The Poultry Keeper

jessjess · Joined: 28 May 2008 Posts: 218 Location: Derbyshire

Hi all anyone know where I can get some woodchip from and how much it should be. I have looked online but can only find it for about £100+ for play quality. I have accidently ended up with 7 chooks not the 5 we originally planned for and think my run is going to turn to mud totally sooner than expeceted. I am now the proud owner of 3 Buff pekins, 2 hybred bantams 1 8 week old Legbar and one 8 week old white sussex who does nothing but chat! The run is already a little muddy in places and I know this is going to be a problem for the Pekins. Thanks all. Jess

EGirl · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 1322 Location: Dublin, Ireland

Try a sawmill or similar in your area...? I find it hard to get too so I just throw straw in which works a treat and goes a long way.

jessjess · Joined: 28 May 2008 Posts: 218 Location: Derbyshire

Will do! thanks egirl Very Happy

Elly · Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Posts: 356 Location: Norfolk

I use Hemicore on the floor of the run and it is great stuff Very Happy

I get it in huge bags from the horse/farm supply shop and its about £8 a bag. Its natural stuff, mainly used for horses.
Keep smilin
Elly

crazypianolady · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 793 Location: Nottinghamshire

I also use Hemcore, just in the coop at the moment but as the run gets muddy it will go outside as well. Very absorbent, with the advantage of smelling pleasant too!

Auntie Noo · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 622 Location: Guildford

You can usually get woodchip (or straw) or hemcore or aubiose from local animal feed merchants. Any of the above will work in the run, but don't use Bark chips or Hay.

Personally I use straw cos it's cheapest! Smile

chicken_house_man · Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 129 Location: Brynmawr

wood chips from tree cutters are cheap as they normally have to pay to dispose of it.

I use saw dust from my workshop and wood shavings from a wood turner. I turn it over every month or so. After a year it looks like it's ready for the garden.

jessjess · Joined: 28 May 2008 Posts: 218 Location: Derbyshire

After much searching I have found a tree surgeon who will deliver me some woodchip, no conifer and very little bark! We are trying to organise delivery for tomorrow, I also tracked down straw but our compost isn't big enough to deal with a bale every week or so and my polo is going to struggle everytime we have to pick it up. That said if they can not deliver the woodchip tomorrow then it will be straw for the gals tomorrow. £30 for a van load. Not bad (i think)

Both our local seed/horse merchants had no woodchip and only one sold hay, they offered me something that looked more like wood-shavings it looked like it would get very wet and or blow away. On the up side 2 eggs from the pekins today, the other girls need to now follow by example!

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1219 Location: Cornwall

Good news then. Tree surgeons are usually the best bet for wood chippings.

mojo · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 10:04 am Post subject:

wood chips are much more chickin friendly than straw................straw can hold fungal growth when wet

EGirl · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 1322 Location: Dublin, Ireland

I didn't know that Mojo. When it gets really wet I turn it over and airate it to encourage it to dry....when I get my fencing issues sorted I think I'll move to beach pebble anyway, as it won't blow into the garden!

jessjess · Joined: 28 May 2008 Posts: 218 Location: Derbyshire

Woodchip arrived today, it's ok a little green with some holly leaves in it.... hope that will be ok. Embarassed

the chooks seem ok although a little bothered that i didnt have food every time I went into the pen.