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[cluckingmad]

Evening fellow chicken loons

 

My 9 girls have a WIR housing their cube which has aubiose as a floor covering, however their outdoor run area has become a bog with all the rain, no grass left so think mud... and its starting to make their feet sore Wondered about covering the whole area with bark chips as its a large area to cover (3m x 12m roughly), but not sure if there are any health risks with bark or even if there would be any alternatives? xxx

[Princess Leia]

Bark will break down quite quickly. Hardwood wood chips are better. You can generally get a supply from your local friendly tree surgeon... There are some specialist supplier online as well.

[mimi5]

I have pine untreated wood chip in my covered run and it is holding up really well I believe bark can contain harmful substances and when wet can develop mold and give off spores!!!

 

The wet has been just awful this winter!!!!

[stu]

I agree... chips are much better than bark. Bark contains numerous fungi that can effect the hens feet, and bark holds mor water than chips.

A good layer of chips... well over the 'water-table' of the run, and hardwood, if you can get them.

 

It's also worth considering digging some channels in the run and filling them with pebbles or other draining material to ferry some of the water away and out of the main run.