Are all wood shavings OK in coops?

[frostbite]

Actually, up here we don't have pine or cedar trees, our only evergreen is spruce so that's the cheapest and most plentiful. the horses do well with them. I'm planning to use them for the chickens. Thinking of adding my cross shredded paper too, any problem with shredded junk mail as bedding supplement???

 

[Abirdbrain]

Ya, we used shredded office paper and Newsprint to raise chicks on, as solid sheets can cause them to slip and splay their legs. I run black walnut alot, and itis toxic to about everything, as is redwood. Aromatic cedar is toxic to mice and gerbals and Guinee pigs. It is used in the animal industry mixed with pine shavings to ward off mites and little creatures that these animals harbor. DONT use it. I understand that oak has an acid that is available when it gets wet, it will harm horse hooves, causing a rot, so I wont use any shavings from my planer for that. We buy alot of bags of white pine shavings as used for horses, it is very fine, and not mulchy. The birds do well with a deep litter concept, about 2 inches thick. There is a claim that the chips get eaten regularly and can affect their digestion. We have had some mysterious deaths, and this may be a part of the cause..and maybe not..

 

[wingedshade]

This thread is old, but I was curious what people know about using birch shavings as bedding?
I got some from some folks who do wood turning. I also got some koa shavings as well. As far as I know neither of those trees are toxic or known to be dangerous.