Fresh pine wood chips

[Ruralhideaway]

Sorry in advance, I have searched this question but there's so much info, some conflicting.

I can get a load of fresh pine chips delivered to build the ground up in my run. I read about aspergillosis. If I got these and just lightly added them weekly so they are getting airflow do you think that would be safe?

 

[Frazzemrat1]

as far as I know, so long as it isn't cedar you should be fine.

 

[aart]

Best to let them age if at all possible.
Are these chippings from tree trimming?

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Best to let them age if at all possible.
Are these chippings from tree trimming?

Yes freshly chipped pine. I'll have them in a few days. I need them desperately for paths around the coop anyway. I'm afraid their little temp run will be awful slime before the chips are aged. Won't have leaves till fall. What else could I use, shavings? (Ouch $)

 

[aart]

Yes freshly chipped pine. I'll have them in a few days. I need them desperately for paths around the coop anyway. I'm afraid their little temp run will be awful slime before the chips are aged. Won't have leaves till fall. What else could I use, shavings? (Ouch $)

In that case, spreading them a bit at at time might be best.
The cold temps should be a deterrent to mold/fungus bloom.
What do you bed your horse stalls with...maybe add some of that too?

 

[Ruralhideaway]

In that case, spreading them a bit at at time might be best.
The cold temps should be a deterrent to mold/fungus bloom.
What do you bed your horse stalls with...maybe add some of that too?

Mostly pine pellets. I could throw a couple bags in, that'll dry up the mud fast but then ill have wet sawdust. No avoiding wet this time of year though i guess.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'd probably use a bit (enough to keep from having a mucky run) and put the rest aside to age. If you can get more chips now (not sure how much you have), that would be fantastic for next year. Save up your fall leaves as well. I don't know about you but I always feel like I'm a year behind in everything!

 

[aart]

Save up your fall leaves as well. I don't know about you but I always feel like I'm a year behind in everything!

I Know, Right!?
I saved fall leaves one year in open topped feed bags in a dry shed,
they were bone dry and stored well...
...next year not quite as dry and didn't store well, got musty moldy.
Also tried to store some aged chippings,
I got mine from a buddy - not dumped here,
that was just silly as they were too damp.

Also wishing I had something else to put down, some areas of my semi-deep litter in run have gone downhill(literally, ground in run is ever so slightly sloped) kinda nasty in the thaw run off.

 

[lazy gardener]

Personally, I'd have them dumped in a pile, and let them compost at least until fall, then use them. In the mean time, you can use hay, spent litter from your coop, straw, what ever else you have at your disposal. I'd want them to compost in a pile so the heat that is produced will kill off any molds and their toxins.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Ok I'll likely build my paths and store what's left for fall. I have stall cleanings and dropped hay but that's looking to be not enough browns to be dry. Already have a leaf plan for next year, I'm definitely a year behind! I'm waiting for the chips to come still but I know they are fresh. Also have a local tree service that's going to dump ago they get in my yard all summer for free. So maybe I'll catch up eventually! I'm ready for the proper run build as soon as I figure out how to get cattle panels here. Awkward things to get home.