Cedar vs Pine shaving

[Kadjain]

Does anyone use cedar shavings in their nest boxes? I am wondering if cedar would help control mites? I used cedar chips in the whelping box when my female dogs would have their puppies. The cedar helps keep away fleas and ticks. Cedar is at least twice as much for a bag half the size of pine.

 

[Mnswm2]

I use pine shavings. I thought that I read somewhere once that cedar was bad for chickens. Not sure though.

 

[Duramaxgirl]

I've used cedar shavings before. I mostly use pine in the nesting boxes. My sister uses cedar in the nesting boxes also. Most on this forum say its toxic for chickens and caused respiratory problems. I've never had a problem with it though and I always have a little in my coops. I've also not had a mite problem yet.
I do not use it with chicks.

 

[NovaAman]

pine. Cedar releases harmful chemical odors that can damage a chickens lungs.

 

[Kadjain]

Hmm...I didn't know about cedar releasing harmful chemicals. It was always what was recommended to me by other breeders. I have two dogs (bro & sis) from my last breeding 9 years ago and they have never suffered any lung conditions but I would do research into the effects on dogs before using it again (although I don't plan on breeding dogs again).
Thanks a lot! This is a very helpful place!!!

 

[NovaAman]

oh, I thought you were meaning for chickens... Cedar can be harmful to chickens lungs. I think if you used fine kiln dried, it could be ok, but if you see problems you need to remove it asap. I'd just stick with pine tho. For chickens that is.

I have used cedar for my dogs and cat litter box..

 

[chickened]

I have used both and seen no problems but very few of my birds are over 3 years old so developing respiratory problems in birds older than 3 or for that matter at any age would be really hard to convince me that cedar shavings is the cause.. I have heard that cedar is bad on BYC but do not subscribe to that theory personally.

 

[Kadjain]

Quote:
I do mean for chickens, I was just explaining my only experience using it before was with dogs.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

I think cedar is commonly used with dogs, but there may be different concerns with chickens. It's not toxic "chemicals", per se, but that cedar off gasses the natural oils which many say can cause respiratory issues for birds breathing it within enclosed spaces. Building a coop with cedar, however, is safe because by the time you use the boards they have already "off gassed."

I don't always know whether or not the information that gets passed on is always accurate, but given that it's out there, I chose to use pine shavings.

 

[bairo]

Quote:
Chickens are much more sensitive to it, and even small irritants can sometimes cause mucus which then gets infected and causes an upper respiratory problem. Now with all that said....I still use it in small quantities. I put dpwn a bag (size from TSC) just barely thick enough to cover the coop floor. Then I top this with a few inches of pine shavings (the larger flake). I would not use it at all in the laying boxes though. I think it does help to keep all the insects away, even in such small quantity under the pine.