[Cobra]

Hi all, Before the chicken run gets to muddy i want to lay some bark down. After looking around there are several different types, bark chippings, bark chippings mulch etc etc.

Which should I look for whats the best to use. thanks 

[bloomer]

not from a chicken keeping point of view so i may be wrong but

based on experience as a landscaper the large coarse bark takes longer to break down and provides better drainage so thats what i chose to try and keep there feet dry, although this persistent rain is already challenging that plan!!!

i think i may need to put another layer on top!!!

[northfifeduckling]

I've started creating paths through the mud with pebbles collected from the veg plot  of course that's just to prevent me falling on my bum
I would look at the origin of the bark as well, some are  environmentally a bit dodgy and can carry plant diseases from Asia.Maybe ask at your local sawmill or at least get European?

[Castle Farm]

Don't use wood bark as it holds the germs as it absorbs the wet.

I use course builders sand, not the fine red type. It drains easily and you can re-use it on the garden when it's mucky. I rake mine over and collect the droppings.
OK to disentfect with Jayes Fluid and still OK to use it on the garden after it's had Jayes Fluid on it.

[OhLaLa]

I used coarse builders sand too, and it did the job a treat. Solved the mud problem immediately and was easy to keep clean.

Lovely in the garden but I wouldn't use bark underfoot for chooks.

 

[Badger]

When you say coarse builders sand, do you mean sharp sand?.

Badger

[OhLaLa]

Originally did it a few years back so can't remember, but think it prob was. We were laying a new concrete floor in the garage at the time and had bags of the stuff left over. It worked well for us, easy to clean off muck, and easy to top up as and when.

    

[northfifeduckling]

I tried sand but it just gets absorbed in minutes (ducks  , so I have to use pebbles, even they disappear into the mud after a week of rain

[Cobra]

Thanks to everyone for your responce and help tips, great info. 

I thought about the disease element's and wondered about pests, so glad that someone else has confirmed the concern; I am a little sceptical on the sand idea? I know I'm asking and putting down something before I try it I'm happy to try it and be proved wrong; from building and trudging around on sites, I don't recall sand being much of a benefit and I guess thats why I'm a little unsure.

I have a couple of ducks with the chooks as well; and of course! The damp conditions come with choice I made on that front  they are extremely happy together and have been since they hatched so I have no immediate want to separate them, however i may concider running a temp fence through the pen so they are together but separate their habits shall we say

Thanks peps really useful stuff 

[BlueDaisy]

I haven't used either so not speaking from personal experience but I have read that you should use wood chips not bark chips for the reasons outlined above. Perhaps that might be an option?

[Cobra]

Opinions can be very relevent and I certainly don't mind hearing them 

Someone said use the rubber type chips, as they are hygienic and can be washed through with water; but an opinion is that they are more often than not made from recycled car tyres, some have been know to contain small pieces of wire from the tyre reinforcement, I certainly have seen adverts that state wire free etc. So I'm listening to experience and opinion it's all relevant when your making a choice and thats why I love asking here. 

[daddymatty82]

Opinions can be very relevent and I certainly don't mind hearing them 

Someone said use the rubber type chips, as they are hygienic and can be washed through with water; but an opinion is that they are more often than not made from recycled car tyres, some have been know to contain small pieces of wire from the tyre reinforcement, I certainly have seen adverts that state wire free etc. So I'm listening to experience and opinion it's all relevant when your making a choice and thats why I love asking here. 

would the rubber not kill the birds if they ate it though. bark/wood chip will harbor parasites and all sorts of nasties pluss redmight love to hide in it. Thought of straw yes it harbours mites but you can compost it when its to wet and then use it on your garden.

[northfifeduckling]

straw would need to be put on the compost by the hour in this weather! 
My hens love to pick at the putty from old windows and they have not been harmed by eating it if I was not fast enough to confiscate, it seems to be a delicacy . Maybe rubber - if it is the real stuff would be not quite so bad either?

[Cobra]

Apparently this rubber is made for this purpose and is sized to stop swallowing and choking.  Dint fancy it my self.

Ill get a bit of sand see what occurs, maybe put some wood chip tother end and do a comparason  Let you know what happens.

[OhLaLa]

The rubber chips are prob the same type used for horse schooling areas (menages). It is meant to be made from rubber without wire, but of course, always worth double checking. The chunks are fairly large, I've never heard of a bird going anywhere near them - and a new school doesn't half whiff of rubber for quite a while.

Straw is a no-no (it will get wet, stay that way and be a muddy pain in the whatsit to clean up) I wouldn't use woodchip either, you will find it's soggy in the first rain and stays that way. It costs a lot more than a bag of sand too. Use plenty of sand and I think you will be fine. My chicken run was on a muddy slope, pooped on, and pretty yukky to walk over. I tipped quite a few bags of sand on the ground (as it was what I had to hand), raked it out, and it really did work a treat.

Let us know how you get on.