? about making my own pine shavings

[chicken_angler]

Long story short, My dad has a lawn vaccum that has a chipper shredder attached to it. It sucks everything up and puts it in a bag.

Well, if I was to grind up some pine branches, could I use the bedding in my quail and chicken coops? I have straw in there now but it just costs too much and I would like to save a few bucks every now and then. lol

My dad says that I should let the pine shavings sit for a while but I dont see why I cant just put it right in there.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Cody!!

PS..... A bag of pine shavings at my feed store costs over $7! And it doesnt even fill my chicken coop.

 

[Homesteading_Bound]

Cody...I think your dad knows best on this one.

The shaving will absorb more efficiently and just be healthier for your flock.

Yeah...it's a shame how expensive shaving can be.

Best To You...

 

[chicken_angler]

Do you mean that I should let the shavings sit for a while before putting them in the coop? Sorry it's early and I just woke up.lol

Cody!!

 

[sherrydeanne]

You'll want them to cure/dry. If you have a tarp or a big driveway, just lay them out in the sun for a few days

 

[chicken_angler]

Okay. I cant right now because its pouring lol. I might go get a bag of shavings today because my brother said he would put in 3 bucks towards the shavings since some of the quail are his birthday present from me. lol Then I will make my own and put them in the sun later this week.

Cody!!

 

[Intheswamp]

Well Cody, how did your pine woodchips work out for you? I'm interested in that I might try chipping some pine limbs later on.

Ed

 

[speckledhen]

Just remember that most commercially bagged shavings are kiln dried. If they aren't really dry, they'll sometimes be sticky and way too aromatic, which can cause respiratory issues. I've had some that smelled like pine disinfectant and had to let them dry further before I could use them.

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
Evening Cynthia. Nope, don't want to pinesol the coop.

What concerns me is that wood chips and wood shavings are two different critters. The chips seem to pack down and create a dense mass whereas the shavings seem to be more "springy" and don't pack down as tightly, or maybe as quickly, as chips do. Would the firmer surface of the dense chips be as good as that of the less-dense shavings? Seems like they should work ok.

The chips would be free (which sounds good) and would be from plantation pine thinnings....limbs, tops, etc., that would contain bark and some needles along with the wood. It wouldn't be much trouble to get some that is pretty much already dried. One thing I'm thinking about, though, is the introduction of bugs...long as they're edible kinds it's ok, but don't want any mites or such.

Just pondering out loud.

Ed

 

[chicken_angler]

Sorry I didnt see your responses a few days ago.

The truth is I havent got to making my own shavings yet! lol
Right now I am just using sand in two of my coops and shavings in the other. I buy them from the feed store and they work fine. Hopefully I will get to making my own one day!

Cody!!

 

[RocketDad]

My concern is more toward the machine. Is the chipper attachment going to stand up to the volume of use required to fill a coop? At what point do you cost yourself more money by replacing the chipper, or perhaps the vacuum or both?