Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: Dickie73 on October 03, 2010, 20:58

Title: Wood chips for run - which ones and where can I buy them?
Post by: Dickie73 on October 03, 2010, 20:58: Hi,
I am a newbie poultry owner and still finding my feet. Our run is turning into a mud bath with all this rain and I've read that wood chips are a good thing to put down. I tried sand which just dissolved and straw which just got trodden into the mud.
I can't find wood chips anywhere. All the garden centres sell bark chips which I'm told are dangerous for the chooks.
Can anyone help me by suggesting where I can find woodchips (I live in Bedfordshire)? And what exactly should I be looking for? I saw some on Flyte of Fancy but they look expensive and delivery charges aren't cheap either.
Thanks in advance.
Louise
Title: Re: Wood chips for run - which ones and where can I buy them?
Post by: bantam novice on October 03, 2010, 21:01: welcome to the forum! I'm sure some of our more experienced people will be along to advise but just wanted to wish you luck. :)
Title: Re: Wood chips for run - which ones and where can I buy them?
Post by: Fisherman on October 03, 2010, 21:26: It was on an earlier post - 5 poundish for a 56L bag of play area bark from Q&B. Bought some today and the birds loved it although I am not sure how long it will last for but it's much better than the swamp. 5 bags covered about 5 square metres. The coop now has nice pine smelling chickens roosting tonight :lol:

Easibed sold at horse suppliers is another option I intend to try. Said to be better than bark!
Title: Re: Wood chips for run - which ones and where can I buy them?
Post by: roo5ter on October 03, 2010, 22:06: Hi I have been looking at this site for nearly a year now and only just had something to say. try your local recycling plant. you should be paying about £20 per tonne or £10 per bulk bag if you can collect yourself for wood chippings. I hope to have something to say before another year
Title: Re: Wood chips for run - which ones and where can I buy them?
Post by: Aunt Sally on October 03, 2010, 22:09: I've used bark chips for years. As long as they are play grade they are fine no colouring is added to these.
Title: Re: Wood chips for run - which ones and where can I buy them?
Post by: joyfull on October 04, 2010, 07:21: Quote from: roo5ter on October 03, 2010, 22:06
Hi I have been looking at this site for nearly a year now and only just had something to say. try your local recycling plant. you should be paying about £20 per tonne or £10 per bulk bag if you can collect yourself for wood chippings. I hope to have something to say before another year

hello Roo5ter and welcome, please don't just lurk but join in you will be more than welcome :).
Why not start a new thread in the chicken chat and tell us all about your birds and don't forget to include some photos :D