Mulch for runs?

[Emmylou]

Just wondering after reading thread "what do you use"..............shreddings from tree surgeon was mentioned.
Has anyone else used shreddings for the run? Does it matter what the shredding is? Some of the stuff tree surgeons have is a bit leafy, would they eat it and make themselves poorly? I suppose woody shreddings would be better?

[Suechooks]

I've used tree surgeon stuff for a couple of years now with no ill effects. Its currently coming with green leaves in it and the chooks don't bother with them. I think they prefer fresh green stuff rather than dying leaves.

[sheena]

I got mulch in one end of my run, and the girl's aren't bothered about it. Infact they tend to pick up bits of it and throw it over their backs as if to clear it (I've only noticed this when they have the hump with me). But they will happily scratch away at it, my hubby has laid slabs around our run now due to this, cos he's fed up with being hit in the legs when the mower throws it out the back.

[Emmylou]

I've used tree surgeon stuff for a couple of years now with no ill effects. Its currently coming with green leaves in it and the chooks don't bother with them. I think they prefer fresh green stuff rather than dying leaves.

Thats useful to know,how big is your run and how often do you top it up, or do you completely renew it? I suppose it can go on compost too.

[Emmylou]

Just thought of something else! Did you put a membrane down or is it ok to go down onto soil??

[icornish]

We've put slabs down underneath ours (council required it, to prevent rodents/foxes tunneling underneath), and then covered it in landscaping bark, but when we clear that out, we'll ask the local tree surgeon if he'd tip his in for us!

[Suechooks]

Thats useful to know,how big is your run and how often do you top it up, or do you completely renew it? I suppose it can go on compost too.

I have 2 runs on 1 hut so 1 rests while the other is in use. They are both about 15ft x 40ft. The first 6 ft is covered so they have shelter and in that part I have pallet tops down and put the wood chipping on that part. I poo pick every couple of days and top it up about once a week. It then goes on the compost heap. I do have pallet tops just outside the covered part too. I put tyres and logs for perches all round the run. I don't use a membrane as I do a complete clear every few weeks lifting the pallets and cleaning underneath and scraping them clean too. When the run is "resting" I lift the pallets and scrub them with ***** fluid; I clean the run of any surface dropping and rake the top of the soil, then throw buckets of dilute ***** fluid down. When that's soaked in after a few days I sprinkle some garden lime to neutralise it and chuck any grass seed I happen to have or spare salad seeds etc. That run then stays empty for about 3 months. I've had no trouble with internal parasites etc. I've just had a new hut and run and have put slabs down in that around gates and edges but still have the faithful pallet tops in the covered area!
We are lucky with our wood chippings as the council have arranged with the tree surgeon for him to drop it on the site so there is always masses of it available free.

[Emmylou]

Thats great information, thanks! Sounds a brilliant setup. How many hens?

[Suechooks]

Thats great information, thanks! Sounds a brilliant setup. How many hens?

I've 10 in the main run and only 3 in part of the new run which is 20' x 20'. Have built that with the intention of increasing the numbers - of course! They free range when I'm at the allotment and of course "help" with the digging!