Bedding Help

romeoz13

Chirping
5 Years
Aug 26, 2014
47
0
80
San Antonio, TX
This is about bedding. I live in San Antonio and my allergies are horrible, I think they say its from the cedar. So if I get Flake Pine Shavings will this affect my allergies? or should I go with hay? I know if I try the pine shavings I will know for sure but I was just curious if others had this situation Im in. ALso, I heard hay was bad because it gets wet and smells but my chicken coop is a 8x12 sealed shed...with windows and vents but water wont be getting inside. At least not much anyways. So would hay be a bad thing for the bedding? Or should I definetly stick with pine shavings...I guesss I can always wear a mask when I go clean.

Oh ya, should I use pine shavings for my run outside? or just keep the grass and let them eat it... Thanks
 
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Cedar shavings is not good for chickens, it can give them respiratory problems...maybe it is effecting your allergies.

But I don't know what you're allergic to so I can't recommend anything in particular...buy hay might be even worse on allergies than pine flakes.

If you have allergies, wearing a well fitting particulate mask when cleaning the coop is a good idea.
 
Not sure about allergies, but I would definitely advise pine shavings. As stated above, cedar isn't good for chickens at all.

If you get the larger pine shavings, they don't have as much dust as the finer shavings, so they shouldn't aggravate your allergies as much.

Pine shavings are more absorbent than hay so they would be a better bedding for your chickens.
 
thanks for the advice. I think I will go with flake pine shavings and wear a mask :) I love this site!!!

Oh ya, should I clean out the chicken poop daily or just mix it up in the pine shavings? Or do I just add new pine shavings on top of the poop daily?
 
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thanks for the advice. I think I will go with flake pine shavings and wear a mask :) I love this site!!!

Oh ya, should I clean out the chicken poop daily or just mix it up in the pine shavings? Or do I just add new pine shavings on top of the poop daily?

I use the deep litter method, but before I would clean out the coop twice a week and even with the deep litter method, I clean the board under where they roost a few times a week.
 
This is about bedding. I live in San Antonio and my allergies are horrible, I think they say its from the cedar. So if I get Flake Pine Shavings will this affect my allergies? or should I go with hay? I know if I try the pine shavings I will know for sure but I was just curious if others had this situation Im in. ALso, I heard hay was bad because it gets wet and smells but my chicken coop is a 8x12 sealed shed...with windows and vents but water wont be getting inside. At least not much anyways. So would hay be a bad thing for the bedding? Or should I definetly stick with pine shavings...I guesss I can always wear a mask when I go clean.

Oh ya, should I use pine shavings for my run outside? or just keep the grass and let them eat it... Thanks
Hi romeoz13 -
SA and cedar -- oh you are in a tough place -- it is the pollen from the Cedar Trees that causes alergies in people -- it blows right from the Hill Country to SA. -- Steve Browne on the TV weather (if he is still there) has a lot of expertise on the subject. - E-mail him or something about what to do for your alergies.....

Pine shavings wouldn't have the cedar pollen at all - so that shouldn't be a problem -- If you have poop boards for your chickens check out Sweet PDZ -- it is kind of like the same way you manage kitty litter... (but kitty litter would contain harmful elements for chickens - PDZ doesn't) -- and it is available at Tractor Supply in the horse supplies section. Be sure to get the GRANULAR not the powder...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/621363/poop-board-convert-warning-graphic-gross-poop-pictures

The first 12 or so posts in the above thread tell you everything -- then the next few hundred ask her questions she already answered or sing it's praises -- (including mine in there somewhere --) -- it is a long thread.

Good luck with it all!~
 
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