Are all wood chips safe for a chicken run?

[Mouthpear]

I’ve decided to use wood chips in my chicken run as it can get muddy. Are all wood chips safe options? I have some playground wood chips, but I don’t know what kind.

All cedar types are toxic to chickens. Some more so than others. You can build with cedar but it needs to be well ventilated and let the cedar dry for a while before you put them in. Never use cedar sawdust, ever. Cedar for bedding should also not be used.

I was using a mixture of things. Pine shavings, horse bedding and the grass clippings from the yard.

 

[raingarden]

I only use cedar shaving in my chick or duckling brooders and quail cages. They don't get sick or die.

 

[KeepingDixie]

I have playground wood fiber under my large oak that the girls have access to. They have chilled, scratched and pooped in it for about a year now and I have not seen any adverse effects (girls are 3 years old). I don't recall the wood source but I think it was pine. I would have gone with redwood chip but I wanted something for my elderly folks to walk on with their walkers and as far as I understand the playground wood fiber fits ADA recommendations. The only problem is keeping it contained Crazy chicken legs scratch the chip all over the place. One more benefit: when I scoop the poop, I take a little more wood chip with it to add to the compost. I would only recommend checking with the sales people to find out about the wood source and specie.

 

[Genene]

I believe that since the pine pellets are kiln dried they are safe to use for livestock bedding whereas pine chips may not be as benign.

 

[raingarden]

I believe that since the pine pellets are kiln dried they are safe to use for livestock bedding whereas pine chips may not be as benign.

OK, but I don;t see how kiln drying would change anything. But, I don't think there is anything wrong with pine chips or shavings to begin with, so, yeah.