Cedar Mulch

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GRB73

GRB73

Songster
6 Years
Mar 10, 2016
215
218
161
SE Pennsylvania
I've heard wood mulch makes a good run floor material. I'd like to use natural cedar mulch. Is cedar ok to use around chickens? When they were chicks i was told not to use cedar because it could affect their breathing. Wasn't sure if the same is true for 6 month old birds?
 
Not an expert on the matter, but we just picked up 4 new pullets from our breeder this week and she mentioned to us that she just started using mulch and she NEVER will again. She said it holds a lot of the moisture in the ground and she's gotten mold and it's hard to clean. She also said it's near impossible to keep her hens clean cause they try to bathe in it and it sticks in their feathers. We're still trying to get mulch out of one of our new babies!
Again, I'm no expert but I just figured I'd pass along what I heard.
 
Aromatic cedar in a closed coop might not be good idea for any aged bird.
Would probably be OK out in a run tho.
Whether the cedar mulch you propose to use is aromatic or not, I have no idea as there are several different kinds of cedar. Some bagged mulches are dyed, I would not use those.
Freshly chipped wood from tree trimmers can grow harmful molds/mildews.

Using a varied mix of dried plant materials is about the best run bedding you can get.
Here's a great description of contents and how to manage organic 'bedding' in a run or coop...and there's a great video of what it looks like.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1037998/muddy-run-help-please#post_16017992
 
Thanks for the link. What a great idea. Basically let the chickens create a compost mix. Not sure about the kitchen scraps because they might attract rodents.
 
For what it's worth. I use pine shavings. Smells good, chickens love to scratch in it, and it is not harmful to the birds. Also, stays dry for a long time. Every now and then I rake out the old and put in new.
 

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