luvmychis
In the Brooder
- Aug 29, 2015
- 40
- 5
- 26
There seems to be an ongoing debate about the toxicity of cedar chips and chickens. I would agree with the argement that extremely strong smelling chips (of any kind, even pine) in an enclosed coop can cause respiratory problems. I don't do chicks, but I can only imagine that it would be hard for them to breathe if taking straight cedar chips, right from the bag and into their area. In my case, I'm allergic to pine, so both bags are treated the same. Once I glove up, I open the bags and allow them to breathe. Since I don't have an enclosed coop, it's easier for the fumes to dissipate quicker. I keep my mixed bedding in a 10 gallon can. I put a solid layer of cedar on the bottom, let it air out while I do other chores around the chicken yard, and then fill the rest of the way with pine. Air it out again, sprinkle with a good dose of DE, and then stir it all up to mix together. I clean the coop first thing in the morning, so when additional bedding is needed, it has all day to air out before the hens go back in the coop to roost. When I do the afternoon and evening trips out, I stir all the shavings again. Between all the stirring up, generally by the end of the first day, the fumes have fizzled out for the most part. When it's freshly stirred, you can get a whiff, but that's why I do it, so the smells dissipate. I can't breathe them because of allergies and it just makes sense to me that they would be too strong for the chickens.
Anyway, all the chickens appear healthy and happy and there's no bugs to be found around or on the chickens. I try to keep it as natural as possible. Between the apple cider vinegar, DE, and cedar shavings, I haven't found a single parasite. I say if it ain't broke, don't fix it. It's working for me. Others may choose differently.
Lisa
