Chicken run – using wood chips

Which wood chippings are the perfect floor surface for a chicken run?

We have been asked many times about the suitability of wood chippings for use in chicken runs, so below we have created a handy guide to answer your questions.

Can you put wood chips in a chicken run?

Wood chippings are the perfect sustainable, environmentally friendly surface for your chicken run, and give your chickens and poultry the perfect floor covering to peck and scratch at, plus they help stop the build up of mud, especially if you use them to create a path around the coop too. However, while most wood chippings are ok for the majority of pets, for chickens it is advisable to use a hard wood variety, as they can be susceptible to respiratory diseases which can occur from spores on some wood.

Why are wood chips good for chicken coops?

Not only do they solve the age-old problem of helping to prevent a muddy coop, but due to the fact that they are a natural material they will simply break down over time and can then be topped up with new chippings.

What should I put on the ground in my chicken run?

You could just use wood chippings alone on the ground of your chicken or poultry coop, or you could combine them with some sand or soil. The main thing is to have sufficient depth of chippings for the chickens to scratch in and peck at. Don’t forget to think about the path up to or around your coop too, our wood chippings are perfect to keep the mud at bay there.

How do I stop my chicken run from being muddy?

This is where wood chippings excel. They are the perfect foil to muddy chicken coops, soaking up any excess water, and being naturally occurring they are very eco-friendly as a floor covering too. Just make sure you have a reasonable depth of them (around 50mm should do it), and both you and your poultry will avoid that muddy feet feeling.

How often should I change the wood chippings in my chicken coop?

You will probably be able to tell when the chippings need changing, but most times a top up once or twice a year should be fine. As a natural product they will break down over time, so unless they have had to deal with some pretty extreme weather all you need to do is top up the depth when you think they need it. For happy hens you need to have enough chippings for the chickens to peck and scratch at, but it really is a low maintenance chicken coop flooring option.