Tink Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Hello everyone... Quick question, I am setting up the eglu in the WIR tonight and bought some bark chippings as it says specifically bark on the how to set up an eglu products page. Ive noticed on a couple of other forums it says do not use bark chippings only wood chippings.... Help please...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 There is a little bit of debate on this one. Some say that bark chippings harbour harmful moulds, etc. and that wood chippings last longer, etc., however, I've used nothing but bark chippings since last autumn and my birds have been absolutely fine; they're healthy, happy and lay like mad. I clean the eglu runs every 6 weeks or so and the rest of the 'chipped' area every 3 months. The spent bark chips go around my fruit bushes at the allotment or in my flower borders. Touch wood (chippings ) The set-up seems to be working fine. Saronne x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Apparently bark can harbour harmful fungal nasties or something so its def not recommended On a more practical level bark does get wetter and more slimey than wood chippings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tink Posted July 7, 2009 Author Share Posted July 7, 2009 Thanks for the advice!! Its definately a little confusing....when I looked on this site it said bark....I'll have to have a think!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 I have the newbies on woodchips and I also have the "path" in front of the WIR with bark........ the bark is really wet and smells a bit whereas the bark which has chooks living on it 24/7 is already starting to dry out and it only stopped raining about half hour ago! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tink Posted July 7, 2009 Author Share Posted July 7, 2009 does anyone know if there is any difference between hardwood and softwood chips (apart from the hardwood being double the price) Will softwood chips be OK? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 I use the soft ones...only because I assume they will compost down quicker....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 from what I've read else where hard wood has more sharp splinters due to the close grain in some hardwoods which are bad enough to get out of a human finger have scars to prove it I use a product called cushion bed like easibed but cheaper get it from a feed supplier at shenstone both are cheaper than the diy sheds due to the bags being bigger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tink Posted July 7, 2009 Author Share Posted July 7, 2009 Thank you everyone - I think I shall have a nosy round B&Q tomorrow and see what they have. Quite glad the hardwood ones are no good though...they are really expensive. Unfortunatly there is only really B&Q in my area that does this sort of thing and they are always on the pricey side Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 have you got a horse or farm supplies outlet near you horse bedding is all you need its the same price as B&Q but bigger bales has alook through the bedding topics on here plenty of ideas and if you post your rough location some ones more than likley to know a supplier near by Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 If you go down the horse bedding route for the run then it will need to be covered.......either with corrugated plastic sheeting **ANH GET YOUR PICTURE OUT!!!! ) or a shower curtain held on with bungees. I used a bag and a half of the B&Q soft woodchip and they will be good in the run for 2-3months providing you rake over, pick poo ever so often and top up with the half remaining bag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Here I am . Never thought I'd be posting pictures of my eglu and run again . (And while I'm at it, I've just popped this into Eglus, Cubes and Runs .) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 the stuff I use are wood chips made from recycled wood for stables had the b&q ones first but they rejust the bag size so I got the cushion bed £4.50 for 25kg one bale did the same as the 4 i used the first time my run has a roof but the rain's coming down sideways its that heavy this last week or so but the run dries out pritty quick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tink Posted July 8, 2009 Author Share Posted July 8, 2009 Sorry, couldnt find my topic for some reason - may have been moved.... I havent found a farm supply place in the area as yet but I should have thought there would be one somewhere near... Will have to make do with B&Q now and look in to how to do it cheaper next time.. Thanks for all the ideas and photos though.... I'll have to put one of my homemade run up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Tink, if you let us know where you are roughly then I am sure us Omleteers could point you in the direction of a bedding supplier! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tink Posted July 8, 2009 Author Share Posted July 8, 2009 Thank you... Im in Leeds (pretty much central) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tink Posted July 8, 2009 Author Share Posted July 8, 2009 Been to B&Q and Ive decided to go with the softwood chippings for now - will see how it goes! Thanks again everyone!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 I had playground chips down for ages I think they are softwood and they were fine When are the girls coming? sorry idiot I should read properly. pics please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tink Posted July 8, 2009 Author Share Posted July 8, 2009 Hi Plum - yes they are coming on Saturday! I will certainly put some pics up when they arrive (thats if I can work out how to do it ) I did toy with the idea of the play area chips today but wasnt sure if they were OK - panicing a bit and just want everything all lovely before they arrive....honestly, I dont think I made this much fuss when I had the kids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Tink don't know if this is anywere near you http://www.hillamfeeds.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tink Posted July 8, 2009 Author Share Posted July 8, 2009 Hi sjp Thank you for that - yes, Ive done a search and its about a 1/2 hour drive away. I'll definatly look into that when I need to change the chippings!! Hopefully it should work out a lot cheaper getting it from somewhere like that instead of relying on B&Q!! Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 glad to help you might find they stock poultry feed to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 We have used bark chippings for over 2 years now and change the top layer once a month or so. We have a deep layer of them and they dig them over very well and it seems to have formed it's own smell free ecosystem Yesterday they dug a deep hole in the corner of the run near the eglu and would have managed to tunnel out if it wasn't for the planks surrounding the area We buy ours from Wyvale garden centres where they usually have them at 4 for £15. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atsw Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 We have a walk in run, laid on slabs. The majority of the slab floor is covered by Aubiose (horse bedding), but for the area by the door I use bark chipping. This prevents the fine shreds of Aubiose being trodden all over the garden by those entering and exiting the WIR (which includes the chickens!). Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tink Posted July 9, 2009 Author Share Posted July 9, 2009 I keep seeing bits about Auboise....is it fairly cheap? Is it a wood chip like substance or something synthetic? We have a walk in run, laid on slabs. The majority of the slab floor is covered by Aubiose (horse bedding), but for the area by the door I use bark chipping. This prevents the fine shreds of Aubiose being trodden all over the garden by those entering and exiting the WIR (which includes the chickens!). Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
