2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[CatieB]

Now am I being stupid but I've tried everywhere and can not source simple woodchip.

 

I've done B and Q, homebase and all my local garden centres. They all have bark (which I've read on here isn't adviseable) or coloured woodchip the stuff that is decorative. Now I don't want to buy that, firstly cos I don't like the idea of coloured for the girls - its clearly got additives of some sort and I don't like the look or extra expense.

 

Is it really difficult to source plain old wood chip now? Anyone got any suggestions? The big loads online are too much as I only have a standard cube run to cover.

 

If anyone has suggestions local to me I'm near Ely Cambs.

 

I'm also having to consider viable alternatives for the run, I can source straw very cheaply (possibly free) does anyone use it successfully in the run?

 

Thanks

[Mercedes55]

I bought my woodchips from B&Q, they had lots there at the time, although they were softwood chips, not hardwood which was what I was really after. I would be wary of the coloured ones too as it doesn't really say what additives are in it, although I'm sure someone on here would know if it's okay to use them.

 

A lot of people just phone up local tree surgeons and ask them if they can supply them with woodchips and often they are quite happy to let you have them. I found one who was willing to let us have some but it meant we had to go and pick them up ourselves and just put them in the back of the car, but we didn't want the mess of them all loose in the back.

 

I don't think straw is recommended, either in the run or in the coop. If your run is dry you could use Aubiose which is horse bedding and is really good but it does have to be kept dry. My hens are in a standard Eglu run that is covered with clear corrugated plastic and has wood at the sides, but still the rain gets in there and makes it all wet

[holz]

I get mine from our local tree surgeon for £1 a sack, have you tried calling a tree surgeon local lto you?

 

I just pop up there every now and again with an actual woven brown sack (don't get it in plastic sacks unless you're putting it straight down and it will be quite smelly and mouldy within a week or so) and just ask them to fill it up! If they have any pine, I ask for that as it's a natural disinfectant and smells lovely.

 

I used to have straw, but my WIR is quite small (2m x 3m) and was a nightmare to keep clean... The wood chip has been a god send and they love rummaging around in it.

 

Hope that helps!

[Tweety]

I couldn't find any locally either, so got some online from Flytesofancy.

[Bertrum]

I get mine from the forestry commission, but I doubt they are local in Cambridgeshire. Not exactly famed for its forests.

[AmberSky]

Easybed is readily available and lasts for ages, it is small woodchip intended for horses.

[the bradley bunch]

http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/copy_of_Woodchip_for_Poultry_Runs.html

£9.19 for 70 litres

[the bradley bunch]

I couldn't find any locally either, so got some online from Flytesofancy.

 

oops sorry tweety didn't notice you'd already recommended flytesofancy

[CatieB]

Thank you - I've looked on the web at flytes but the delivery then adds another £8 too so not very cost effective when I only want a relatively small amount.

 

Going to also try local tree surgeons but had no luck getting anyone to answer the phone so far.... the hunt goes on.... anyone local to Cambs??

[frizz]

I got hardwood chips from B&Q took some finding online, I think it was under garden ornamental, but then did a store check to see if they had it in stock, it seems to be the warehouse B&Q that stocks them, and it was natural colour and cheap as chips no pun intended.

[Falkor]

Thank you - I've looked on the web at flytes but the delivery then adds another £8 too so not very cost effective when I only want a relatively small amount.

 

Going to also try local tree surgeons but had no luck getting anyone to answer the phone so far.... the hunt goes on.... anyone local to Cambs??

 

Hi

 

I am in St Neots, Cambs and our B&Q sells plain woodchip. I picked up a couple of bags the other day

[CatieB]

Hi

 

I am in St Neots, Cambs and our B&Q sells plain woodchip. I picked up a couple of bags the other day

 

Thanks Falkor but how odd, the nearest to me is Cambridge (and thats 23 miles away) and they definately only had the coloured stuff. St Neots is a little far for a purpose trip but will keep it in mind if that way. Thanks

[CatieB]

I get mine from the forestry commission, but I doubt they are local in Cambridgeshire. Not exactly famed for its forests.

 

Now while that is very true we are not too far away from the MASSIVE Thetford Forest and visit there regularly. For those that don't know the forest, Dads army was filmed there - sorry mind full of useless information.

 

However how do you find out about them selling off the wood chips - I went on the forestry commisssion website and had a surf without success.

[Chickybaby]

I also get mine from B & Q in St. Neots, I got some hardwood chips last week and they had loads.

[CatieB]

I got hardwood chips from B&Q took some finding online, I think it was under garden ornamental, but then did a store check to see if they had it in stock, it seems to be the warehouse B&Q that stocks them, and it was natural colour and cheap as chips no pun intended.

 

Thank you frizz with your help I found them on their website (had to search "hardwood" as doesn't come up when you put in woodchip- how rubbish) but the nearest stockist is St Neots, none of the stores nearer to me stock them.

 

If you rely on B and Q guys I'd stock up seems like they are reducing their availability because I know I've seen them locally previously.

 

None of my local tree surgeons have any at the moment so the search continues.... I don't think DH will be impressed if I suggest going to St Neots just for wood chips LOL. May have to find something of interest near there!!!

[Bertrum]

However how do you find out about them selling off the wood chips - I went on the forestry commisssion website and had a surf without success.

They don't advertise it on the web, I think it is a service that individual forests decide to do if they want to. We went to the visitor centre at our local forest and asked, they have as much as we like in exchange for a donation, so not really selling it.