/ Register


  1. Come check out hundreds of awesome coop pages (and a few that need suggestions) in our 2018 Coop Rating Project!

HELP!!! Cedar shavings!

Discussion in 'Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance' started by Trevi70, Sep 8, 2010.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Sep 8, 2010 #1
    Trevi70

    Trevi70 In the Brooder

    28
    1
    24
    Jun 30, 2010
    Plymouth
    I was cleaning out my henhouse and opened the new bag of shavings my hubby bought. I threw about 5 handfulls in before I realized it was cedar! Somewhere in the back of my brain something was screaming "STOP" so I just mixed the pine shavings that were still in the coop with the few handfulls I threw in. Is this going to be an issue tonight?? I can go get pine shavings tomorrow, I just don't know if it would be better for me to go out there and scoop out all the cedar I put in or just leave it overnight?? Keep in mind it's POURING out right now! (not that that would deter me if it really IS toxic to birds- I've stood out in the pouring rain trying to move the whole chicken pen myself when I realized it had been built in an area that flooded deeper then my SHINS!)

    thanks for the advice!
     

  4. Sep 8, 2010 #2
    Yay Chicks!

    Yay Chicks! Songster

    3,784
    40
    213
    Apr 15, 2010
    Forest Grove, OR
    So, I would wonder how large your coop is and how well ventilated as well as how old your birds are. I know the stuff is very bad for chicks. I can't advise you on this, but perhaps someone else can with a bit more information.
     
    Last edited: Sep 8, 2010
  6. Sep 8, 2010 #3
    ChickensAreSweet

    ChickensAreSweet Heavenly Grains for Hens

    15,104
    572
    398
    Jun 8, 2010
    Pacific NW- where the Douglas Firs grow
    Well, I don't know the right answer, but if it were me, I wouldn't stew too much.

    Heck, if it were just a few handfuls, and the coop had good ventilation, I'd stick my head in there and smell it to see if I smelled the cedar or not. If it seemed strong, I'd take it out. If not, I'd probably just mix a whole bunch of pine shavings in and call it done. I use the deep litter method.

    I wouldn't recommend leaving it in if it smells a lot, though.

    But not in a rainstorm! [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  8. Sep 8, 2010 #4
    elmo

    elmo Songster

    4,852
    53
    249
    May 23, 2009
    DFW
    I wouldn't worry about it if it was only a few handfuls. An experienced poultry keeper friend of ours (with twenty plus years experience keeping chickens) uses a handful of cedar shavings in the bottom of his nestboxes to deter mites (with pine shavings on the top). His hens hatch out chicks in these nestboxes, too.

    I just wouldn't use cedar shavings only.
     

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by