are dusty pine wood chips really that bad?

[sdm111]

I don't know why tc pushes that stuff soo much it's terrible for chicks, people, dust all over everything

 

[autumnhearth]

This year we are brooding with American Hemp, ordered and shipped through Countryside Organics. I like it much more than the shavings. Less dusty, good odor control and small pieces and they love scratch through it.

 

[CrazyTalk]

Wood shavings are horrible with dust

There's gotta be some regional differences here.

The shavings I get from TSC aren't dusty at all - they're almost chips. They work fantastic as bedding. The ones I get from Southern States are much finer, are dusty, and I don't like them at all.

 

[Jynestia]

There's gotta be some regional differences here. 


The shavings I get from TSC aren't dusty at all - they're almost chips. They work fantastic as bedding. The ones I get from Southern States are much finer, are dusty, and I don't like them at all. 

My TSC ones weren't dusty, but they were big and rough and held moisture and didn't dry out. The finer ones I got are very dusty, but they stay drier too.

 

[CrazyTalk]

Are people putting water bottles directly on the bedding? I'm surprised by all the moisture complaints - chickens are really dry (atleast compared to ducklings) - I can't see any way you'd end up with damp bedding unless the water jugs are leaking/spilling

 

[Jynestia]

One of mine is leaky, and one of my brooders has 8 ducks in it. They're moving outside. I figure put the leaky one with the ducks since they're going to mess anyway... they're moving out this weekend. I'm putting the heat lamps in the coop for the rest of spring since they're still all 3-5 weeks.

 

[Jynestia]

On the bright side, all that duck poo and moisture turned it into excellent compost material! Big steaming piles in the garden.

 

[justplainbatty]

Are people putting water bottles directly on the bedding? I'm surprised by all the moisture complaints - chickens are really dry (atleast compared to ducklings) - I can't see any way you'd end up with damp bedding unless the water jugs are leaking/spilling

I have to use pine chips for bedding, the coop floor is wood. I started with straw which really was dusty. The TCS pine chips are large and have very little dust. Once, they were out and had finer, thinner shavings which were awful! right now, my chickens are tracking in a lot of mud but that's just the weather. Pine chips work great for my flock. My waterers are up on cement blocks and the only dripping comes from the chickens'/roosters' wattles.