cedar shvings, should I panic?

[Cheryl]

Well, I just filled the new coop with shavings and thought they looked (and felt) a bit differant...turns out they are cedar, should I dig them all out and go get pine?

 

[Mac]

I would. You can bag and save it to just sprinkle some around weekly that way using it up over time. I hope your coop isn't enormous, but I do think ALL cedar is not a good idea.

Someone else will chime in I'm sure.

Good luck.

 

[silkiechicken]

Well, don't panic but do get it out of there. A small percent of cedar is ok to help ward off bugs, but too much is bad for the birds. I would replace 95% of the shavings with pine.

 

[gundog]

What is wrong with cedar??? It will definately smell nice. I would love to use cedar for the chickens and hounds but it is quite a bit more expensivethan pine or straw. i've used it before for animal bedding and it was wonderful.

 

[rooster-red]

Its a bad thing, I'd change them out for pine shavings quick.

 

[silkiechicken]

Small animals like hamsters and chickens can develop respiratory problems with cedar as it lets off fumes that are toxic to them. Smells good to us, can be deadly to them, especially chicks.

 

[rooster-red]

Quote:
It can kill chickens, it affects their respiritory system.

 

[Cheryl]

thank you, I will go dig it out and use a bit at a time when needed...I guess the chickens will get in tomorrow!

 

[gundog]

I'd like to know what it does to their respiratory system. Any info would be appreciated. thanks

 

[arlee453]

http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_ask_misc&s_state=cedarbarkshavings

http://64.23.28.111/Birdhouse%20Lesson%208.htm

http://www.poultryhelp.com/bedding.html

A few links I found in a 2 minute google search...