confused need help

[cpat]

please explain why cedar is bad I guess this means no cedar chip in nest boxes I am new to this please help

 

[canada-goose]

It can cause breathing problems.

 

[popcornpuppy]

there is a chenical or compound in the cedar that is toxic to chickens. I am not sure of the name of the chemical/compound, but I am sure that it is toxic. I have read it over and over over in chicken raising books. Maybe some one else who reads this can tell you exactly what it is.

 

[briteday]

The aromatic oils released as the wood ages irritates the respiratory tract of many small animals.

 

[cpat]

Thanks for the replies I need to find straw or someother kind of nesting material

 

[BriteChicken]

Pine chips work well and smell good...

 

[LizShaughnessy]

My 2 cents worth.

I have pine shaving stuff in my brooder for my 10 chicks, they love it. They roll around it and 1 chick even tries to bury him/herself in it, LOL. I'm gonna use the same stuff in their nesting boxes when I get around to moving them outside.

 

[Kelly G]

I use pelleted pine horse bedding. This is the first year I've used it and I LOVE it! Very absorbant and NO smell at all - and I live in damp, wet Florida. Very happy with the results.

Pretty cheap, too. One bag at TSC is $5.99 and covered my 4'x4' nursery coop just perfectly.

Another bonus is the chicks don't eat it!


eta photo of my 2 day old Polish Bantam chicks on the bedding in their nursery: