lisaroo2 Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 Hi All I am really fed up now and hope you don't mind me having a moan. Hubbie-to-be and I have decided to cover the floor of the girls run. I've been to B&Q and bought 5 bags for £12 of decorative wood bark. Asked a pal who then said, 'no you can't use that' when I thought I could, something about the girls catching bacteria from it. What do I do and where do I get the stuff from???????? Please help!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 Bark chippings can harbour fungi spores that might or might not make chickens ill. Some people use them and their chickens are perfectly healthy. I have used them in the past with no ill effects. Bark chips also tend to stay soggy once wet. However wood chips are better as they dry out quicker and do not have the fungi spores. I prefer wood chips to the bark chips. I bought the wood chips from B&Q which cost about £10 for two bags. The two bags were more than enough for the 8ft x 12ft run. The wood chips lasted longer than the bark chips. Local tree surgeons often have wood chips for sale or even them give them away. My local recycling centre sells small bags of wood chips. B&Q will take back the unopened bark chips if you decide that they are not what you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisaroo2 Posted September 27, 2008 Author Share Posted September 27, 2008 Hi Ali I've just rang B&Q and they said that they sell wood bark chips but not just wood chips??????? Now what do I do? Sorry to be a pain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisaroo2 Posted September 27, 2008 Author Share Posted September 27, 2008 Hi Again I've been on to B&Q again and it turns out now that they DO stock woodchips. I'm off to pick some up tomorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 Glad you got it sorted I often find B&Q haven't the fainest idea what they have in stock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve. Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 I've got hardwood, wood chips from B&Q. Seems to do the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kissinuk Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 I've never had problems with bark chips and find that they last much longer then the wood chips you get from B&Q (they are too small for me and seem to disappear into mush far too quickly!). There's been some posting on here recently about the mould you sometimes get on bark not being as harmful as some people like to make out. I find that if there's ever any mould it's only when you first get them out of the bag, it soon goes. I'd recommend putting your wood/bark chips on slabs if you haven't already though - saves on a lot of mess! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 I hope bark chips are ok too. I've just filled our new run with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickaboo Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 I've used bark chips ever since I've had chickens, with no ill effects. I'd say use what you've got and just get wood chips in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Kettle Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 Hi - I've always used bark chippings too - in outside run which is well ventilated - and girls have always been fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubyReckless Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 Yep, me too - use what you've got and I'm sure you'll be fine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 Bark chippings can harbour spores of the Aspergillus Fumigatus fungus which can cause aspergillosis, not just in chickens but in people too. Most people (therefore one would also assume most chickens) have a natural immunity to the spores, but those with weak immune systems or lung disorders are at risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...