[avilla]

Hi all,usually cover my chooks run in B&Q  woodchip,but today have managed to get my hands on some free woodchippings from trees that have been felled up the road from me.

I am wandering are the chippings suitable( See photo below) due to the amount of greenery included, for using in the chicken run or will I have to use them as mulch??

any advice greatly received!!

[Paul Plots]

I have very little idea about keeping chickens so hope someone else comes along to help but.........

Would the chickens eat the bark and bits some of which might not be part of a suitable diet? 

I guess they'd have great fun searching through it for bugs to gobble.

[ManicMum]

You need to know what trees it's from as some, I understand, are not suitable for chickens.

[Vecten]

I'm sure all trees on the Island are safe. I was born there and look how I turned out. 

[avilla]

You need to know what trees it's from as some, I understand, are not suitable for chickens.

Yes I heard that too, think they were Conifers!

[themagicaltoad1]

Chickens are very good at knowing what they can and can't eat. I have conifers in my garden- they don't touch them. I was also using bark chips in the run but I haven't been impressed with them. A couple of days ago I managed to get some similar shreddings to the ones in your photos, the girls love them, far more fun to scratch around in and full of insects.

[grumpydad]

wood chippings from a tree surgeon are fine, just be aware that there have been posts about red mite getting into the run and coop from the chippings, possibly from wild birds roosting in the trees, so a dose of red mite killer may not go amiss before they are put down

[Vecten]

so a dose of red mite killer may not go amiss before they are put down

Bit early for that Grumpydad, get some eggs out of them first.

[Lindeggs]

I think that mix looks delicious!  I bet it's full of juicy bugs. 

I'm gaining a lot of confidence in my chickens' ability to eat what's good for them and leave the rest.  Either they have read the same books as me or maybe someone told them to eat everything except the nightshade and castor oil plants in my garden.

I am using Christmas tree needles as my coop litter (works well and smalls lovely).  I've never seen the chickens make any attempt to eat them.

[joyfull]

make sure there is no yew in it

[avilla]

cheers everyone have found out they are conifers!! off to get another 10 bags full today