[Shazzer]

Our hens killed off the lovely grass run we grew prior to their arrival,  so now we have bark chippings in there for them to scratch around in but does anyone know if there a certain chippings we should be using.  I looked at some in B and Q and thought they smelt like they had been treated with something or other.  

[Aunt Sally]

I've used bark chipping in my hens run for 2 years now.  I use 'play bark',  the bigger the chunks the longer they will last  :!:

[DD.]

I looked at some in B and Q and thought they smelt like they had been treated with something or other.  

I don't know a lot about hens, but regarding the bark chippings, I think what you can smell is simply the pine bark they've used in them. At least the ones from Homebase smell of that!

[KathyH]

The B&Q ones are dyed to look ornamental. I wouldn't go for them personally as you don't know how good they would be for the chooks.
We were told that any natural chippings are fine as long as there is no Yew wood in there as this is poisonous.
We are lucky to have a wood yard on a country estste near us and they have chippings as a by product and sell them really cheaply. We have a large trailer and they filled it twice (heaped very full too!) for £40.
There was enough to do all our garden paths nice and deep and we had lots left for the chooks run. It would have cost us four times that much (at least) to get the same volume from a DIY in bags.
If you have access to a trailer it may be well worth finding a local woodyard or tree surgeon.

[Aunt Sally]

That sounds brilliant Kathy.  :!:

[slowef]

You could ask your local council sometimes they give it away and may even deliver it to you.  My daughter asked and they delivered a lorry load free to her house in Surrey after doing a tree clearance job