[kattcottrell]

Just a quick question, I noticed alot of people keep their runs on bark chips, I thought I would buy some today to use in their run as it was sodden wet (is that a bristolian term?) anyhow, I bought the bark chips you use as a mulch(the dark peaty looking stuff) and it all looked very nice to start with but now its wet and yukky again, should I have bought the dry type people use in kiddies play areas.

thanks

[poultrygeist]

I bought the cheaper stuff which I think is probably what you have.
Don't know if the play stuff is much better.
It does get a bit waterlogged but better than mud. Ours needs a top up.

Rob

[Foxy]

I use a mixture of hard woodchip and playbark. Mainly so its not too hard on the chooks feet and compacts down to lovely compost !A watchout - just check whatever you buy doesn't contain cocoa as this is poisonous to chooks (apparently!)

[kattcottrell]

I didn't know that about the cocoa, we have cocoa shells spread aroung parts of the garden as its supposed to deter cats, don't think this bark contains cocoa but will check, also think thats a good idea about having a mixture of the two as the mulch stuff does get water logged...their feet are black at the moment :roll:  but as you said Rob its better than mud.

[poultrygeist]

Cocoa is poisonous to just about anything. Us included. Except our metabolism can process the poison. Most animals can't.

Cats and dogs die from eating the cocoa shell mulch.    Which is irresitable to them. Smells and tastes like chocolate so who can blame them?  

Rob

[Porffor]

Cocoa is poisonous to just about anything. Us included. Except our metabolism can process the poison. Most animals can't.

Cats and dogs die from eating the cocoa shell mulch.    Which is irresitable to them. Smells and tastes like chocolate so who can blame them?  

Rob

 :shock:

[poultrygeist]

Our dog ate a box of chocs last Christmas so I googled and was shocked by the results.
He was pefectly alright but the chocs would have been nice  

[kattcottrell]

oh god... :shock:  I had no idea how toxic it was, we put it around our plants and shrubs to stop the cat up the road from pooing all over our garden :twisted:   our own blimming cat don't poo in the garden but every other moggie thinks its fine. I'll tell  you what though, It does smell yummy so can see how they would eat it. tomorrow I will de-cocoa the garden.

[poultrygeist]

look into it in more detail first katt

don't just take my word. i may have read misinformation.

rob

[poultrygeist]

Just found this article about poisonous things in the garden...

link to rspca article

Rob

[kattcottrell]

Just found this article about poisonous things in the garden...

link to rspca article

Rob

Thanks for that Rob, just read that article and yes it is quite worrying to think my own cat and dog have been wondering around the garden with that STUFF scattered about, I don't particularly like that cat from up the road who poos in my shrub borders but I wouldn't want to do it any harm either, I class myself as a die-hard animal lover and killing a local cat is just out of the question

[compostqueen]

The large chunky stuff if what you want. There are two sizes and you need the large size chips.  This doesn't go mushy as quick. £3 odd a bag from the Garden Centre

[kattcottrell]

The large chunky stuff if what you want. There are two sizes and you need the large size chips.  This doesn't go mushy as quick. £3 odd a bag from the Garden Centre

Is that the bark you use for play areas?

[compostqueen]

no I don't think so cos that's sold as play bark

I can't recall what brand mine was. I'll have a look as I have a fresh bag cos mine's been down a month and they've scratched it all up in the Eglu run and it needs replacing

I got some from B & Q but it wasn't as good as the stuff from the garden centre. It clearly says on the bag large size chips.

[kattcottrell]

thanks for that . I promised my mum I'd take her to the garden centre as soon as it stops raining here so i'll pick some up then, the stuff I got at the moment is very wet and mucky. :x