The Poultry Keeper

beausmammy · Joined: 18 Feb 2008 Posts: 23 Location: County Durham

Hi, my small run is built on concrete which against my husbands advice I happily filled it with soil.....2 months later, lots of rain and poop....you get the picture!.......my question is can I clean it all out and put in that mulch garden bark that you buy in diy stores.....it's used to tidy up borders etc... in gardens.
I have heard that some is not good for animals, does anyone use it?
Oh.. I also have lots of dogs so it has to be dog friendly!
thanks
Jayne

nigel · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 6:30 am Post subject:

I would recommend wood chips as opposed to bark chippings. The wood chips are harder and don't break down so easily as the bark and therefore last an awful lot longer. When it is time to change the whole lot can go on the compost heap.

I've also heard that some bark chips are not good for animals as they can harbour fungus and moulds some of which may cause lung infections. Not sure how true this is though.

mojo · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 1:02 pm Post subject:

nigel is quite correct about bark harbouring fungus spores a german zoo lost a huge quantity of exotic birds a few years ago to chest infections which they traced to fugal spores ....so best to stick to WOOD chippings or use like i do 10/20 mm washed granite gravel