Wood Chips and Termites in Illinois?

[BlueDawnRising]

I live in south central Illinois where we have had torrential rain recently and my run is very muddy. I am new to chickens, but not to life, so I worry about putting wood chips in against my rough sawn oak posts because of termites. The run is not set against the house or another wood structure but there is an old barn about 30 foot from the run. Thoughts about termites possibly being a problem in this situation? Other solutions? Thanks in advance for any thoughts and/or advice!

 

[Debbie292d]

Assuming you're wanting to put wood chips inside your run, and you're afraid the wood chips have termites or the posts do? Since chickens would have access to it, you couldn't use the typical termite baits. I saw where you can mix diatomaceous earth with water and paint the posts with it as a prevention. It dries them out if they get in contact with it. You could sprinkle that in with your wood chips too, but if they're going to be getting wet, it won't work until they dry out.

Neem oil is another thing you could use that's safe around chickens. We mix that with water and a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid to spray our fruit trees, birch, and a few others that get covered with Japanese beetles every year.

I just looked it up and found this too: "Orange oil: Contains d-limonene, which is deadly to termites, dissolving their exoskeletons and causing dehydration when applied directly or injected into infested wood."

 

[AlbusAbaforthFrodoSerius]

How many chickens do you have and how big is the coop?

 

[AlbusAbaforthFrodoSerius]

Assuming you're wanting to put wood chips inside your run, and you're afraid the wood chips have termites or the posts do? Since chickens would have access to it, you couldn't use the typical termite baits. I saw where you can mix diatomaceous earth with water and paint the posts with it as a prevention. It dries them out if they get in contact with it. You could sprinkle that in with your wood chips too, but if they're going to be getting wet, it won't work until they dry out.

Neem oil is another thing you could use that's safe around chickens. We mix that with water and a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid to spray our fruit trees, birch, and a few others that get covered with Japanese beetles every year.

I just looked it up and found this too: "Orange oil: Contains d-limonene, which is deadly to termites, dissolving their exoskeletons and causing dehydration when applied directly or injected into infested wood."

The termites are a good source of protein for the chickens though so if they have enough chickens it shouldn't be a problem though

 

[Debbie292d]

The termites are a good source of protein for the chickens though so if they have enough chickens it shouldn't be a problem though

If they could catch them or get to them.

 

[AlbusAbaforthFrodoSerius]

If they could catch them or get to them.

If they crawl on the posts the chickens will get them and the chickens scratch disturbing then stopping them from climbing the posts

 

[BlueDawnRising]

Assuming you're wanting to put wood chips inside your run, and you're afraid the wood chips have termites or the posts do? Since chickens would have access to it, you couldn't use the typical termite baits. I saw where you can mix diatomaceous earth with water and paint the posts with it as a prevention. It dries them out if they get in contact with it. You could sprinkle that in with your wood chips too, but if they're going to be getting wet, it won't work until they dry out.

Neem oil is another thing you could use that's safe around chickens. We mix that with water and a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid to spray our fruit trees, birch, and a few others that get covered with Japanese beetles every year.

I just looked it up and found this too: "Orange oil: Contains d-limonene, which is deadly to termites, dissolving their exoskeletons and causing dehydration when applied directly or injected into infested wood."

I’m afraid of attracting termites to my run if I add wood chips to dry it out. I appreciate having these prevention/deterrent methods to try though! Thank you!

 

[Cpgrnwd]

Im in Illinois also. I want to go to wood chips actually but this is the start of my 3rd year and so far year one i added sand and year 2 straw.

I like the idea of getting a sand base. The straw I can rake our for use in the garden.

Im NO expert this is just my experience so far.

 

[BlueDawnRising]

How many chickens do you have and how big is the coop?

I have 19…6 that are 19 weeks and 13 that are 12 weeks old. They are mixed breeds. We converted an old 14 foot diameter grain bin into a coop where the chickens have 2/3 of the inside so I’m unsure how to even calculate square footage. I will post pictures. The run is almost complete and will be 12x35 feet. It should be done this week. The actual “coop” has no structural wood, only the run.

The photos are from various stages of the build. I can take more if that would be helpful.

 

[BlueDawnRising]

If they could catch them or get to them.

I wondered this…termites are subterranean, right? My posts are set in concrete but there is dirt at the bottom. I didn’t know if the chickens works dig that deep. This is my first chicken experience