ARE "ASPEN" chips/shavings bedding OK for the chickens?

[surfchicken72]

Wife just grabbed "aspen" shavings for the chick's bedding by accident... Is it OK to use? or bring it back? They're 4 weeks....

Thanks in advance...

 

[b.hromada]

Aspen should be just fine. Stay away from the Cedar, thats the one thats not good for them.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

NO,NO,NO

the dust from aspen is finer and chicens get breathing problems from it, I tryed aspen and lost a lot of birds becouse of it. after I used it I read somewhere not to, the breathing problem like asthma

 

[dreamwallaby]

Aspen is fine. The reason we use it for reptiles is BECAUSE it has less dust. However, I did use it for my chicks in the beginning but stopped because it didn't handle the odor a well as the pine. Otherwise it is perfectly fine. Cedar shavings cause respiratory problems.

 

[b.hromada]

Quote:
Thats interesting, I've never heard that before. Do you think it has something to do with how much its mulched up maybe?

Like the larger pieces may be okay.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

the 2 bags that had where horse bedding, and even in the store I got them they posted a sign not to use this aspen for anything but horses, so maybe it was that 'brand'?

 

[b.hromada]

Could be. I know that I've used it for hamsters and such, with no problems. Never heard anything against it before.

I know that the Cedar is a definate No No!

 

[dreamwallaby]

http://www.ratfanclub.org/litters.html
here is some info on pine and cedar shavings. Most chicken owners do use pine (including myself). It also references Aspen as being safe.

The article is in reference to rats, but it gives good info

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

ya, i don't use cedar, I tryed the aspen because its a lot cheeper

 

[b.hromada]

Quote:
thats what I thought too.