Ness3103 Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 sorry if this has been asked before, but i'm going dizzy trying to find a thread just wondered if these wood chippings are ok to use http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=10288049&fh_view_size=10&fh_eds=%3f&fh_location=%2f%2fcatalog01%2fen_GB%2fcategories%3c%7b9372012%7d%2fcategories%3c%7b9372020%7d%2fcategories%3c%7b9372097%7d&fh_refview=lister&ts=1242327300634&isSearch=false i'm getting my first chooks in a couple of weeks and am building a wir and not sure what to put on the floor. i'd like rubber chippings but a bit out of my price range at the moment. just wondered if any of you had used these and also how many bags do you use on average in a run. my run is going to be 20 ft by 6.6ft (i think) i might have to have some of the run with chippings and the rest with soil to keep the cost down at first. OH is getting a bit worried at how much the costs are escalating Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Yes those are ideal, my last lot lasted 7 months (covered run) I have just put 6 bags in a run half the size of yours but it doesnt go far so I have mixed in a bale of Bedmax shavings to pad it out a bit! - looking good so far B&Q sell softwood chips in bigger bales but they are thinner bits so may break down quicker Dont go for bark If you have a friendly tree surgeon in your area they may drop you off a load Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 I've just put a couple of bags in my cube run and a half. That makes it about 4" thick. I also put down a bag of B&Q playground chips that are a bit finer to make a softer surface. I think as Redwing says finding a tree surgeon will be cheaper. I was offered a lorryload for £20 but as they were my trees he was offering back I didn't take him up on it. Tell him not to worry about the cost you've only just started I'm still spending on things I suddenly find I need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ness3103 Posted May 14, 2009 Author Share Posted May 14, 2009 ooo they're doing the tree's round by us at the moment so i might be cheeky and ask poor OH is getting a bit stressed i mentioned that the run will be big enough for my and possibly a for xmas pressie. he's only just come round to the idea of having chickens so the thought of me xpanding my flock hasn't gone down too well especially as we haven't actually got any yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockadoodle1 Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 If you want wood chip I bought mine from the local feed merchant £9 for a large bag I covered my cube + extension with them 2" deep (they only scratch them up anyway) and still have some left Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ness3103 Posted May 15, 2009 Author Share Posted May 15, 2009 i'm trying to work out how many bags of wood chippings i'm going to need for my run. i calculated on the dunweedin site (for the rubber chippings ) and it was 22 x 10 Kilo bags but B&Q sell it in 56L bags so is the B&Q bag bigger or smaller than dunweedin? i'm soooo rubbish at maths and don't have a clue how to work it out hoping someone clever can help me please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolky Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 How big is your run in metres? I don't really know feet. I use those in my run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ness3103 Posted May 15, 2009 Author Share Posted May 15, 2009 i haven't got a clue what it is in meters i've just totally confused my 16 year old son as he says liquid is usually measured in litres so doesn't know how to convert that to kilos. i just wondered if the b&q 56L was smaller than the dunweedin 10 kilo bag. i think i'll be taking a trip to b&q this weekend and probably confuse their staff completely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 I found this site the other night as we need some again for our outdoor section. Given what we've spent in the past I'm trying to work out how many small bags make up the 1 cubic meter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolky Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 OK I think I have sorted sizing, mine is the same width but 4 foot shorter. I am sure I used 6 bags in mine so I would say 7 or 8. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ness3103 Posted May 17, 2009 Author Share Posted May 17, 2009 just been to b&q and there's an offer on for 3 bags of chipped bark for £12. is it best to get small or large chipped bark or doesn't it matter? sorry for all the Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted May 17, 2009 Share Posted May 17, 2009 just been to b&q and there's an offer on for 3 bags of chipped bark for £12. is it best to get small or large chipped bark or doesn't it matter? sorry for all the I wouldn`t get bark at all TBH......stays wet and breeds nasties. Go for Woodchip, B&Q sell that too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolky Posted May 17, 2009 Share Posted May 17, 2009 You can't use bark with chooks as there can be mould spores in it which are dangerous for the chickens. I would go for the hardwood chips because although they are more expensive in the first place they last longer than the soft wood so don't have to change so often so is actually better value in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ness3103 Posted May 18, 2009 Author Share Posted May 18, 2009 thank you all for your help, i'm going for the hardwood chips i'm just getting myself in such a tizzy i'm so excited and want it all to be right. oh is just getting a bit cos it's all got a bit out of hand. he only agreed to a and i'm already planning for a and some more chooks i know once they get here he'll agree to more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenW Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 i'm trying to work out how many bags of wood chippings i'm going to need for my run. i calculated on the dunweedin site (for the rubber chippings ) and it was 22 x 10 Kilo bags but B&Q sell it in 56L bags so is the B&Q bag bigger or smaller than dunweedin? i'm soooo rubbish at maths and don't have a clue how to work it out hoping someone clever can help me please I've been trying to work out how many bags I need for my run too I think for yours it's: If your run is 20ft x 6.5ft (6 ft 6") and you cover it to 2" deep (Omlet suggest 5cm I think) then you need a volume of 21.67 cubic feet 1 bag is 56 litres, which is 1.98 cubic feet (1 litre is 0.0353 cubic feet) So you need 21.67/1.98 bags, which is 10.96. As 2" is a bit more than 5cm, I'd round it down and go for 10 bags. Which is quite a lot and pretty expensive! Someone will probably now point out a huge flaw in my calculations Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennyhenny Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 Karen, could you go through that again, don't quite understand it, you obviously have "A" level in maths Jennyhenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ness3103 Posted May 18, 2009 Author Share Posted May 18, 2009 wow Karen, thank you it'll still be cheaper than the rubber chippings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ness3103 Posted May 18, 2009 Author Share Posted May 18, 2009 wow Karen, thank you it'll still be cheaper than the rubber chippings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenW Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 That's ok, is probably about the only thing to do with chickens I can help with at the moment Jennyhenny - the test of whether it's right will be in about 6 weeks when we'll probably end up with either only half the run covered or the chickens will be neck-deep in wood chip Just let me know if you need any further maths lessons Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
