Cedar Chips are Bad?

[sepaditty1]

I bought a big bag of cedar chips because it was super cheap. Then I read something on here about avoiding cedar.

What's up with cedar?

 

[cstronks]

Cedar is safe to use. People say they can cause respiratory problems and that they are toxic, but there really isn't any documentation or reasoning behind this. I've always used pine, but there would be no ill-effects from controlling cedar. The two are essentially the same. Neither controls odor better, in case you were wondering that too.

 

[chfite]

The problem with cedar is the dust from machining it. Cedar dust is a known respiratory irritant. It seems unlikely that there would be much dust in your bag of shavings. Once it placed, any dust is unlikely to become airborne. Chickens manage to make plenty of dust from digging in the soil and the dried poop.

I would use it without undue concern.

Chris

 

[sepaditty1]

Good to know, thanks.

I switched one of my laying boxes to pine chips. They did have hay in them. Ever since, 1 girl goes to the old box that still has hay. She might not like it when I switch the others, too.