Are Cedar Chips Safe?

[ChickenFootRnch]

We have used cedar for bedding for years for all kinds of critters, it smells good and if you do as spartacus suggests and mix it, you get the good smell and less price.

 

[rikithemonk]

It depends on how you have the birds. If you have them in a tub where the fumes will collect, then you have to expect problems. If you have them in a cage where the fumes will disperse through the sides, then you may be just fine. Its one thing to visit the nice smell of cedar then go back into your house, Its another thing to live your life buried waist deep in the stuff 24 7. Personally I'm affected by strong smells. if I'm stuck in an office with a person wearing strong perfume, I get a migraine from the smell in under an hour. I couldn't imagine being stuck in a ceder closet all day long. I would be sick as a dog by the end of the day.

Riki

 

[Lois Little]

After reading the several negative reports, and talking to the clerk at the feed store, I quit using cedar ships. I was told they are ok for most animals, but not chickens. Although I used cedar from the time I got my chicks until they were about 18 wks. old, when I first posted here, and they were (and are) very healthy, I didn't want to take a chance. However, just WHO would be considered an authority on this? I would love to go back to using the cedar chips if it really doesn't matter. Not only did they smell good, but they seemed to be less dusty.

 

[Lois Little]

I'm with you on the strong smells, Riki. Yesterday in church the woman behind me had evidently bathed in something that smelled like moth balls mixed with roses and I got a headache almost immediatly. Anything perfumey will give me a headache, but also dust and cigarette/cigar smoke. However, I can smell manure and it doesn't bother me. Go figure.

 

[gabrielle1976]

The volatile oil produced by cedar leaves and twigs contains about 65 percent thujone, which is a hydrocarbon and a toxic chemical. Borneol, finchone, picine, camphor, limonene, tannin, myrcin and thujin are also found in CLO.

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Ceder is toxic to all small animals it contains oils and stuff that can not only irriatae the lungs of small animals but that seeps into there bodies thru the skin and cuas lots of problems, Pine is a better choice but still contains things that can cause issus , There are other wood shaveings that dont have the chemical / oils or what not and theres paper bedding products , corn , wheat , ect . I am sure someone here will know more details

http://www.searchdogsne.org/reference/Medical/cedar_pine_toxicity.pdf

http://www.ehow.com/facts_6012171_cedar-toxic-reptiles_.html

http://pet-safety.knoji.com/cedar-toxicity-and-respiratory-distress-in-small-mammals/

Of course I can not post all articles that are out there or be sure they are all 100% acurate but if you google it so muc pops up and talking to vets and pet store people and people on forums like backyard chickens ect the consensus seems to be Ceder is dangerous and pine could be as well . To me its like not buckleing my child in the care cuase the driver is a safe driver sure we could drive around and never have anyhing bad happen but I never would becuase I know something bad couldreally happen,

 

[mulelover1999]

I have used cedar since day one and have no problems. It has now been 8 months and not a single problem other than slipped tendon which I am positive wasn't caused by cedar chips. The cedar left my house smelling much better and the cedar was a lot cheaper than the pine.

 

[GMarie65]

I raised all my babies in Cedar Chips never lost any and I have raised alot of babies lol I did this last go around change to Corn Cob only because my supply store was out of bulk cedar and it is way to costly to buy little bags! The Corn Cob was GREAT like a cat litter, no smells came through and it would absorb and dry right back up! Love that stuff!!

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

All I can say is that I had four adolescent turkey/chicken chicks I was raising. Switched from pine to cedar and they all died within 48 hours. They also had fowl pox, but they’d had that for a while and were almost cleared of it. It was odd to say the least.