cedar coop?

[SEMulder]

Hi,

I was given a coop my neighbor started to make for chickens he planned to have, but he decided not to complete the project. I have been working from this coop, expanding it, added another nesting box, etc. However, I have begun to believe he might have used cedar fencing boards. Now I am reading that cedar is toxic to chickens (reading about bedding). Does this extend to a coop partially built of cedar? Should I tear down and start over from scratch? Or will the weathering of the wood (it's been sitting outside for a year or so) remove the toxicity (if that is even possible).

I'm sorry, if these have no brainer answers!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Cedar coops are fine IMO. I would just increase the ventilation if you feel it has a strong cedar smell in it...that is what would be bad- the aromatics.

I use cedar shavings in my nest boxes to keep bugs away unless I have a broody or chicks in there (pine shavings then), and sand in the floor of the coop. Generally everyone says no cedar but I have to do something to keep bugs away from the nest boxes and it is better than insecticide.

 

[SEMulder]

Thank you! Only part of my coop is cedar, including the sides and top of the nesting boxes. The floor is not. This gives me hope.

 

[chfite]

The problem with cedar is the dust from cutting and machining the wood. Cedar dust is a known irritant to the lungs and skin, so managing it is important. Once the coop is built, the dust would have settled and should not be a problem.

As far as the smell of cedar, the surface will weather over time and the smell will diminish. A coop is typically an open structure with lots of ventilation, so any odor will dissipate rapidly.

Clinical information: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8887593

Chris

 

[SEMulder]

Thank you for the information!

Emily