Keren, I apologize for kimm's brusque reply.

The fact is that you could be quite safe tilling the chicken chips into your soil OR using it as a mulch. I'd be delighted to have it for my garden!

I apply fresh wood chips to my ornamental and veggie gardens every single year, as a mulch and the earthworms take it into the soil in the following months. I do fertilize my hardworking plants, though, but I would not expect them to suffer from a nitrogen depletion if I didn't.

I've always thought tilling in partially composted woodchips would tie up the nitrogen in the soil, so I've always only topdressed my gardens with it. Have you not had any issues with that?

Use it as mulch, or dig trenches between rows and bury it as trench composting.

And if you have chicken poop mixed in with the shredded trees, there's more than enough nitrogen to compensate for the temporary effect of the wood chips.

I usually add soda of nitrate for my corn. Would I be in danger of killing it if I still add it?

''I've always thought tilling in partially composted woodchips would tie up the nitrogen in the soil...''. We know, love, we know.