are dusty pine wood chips really that bad?

[Jynestia]

My youngest chicks are 3 weeks. I was using TSC large wood chips they recommended for reasons I do t even know. When those were out I got something different from the feed store. I didn't get to pick the type, they just hauled out a bag when I asked. I was skeptical because they were small and dusty.

I tried it and it turns out the chicks LOVE it! As soon as I put it in they began trying to take dust baths and peeping excitedly, scratching all over, then nestling down in them for a nap. They never behaved that way in the big ones. They wouldn't nest into the big ones, I don't think they liked how it felt. These seem to stay drier too, to at least the wet stuff doesn't readily seep to the dry parts.

Can it be that terrible if they love it so much?

 

[MrsHatz]

I would really be interesting in seeing the responses.

Question for you Jynestia, did the smaller stuff cause a great deal more dust?

 

[Jynestia]

Yeah. It puffed everywhere even trying to lay it gently. I am using one of my large master bathrooms as a brooding room and had to turn on the fan. But I've never seen the chickies so happy!

 

[justplainbatty]

Yeah. It puffed everywhere even trying to lay it gently. I am using one of my large master bathrooms as a brooding room and had to turn on the fan. But I've never seen the chickies so happy!

They don't know the dust is bad for them. If it so dusty you need an exhaust fan on, I would not use it for the main bedding. Maybe use it as part of several materials for a dust bath bowl. Imagine your house filled to scale with that bedding with you walking through eating , drinking laying in it. If you kinda look at it that way, you'll probably make the right decision.

 

[Jynestia]

I'm already looking for other options. Offering them a small amount to play in and making it primarily something else seems like a great compromise.

 

[justplainbatty]

I'm already looking for other options. Offering them a small amount to play in and making it primarily something else seems like a great compromise.

 

[azygous]

As long as you have decent ventilation in the coop, dust shouldn't be a problem. I bet if you took a poll here, is your coop and run dusty? you would find 99% say yes.

Dust is a fact of life in chicken world. I've tried every super human way to get rid of dust in my run, and I still have it. Same in the coop, even changing the wood shavings twice a year.

 

[sdm111]

Try to find a 3 wire square bale of wheat straw almost no dust and it's approx 20.00 and if kept dry ( the bale ) will last forever

great for coops, pens as well

 

[sdm111]

Wood shavings are horrible with dust

 

[madamiec]

Good...dirt is for dust baths, not wood dust. It's not good for folks who have the chicks inside either.