Single hen

[lisaroo2]

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!!!

[ali-s]

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.

[lisaroo2]

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

[lisaroo2]

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!

[ali-s]

Glad you got it sorted

 

I often find B&Q haven't the fainest idea what they have in stock

[Steve.]

I've got hardwood, wood chips from B&Q. Seems to do the job.

[kissinuk]

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!

[sparkysmum]

I hope bark chips are ok too. I've just filled our new run with them

[Chickaboo]

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.

[Mrs Kettle]

Hi - I've always used bark chippings too - in outside run which is well ventilated - and girls have always been fine.

[RubyReckless]

Yep, me too - use what you've got and I'm sure you'll be fine!

[superjules]

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.