? about making my own pine shavings

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
You've got a valid point, though my chipper isn't the handheld type but rather mounted on wheels and has a 10hp engine on it.

Even though the pine limbs would be softwood and go through the chipper fairly rapidly I'm not sure the time investment would be worth it. Might work for small amounts to add to the coop on occasion.

Gotta get the coop built first.

Ed

 

[mightieskeeper]

I have used my chipper to make bedding. It works ok. A couple things I would do differently. I would run them through the chipper more than once. I would dry them in the garage with a heater. I used Ash and Maple. I never used pine but lots of Christmas trees on the side of the road right now.

 

[nzpouter]

Best shavings you can get is made off soft wood, run through a thicknesser (trust me, I'm a cabinet maker).....

Find yourself some wooden pallets (these usually made of soft wood and reasonably dry), take them apart and make sure you get all the nails off it....

A small portable thicknesser won't cost that much to get... and it's a worthwhile investment.

 

[Organics North]

Quote:
Beat me too it!
Yep a thicknesser aka planer, makes the best shavings.
Check around and see if their are any wood workers in your area, be sure to get only "safe" shavings. In the US softwoods such as pine are nice and fluffy. Hardwoods like Aspen/Poplar are not bad either. Oak and Maple are kind of crumbly (works fine in a bind). Know what species to stay away from in your location!

I too make a living off working wood, and will admit it is nice to have an endless supply of wood shavings!

ON

 

[Intheswamp]

I'm curious...for ya'll that are using planers and the resultant shavings...how big are your coops?

Thanks,
Ed

 

[chicken_angler]

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I think our chipper would stand up to the chipping because it is a heavy duty chipper. It was also free so there is no concern in cost of the chipper.

What do you mean by vacuum?

 

[nzpouter]

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The shavings are use in my pigeon lofts and nest boxes, for me, the coop doesn't need any cause they're off the ground and free ranged all day.

 

[RocketDad]

What do you mean by vacuum?

Perhaps I misunderstood your original post:

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

I was picturing one of those leaf-blower-shaped thingies, with a leaf-sucking nozzle and bag. Not heavy duty equipment, certainly not a10HP chipper! What are you using? Is it like a riding mower or something?​

 

[Organics North]

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I only got 12 EE pullets, however I have enough shavings for a football field full of chickens. Know if I only had a field of organic grains in my back yard I would be set...
ON