can I use newspaper?

[dntd]

I'm just starting out with chickens and want to know if anyone uses newspaper shreds instead of pine shavings? Newspaper/other paper is cheap, we do plan on cleaning weekly even twice a week if needed. Right now I do every other day as they are in the basement. Can it be used in the winter?

 

[chickeydee]

I use all purpose sand and a little DE mixed in it . It works great and if you use a shifter you can recycle it ,but paper I do not know I would think the ink from them would be harmful . Smoeone on here might be more informed on it . .I can say that the sand has worked great for me .I did not care for shaving and 6.00 a bag or more and I would have to buy 4 for one 5x8 coopcompare to 2 bags of sand and recycke it .The poop goes into a compost pile .

 

[Wifezilla]

Most newspaper ink is now soy based. I am trying to find a way to shred it and use it easily since I have access to a bunch of newspaper.

 

[chickeydee]

If you have access to the free papers and I say try it .We have thoese free papers called Thrifty Nickle, but I am concern abou the problems it would cause to the birds if they eat it or the ink gets on them .

 

[dntd]

I bought a paper shredder for $20 althogh it only does 5 sheets of paper at a time. You could get a more expensive one but I just wanted to trial it. We have other pets that could use paper shreds if the chickens couldn't.

 

[Joz]

Newspapers (don't know about thrifty nickels or other small papers) are required to use soy-based inks since so many people use them as bedding in pet cages.

 

[chickeydee]

It may be called amercian classic ,now .It is a nationwide paper .I know my vet will not use paper in the cages ,but will lay it underneath.so the animals will not mess with it . Paper gets wet fast to .

 

[newchickmom]

I would think newspapers would be very messy and you wouldn't be able to fluff once they have been tromped and pooed on.

Just my opinion.

 

[Country Living Farm]

are we talking about chicks or full grown? Can I use shreded computer paper (with the ink on it) for chicks

 

[gsim]

I think shredded paper would be fine for chicks. I used grass clippings, but mine arrived in early June, so they were free and easy to get. I liked grass clippings so well that I did them in my coop which is 8 x 16. It has worked well and I add to it all summer long. Smells so good to bring a bushel in and scatter it. Now is winter and no more grass clippings, but litter is 6" deep now and because we use a wide poop plank under roosts, we only will need to change litter once a year.