Just like we have cover for our beds, mulch is used for covering the soil. It is used in gardens and also in chicken coops. Made from leftover materials like plastic, sawdust, compost, etc., it serves as a shield over the soil.
Red mulch is safe for chickens, but not always. It depends on what material it is made of. Red mulch comes in organic and inorganic varieties, and depending on the components it is formed of, it could be considered safe or unsafe.
Typically, chickens are unaffected by any form of mulch and are generally safe around it. To be on the safe side, I advise you to find out what substances it contains, or opt for the alternatives.
Read on to know more about red mulch and whether it’s safe for chickens or not.
Can You Use Red Mulch For Chickens?
Covering your chicken run bedding with mulch provides extra comfort to your chickens. Additionally, it makes a good place for insects to hide and chickens to scratch them out.
Mulch, however, does not absorb the chicken feces, making cleaning up a challenge. The chickens may be harmed if mulch made of plastic or wood fragments is utilized entirely.
But, what about red mulch? Is it safe for chickens, and can you use it?
Red mulch is basically a type of dyed mulch. Now, you may worry that the dyes may contain toxic chemicals that will harm your chickens. However, it’s not the case. The dyes used for preparing red mulch are quite safe, natural, and free of toxins.
The main issues lie with the other materials used for preparing red mulch. Typically, red mulch consists of recycled wood. Now, this type of wood may or may not be safe depending on the manufacturer.
If the recycled wood comes from a construction and demolition site, it may contain extremely toxic chemicals, like arsenic. However, if it comes from natural wood, there’s not much you need to worry about.
Therefore, try to ask the manufacturer about the ingredients used in red mulch.
But, I believe that it’s much better to go for other alternatives to ensure that your chickens remain safe.
Does Red Mulch Have Any Benefits?
Red mulch has certain benefits when it comes to using it. Some of them include:
- Due to its attractive appearance, red mulch is highly popular for landscaping gardens. Red mulch, which is made of rosewood, is not only eye-catching but also gives plants vital nutrients.
- Additionally, red mulch gives the earth just enough water so that it doesn’t dry out. Furthermore, it safeguards your plants from weeds and maintains the right temperature of the soil.
- The appealing hue provided by this red mulch will persist for a longer period of time rather than just a few days. It keeps insects away, making the soil more fertile, in addition to being appealing.
- Iron oxide is used to color red mulch which is also called rust in simpler terms. This makes no harm to your garden or to the chickens.
- There are various organic red mulch available that is made from the bark of trees and are completely natural. This will not be harmful to your chicken or the plants as they provide organic nutrients to them.
- Red mulch is also available in inorganic form made of plastic or rubber. These do not contain the proper nutrients required for either your plants or chicken. They can be harmful sometimes to your chicken if consumed.
Alternatives To Red Mulch For Chickens
By now, you might have probably understood that mulch is made of many kinds of materials. While some may be safe for chickens, some may not.
Although safe sometimes, you may not be sure of red mulch because of the substances used in it. So, here is a list of alternatives for red mulch available for chicken that is safe to use.
1. Wood Fragments
Wood pieces are very easily available and hence considered the best option for chickens. They are freely available and durable too because wood fragments will not spoil for a long time.
Apart from this, they are easy to clean as well. If you have a garden or a backyard, you can easily make this at home without having to spend much.
Though it is safe for chickens, make sure there are no sharp objects that can bruise your chicken.
2. Straw
Straw is another most common mulch used for chicken bedding. This is very feasible as it is readily available and highly comfortable for your chicken. They can be cleaned easily as well but should be done frequently.
Straw is a kind of mulch that absorbs moisture quickly and hence cleaning needs to be done regularly. If not, it can lead to an unhealthy environment and a breeding ground for parasites.
3. Leaves
Leaves that are fallen from trees in your garden make the best mulch bedding for your chicken. The most convenient form of mulch yet needs to be taken care of. Make sure you keep it dry as much as possible because if it gets wet it can ruin the whole ground.
4. Pine Needles
The most uncommon mulch available is pine needles. You will not find this everywhere and hence not many use it. You may feel that pine needles may be harmful to your chicken as they are sharp and pointed. But it is actually safe for your chicken and the needles won’t bother them.
However, cleaning them could be a task for you as they spread everywhere. If your place has a lot of pine trees, then this can be the best bedding for your chicken.
5. Grass remains
If you have a lawn, you have to maintain it properly by mowing it regularly. But what will you do with the waste remains? Just throw it away? Instead, you can make the best use of it by using it as a mulch for your garden.
These grass clippings contain a high amount of nutrients, perfect for your soil to absorb. They are very soft and make comfortable bedding for your chicken inside the coop.
However, ensure that it is dried completely before mulching it, else it can increase the growth of mold and fungus, harming your whole environment. Also, don’t lay a thick layer of the grass remains as bedding because it can be difficult to clean if it gets wet.
If you have doubts about using red mulch for your chickens, you can use the aforesaid alternatives which will serve better for your chicken coops or chicken run. These are not only safe to use but also easily available in any of your gardens or backyard.
Final Thoughts
With many choices available for mulching, you can get confused as to what to use. However, with this article, I hope I have made it a bit easier for you to choose from with all its pros and cons listed.
Using red mulch is also safe for chickens, but ensure that they are organic or are covered with another layer of straw that can absorb moisture and keep red mulch away from chicken.
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