Cedar Shavings ?

[crazychicken]

I have gotten a mix review on Cedar shavings.... Some say NO DON'T USE IT ! ! ! But I have also seen where people say that they have always used it and never had any problems...

I am asking because it has gotten to the point where I almost can't find pine shavings anywhere... so I have been using cedar for a while because coop and brooders stink and they need something in them. I have been using them for about a month or so and really can't find a problem with it... Can someone tell me why you should not use it ?

I currently have one big coop and one brooder with little chicks with cedar shavings in them ... and everybody seems fine and normal. Does cedar have a nasty dark side hiding under the delightful smell ?

 

[henney penny]

The aroma that cedar put off is very hard on there respitory system you don`t have tractor supply or hardware store that sells pine shavings in a bag?I pay 5.00 for a big bag at my feed store.

 

[crazychicken]

I have a feed store and a tractor supply but neither one seem to have pine in stock whenever I need it or remember to look for it.... Resperatory problems ? Like coughing, labored breathing, sneezing... None of these things have occurred in the big coop or the brooder.

 

[henney penny]

It could be over a period of time,try googling it and see what you find out

 

[wonderpup]

It's the oils in the wood itself that cause issues for small animals. I know next to nothing about birds in general or chickens in particular having just started my first today but Ive kept small caged animals for years and years and cedar is a no no. In rodents it can cause all respitory issues and even kidney problems. I put my new little chicks on it because it was what we had on hand and then thought to ask about it here right after. Glad I did b/c it seemed like a lot of people said NO to cedar. I've changed them to pine this evening and put the cedar in the garden.

 

[can't get enough chicken]

Yup cedar is a no no!! I bought some too but changed it as soon as i found out it was bad. Better be safe than sorry!

 

[GottaLuvChicks]

Here is another odd place to find bulk pine shavings....if you have any reptile shows/expos near you, someone usually carries them there fairly cheap (if you let me know where you are, I can tell you where the shows are). Lots of snake keepers use pine or other wood shavings for their snakes (not cedar). Also, in a pinch, check your local Petco or PetSmart (or other large chain pet store), as they usually carry something in the small animal section.