 inches deep to start, plus collect extra to keep topping it off throughout winter, that's a good start.

Mixing them is an option. Woodchips + leaves, best of both worlds... Hmm... I'm getting my own ideas

 

[ChickenChick46]

Really?? What brand is it? I can't say I've ever noticed dust in mine.

Team PDZ for warm climates!

PDZ is on my Amazon list, so that may be my go to.

The grit I'm using is Manna Pro chick grit. It's so dusty that when I open the bag before I even move it, a poof comes out. I'm on the second bag and both have done it.

 

[RoyalChick]

I'm debating what to put on the poop shelf under the roosts. I've read coffee grounds work well. But honestly, coffee is kinda pricy, lol. I've also read sand works.

I just use the horse pellets. And on the subject of dust, I just remembered I use the same pellets inside for the cat litter trays (I have 3 cats). So I can absolutely confirm - no dust.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I've heard about woodchips being great too.

Every time I try to source wood chips around here, they feel like shards of glass! I don't know if it's the types of trees we have around here or what.

If you can get yourself a nice layer at least 6 inches deep to start, plus collect extra to keep topping it off throughout winter, that's a good start.

I actually made a 6" recession in my run to hold lots of medium. Ideas are circulating... I think the hardest part is I want to clean the poops since it's covered. Those little white poo caps are easy to find on top of brown mulch.

PDZ is on my Amazon list, so that may be my go to.

The grit I'm using is Manna Pro chick grit. It's so dusty that when I open the bag before I even move it, a poof comes out. I'm on the second bag and both have done it.

If you can find it at Tractor Supply/Rural King/Agway, it tends to be a lot cheaper. Bags are stupid heavy. And I've been using the same bag of chick grit from Scratch & Peck for two years. It's still half full, minimal dust. Their grower grit is also the perfect size for bantams!

 

[RoyalChick]

I've heard about woodchips being great too. A local tree company has been working hard all summer chopping down loads of trees in the area... I wonder if they have any woodchips they'd be willing to part with for free?

We also have plenty of access to leaves since we live in the woods! They do get shredded so quickly though. But they're great for the soil once they break down, making it richer and darker. Plus the decomp process mixed with chicken poop and other stuff helps beneficial bacteria thrive. Compost

If you can get yourself a nice layer at least 6 inches deep to start, plus collect extra to keep topping it off throughout winter, that's a good start.

Mixing them is an option. Woodchips + leaves, best of both worlds... Hmm... I'm getting my own ideas

Yes a mix works well also because different size particles means you are less likely to get a solid lump of stuff if it gets wet and freezes for example. It all seems to just work really well mixed up.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I just use the horse pellets. And on the subject of dust, I just remembered I use the same pellets inside for the cat litter trays (I have 3 cats). So I can absolutely confirm - no dust.

Oohh I like that idea! Do you have one of those litter boxes that has pellets in the top and a pee pad on the bottom, Tidy Cats Breeze, I think? Or do you just dump them in a regular box? How often does it need to be changed? I actually use layer crumbles right now as cat litter. That's the only thing I'll use Producer's Pride brand feed for.

 

[ChickenChick46]

Every time I try to source wood chips around here, they feel like shards of glass! I don't know if it's the types of trees we have around here or what.

I actually made a 6" recession in my run to hold lots of medium. Ideas are circulating... I think the hardest part is I want to clean the poops since it's covered. Those little white poo caps are easy to find on top of brown mulch.

If you can find it at Tractor Supply/Rural King/Agway, it tends to be a lot cheaper. Bags are stupid heavy. And I've been using the same bag of chick grit from Scratch & Peck for two years. It's still half full, minimal dust. Their grower grit is also the perfect size for bantams!

The bags of grit I've got are small. I need to look at the one you're using. And I definitely plan to stick with chick or grower grit since my babies are so small. I'm sure TSC or RK sells PDZ. I'll look this weekend because we're going to need to go to RK anyway.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I actually use layer crumbles right now as cat litter. That's the only thing I'll use Producer's Pride brand feed for.

Oh that is savage!

I used pine pellets in my dog's litter box. Just dumped them in, picked the poos, and stirred the pees. I cannot believe I didn't remember this until just now. It's been a while. And yeah, you guys are right. No dust. I mean, I had that litter box in my KITCHEN.

 

[ChickenChick46]

Oh that is savage!

I used pine pellets in my dog's litter box. Just dumped them in, picked the poos, and stirred the pees. I cannot believe I didn't remember this until just now. It's been a while. And yeah, you guys are right. No dust. I mean, I had that litter box in my KITCHEN.

Lol the quality/size/color of the feed is so inconsistent. I know that natural products are subject to variation, but dang. I've only ever used it as litter, but I've been using it for probably 10 years now. And I've always said that I'd never actually to feed it to any chicken I owned. Then I read not long ago that there were actually lawsuits open against TSC for feed issues.

I need to know how you litter box trained a dog! That's amazing.

 

[RoyalChick]

Oohh I like that idea! Do you have one of those litter boxes that has pellets in the top and a pee pad on the bottom, Tidy Cats Breeze, I think? Or do you just dump them in a regular box? How often does it need to be changed? I actually use layer crumbles right now as cat litter. That's the only thing I'll use Producer's Pride brand feed for.

Hilarious (well not really I guess)!
I dump the pellets in a regular litter tray. I scoop poops out more-or-less daily and then I just dump the whole thing when it is more sawdust than pellets. Probably about once a week - but it is a bit hard to say exactly as I have 3 cats and many litter boxes and my cats change their minds on which is the best litter box to use with some frequency!

Also, and I am not advocating this particularly if you are pregnant or immunocompromised, but I compost the used cat litter. Everyone says not to do it because of toxoplasmosis which can be serious if you are pregnant or immunocompromised. However, I am neither of those things, and toxoplasma is endemic in the wild fox population and I have lots of foxes, so I cannot find a good argument why my cat litter is any more dangerous than the foxes pooping around!
I don't use the cat litter on my vegetable garden, but it goes on the roses or around newly planted shrubs.