6 Best Gas Wood Chippers for Backyard Use

That pile of branches from last season’s pruning or the last big storm isn’t just a chore waiting to happen; it’s a resource. For anyone raising a backyard flock, turning that "waste" wood into high-quality coop bedding is one of the smartest moves you can make. It closes a loop on your property, saves you money on store-bought shavings, and gives your chickens a healthier, more natural environment. Choosing the right wood chipper is the key that unlocks this whole system.

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Key Chipper Features for Quality Coop Bedding

The goal isn’t just to make wood smaller; it’s to create uniform chips that are absorbent, compostable, and comfortable for your birds. Look for a chipper with sharp, hardened steel cutting blades rather than one that relies solely on flail hammers. Knives produce clean, consistent chips, while hammers can create a dusty, shredded mulch that’s less ideal for coop floors.

The size of the chips matters immensely. You want something coarse enough to allow for airflow and drainage but small enough to break down effectively in a deep litter system. A chipper that produces chips in the 1/2-inch to 1-inch range is perfect. Anything larger won’t absorb moisture well, and anything smaller turns to dust too quickly.

Pay close attention to the chipper chute capacity, which is typically listed as the maximum branch diameter it can handle. A 3-inch capacity is a great standard for most hobby farms, allowing you to process the vast majority of limbs from pruning and storm cleanup. A larger capacity is great, but don’t pay for power you’ll never use.

SuperHandy 7HP Chipper for Consistent Bedding

This machine is a fantastic starting point for most small-scale flock owners. Its 7HP engine and 3-inch chipping capacity are perfectly matched for the typical debris generated on a property of one or two acres. It’s not built to clear a forest, but it excels at turning a weekend’s worth of pruned fruit tree limbs or fallen branches into a perfect pile of bedding.

The real strength of the SuperHandy for coop use is the consistency of its output. The dual-blade design creates uniform chips that are almost purpose-made for a deep litter method. They provide excellent moisture absorption without compacting into a dense, anaerobic mat. This consistency is what separates good bedding from a simple pile of wood debris.

It’s a straightforward, no-frills machine. It’s small enough to be moved by hand and stored in the corner of a shed, which is a huge benefit when space is at a premium. The tradeoff is speed; you’ll need to feed it steadily and avoid overloading it, but for the scale of most backyard operations, its performance is more than adequate.

Champion 100137: Power for Hardwood Branches

If your property has a lot of oak, maple, or other hardwoods, you need a chipper that won’t bog down. The Champion, with its larger 338cc engine, provides that extra torque. This isn’t just about processing bigger branches; it’s about maintaining momentum through dense, knotty wood.

That consistent power directly translates to better bedding. When a chipper struggles, it can tear and shred wood instead of cutting it cleanly, resulting in long, splintery pieces mixed in with the good chips. The Champion’s robust engine ensures that whether you’re feeding it green pine or seasoned hickory, the output remains uniform and flock-friendly.

This is a heavier, more substantial unit. While still portable, it’s less nimble than smaller models, but that weight adds stability during operation. Think of this as the right choice for the hobby farmer with a few acres, a mature woodlot, and a need to process tougher materials reliably season after season.

Earthquake Tazz K32: Balanced Power and Value

The Tazz K32 hits a sweet spot for many homesteaders. It offers a solid engine and reliable 3-inch chipping capacity in a design that prioritizes user-friendliness. It’s a workhorse that doesn’t feel like a chore to operate.

Its most practical feature for creating coop bedding is the optional vacuum kit and collection bag system. Instead of chipping onto a tarp or the ground, you can collect the finished bedding directly into a large, durable bag. This simple feature saves an incredible amount of time and effort, eliminating the need to rake, shovel, and transport the chips. You can fill a bag and carry it straight to the coop.

This machine represents a smart balance. It may not have the brute force of a commercial unit, but it has more than enough power for typical farm cleanup. For the price, the combination of reliable performance and thoughtful design features makes it one of the best all-around values for turning your yard waste into a valuable resource.

DK2 OPC506: Commercial-Grade Chipping Power

For those managing larger properties of five acres or more, or for anyone actively clearing fence lines and managing a woodlot, a consumer-grade machine just won’t cut it. The DK2 is a commercial-duty chipper that brings serious efficiency to the table. With its 14HP engine and tow-behind design, it turns massive piles of brush into bedding in a fraction of the time.

The dual, tool-steel cutting blades are reversible, doubling their lifespan before needing to be sharpened. This is a critical feature when you’re processing large volumes of material. The machine is designed for high throughput, meaning you can get the job done quickly and move on to other farm tasks. The quality of the chips is professional-grade—perfectly uniform for any application, from coop bedding to garden paths.

This is not a small investment, and it’s certainly overkill for a suburban backyard. It requires an ATV or small tractor to move it around your property. But if you measure your brush piles by the truckload instead of the wheelbarrow, the DK2’s power and speed make it an essential tool for turning a massive liability into an even more massive asset.

GreatCircleUSA Chipper for All-Around Farm Use

This chipper is a versatile option for the farmer who needs one machine to do more than just make bedding. It typically features both a side chipper chute for branches up to 3 inches and a top-mounted shredder hopper for leaves, twigs, and other green waste. This dual-function design makes it an excellent tool for general property management.

For your flock, this versatility allows you to create custom bedding blends. Use the chipper to process woody material for a durable, absorbent base layer. Then, use the shredder to process fallen leaves into a finer material to mix in, which can help kickstart the composting process in a deep litter system.

Think of this as the multi-tool of yard cleanup. It’s built on a similar 7HP platform as other models in its class, so it has reliable power for most tasks. If your goal is to create bedding, make compost starter, and produce garden mulch all with a single machine, this is an incredibly efficient choice.

Landworks LCE06: Portability for Your Property

While this article focuses on gas power, it’s worth mentioning this powerful electric alternative. The Landworks chipper is a completely different approach, prioritizing portability, low noise, and zero emissions. For those with smaller properties or neighbors close by, this can be a game-changer.

The biggest advantage is its quiet operation. You can process branches right next to the coop without causing a panic among your flock. It’s also lightweight and easy to move, allowing you to take the chipper to the brush pile instead of hauling the brush pile to the chipper. There’s no gas, no oil, and virtually no maintenance.

The tradeoff is power. This unit is best for smaller branches, typically up to 1.5 inches in diameter. It’s not designed for clearing large, overgrown areas. But for the regular maintenance of a well-kept yard—pruning bushes, cleaning up after small storms, and processing garden waste—it produces excellent, uniform chips with unmatched convenience.

Matching Chipper Size to Your Flock and Acreage

The right machine is all about matching its capacity to your workload. Don’t buy more chipper than you need, but don’t try to save money with a machine that’s too small for your property.

• Small Flock (under 12 birds) & Under 1 Acre: A smaller 7HP gas model like the SuperHandy or an electric unit like the Landworks is ideal. Your material volume is low, and you’re likely processing branches from seasonal pruning. Portability and ease of storage are key.
• Medium Flock (12-30 birds) & 1-5 Acres: This is the sweet spot for a mid-size, 9-10HP machine like the Champion or a feature-rich model like the Tazz. You’re dealing with more material, potentially including tougher hardwoods, and efficiency starts to become more important.
• Large Flock (30+ birds) & 5+ Acres: If you are managing a woodlot or regularly clearing large areas, a tow-behind, commercial-grade unit like the DK2 is a wise investment. The time saved is significant, and the machine is built to handle the constant, heavy workload. Your focus is on processing volume quickly and reliably.

Ultimately, a wood chipper does more than clean up your property. It transforms a waste product into a valuable input for your flock’s health and your farm’s sustainability. By turning branches into bedding, you’re reducing costs, improving your soil, and creating a more resilient and self-sufficient homestead.