Leaf bedding, any concern of bird flu?

[AnitaBheer]

I'm still building the coop and run before chickens arrive and trying to decide on bedding for the run. I'll likely use pine shavings or hemp for in the coop with poop boards. But the run will be 16x20 and is sand based (dry sand pine plains of northern MI here) with a thick layer of pine needles at the moment. I have copious amounts of oak leaves and pine needles in the yard I could use for litter in the run. I want to put something down because the sand will smell after a bit (neighbors have chickens on bare dirt, so I know the outcome).

But I'm concerned about bird flu and other diseases. Will leaf litter make my chickens sick? Or would you not be concerned? It's mainly song birds here, I have never seen waterfowl and the nearest river is 2 miles away. We don't feed wild birds either. Run is enclosed but not 100% weather proof.

Thanks

 

[Debbie292d]

Many use leaves, then can rake them out and add to compost. @Tookie is one I know that could comment about them.

 

[Tookie]

They're completely safe to use and I wouldn't worry about diseases. Like @Debbie292d said, many people use leaves, and they don't have any problems.
So go crazy with it! Your chickens will LOVE to scratch around in them, and it will help breakdown all the poop.
Overtime you'll have to add more leaves as they break down. You can use the broken down leaves in your garden.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is it possible that the leaves could be contaminated? Sure. But that could be true of a bale of straw from a feed store, or wood chips brought in from another property, etc. I'd trust materials sourced from my property more since I at least know what's in the mix and how it was stored before use.

 

[AnitaBheer]

Is it possible that the leaves could be contaminated? Sure. But that could be true of a bale of straw from a feed store, or wood chips brought in from another property, etc. I'd trust materials sourced from my property more since I at least know what's in the mix and how it was stored before use.

That's true, and I could always not use the very top layer of a leaf pile to be a little more safe.