Are wood chips supposed to be this sharp?

[thecatumbrella]

We used untreated pine mulch in our run two years ago. It worked great, but was fairly soft and broke down quickly. This time, we wanted to try something called "Kid Kushion", which is much chunkier and meant for playgrounds.

But oh my! I kneeled down on it in my gardening pants and felt like I was sitting on a pin cushion. It imbeds itself in my cloths and does not feel very good to grab a handful of. I'm so concerned it's going to give the girls splinters and we'll be dealing with bumblefoot. My husband thinks they'll be fine with their tough chicken feet. Am I overreacting? They'll be in the run 24/7 until we can expand, so it will get LOTS of digging and foraging action.

Here's an example photo of the product:

 

[rosemarythyme]

Looks fine though I wouldn't stick my bare hands in it. I'd prefer bigger chunks but if that's what's available it should work.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Looks fine though I wouldn't stick my bare hands in it. I'd prefer bigger chunks but if that's what's available it should work.

I've seen large chunk wood chip in other people's runs, but I can't seem to source it where I am. How does that even work? Do you just rake the poops down?

 

[ChaosMom]

I've seen large chunk wood chip in other people's runs, but I can't seem to source it where I am. How does that even work? Do you just rake the poops down?

Usually the chickens do that while they’re scratching around.

If they don’t, you can “bait the field” by tossing a few (not a lot!!) mealworms or a small handful of scratch on the litter. It will fall down between the chunks, and the chickens will stir things up trying to get whatever you tossed in.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I've seen large chunk wood chip in other people's runs, but I can't seem to source it where I am. How does that even work? Do you just rake the poops down?

The really chunky chips would come from tree companies, since they're often breaking it down simply to make it easier to haul away/dispose of. So I get pieces of bark as big as my hand, pieces of branches, as well as finer bits.

Poop can be left to compost down in place, or removed. I use a dog pooper scooper to pick up obvious surface poop since I don't want to walk on it.

 

[thecatumbrella]

If they don’t, you can “bait the field” by tossing a few (not a lot!!) mealworms or a small handful of scratch on the litter. It will fall down between the chunks, and the chickens will stir things up trying to get whatever you tossed in.

I actually got a dispenser to shoot small amounts of treats from the ceiling of the run. Didn't consider that it would have this added benefit!

Poop can be left to compost down in place, or removed. I use a dog pooper scooper to pick up obvious surface poop since I don't want to walk on it.

Someday, I hope to have the confidence to just walk over their mess (I mean, I have chicken shoes for a reason), but I'm a chronic picker upper in the meantime. Will it still compost down in the covered run?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Will it still compost down in the covered run?

As long as some moisture gets in there, yes.

 

[Bawkbok]

If the run is covered and you don't allow rain in there, you will eventually and occasionally need to wet it with a hose to create moisture to help it break down.