Is Arborvitae Trimmings a Good Bedding

[artbykarenehaley]

I have a lot of arborvitae need trimmed. My coop is starting to come due for more bedding. Can I capitalize on my abundance of arborvitae or is it harmful for the chickens?

They already like to go under them and hunt for insects, but that's in the dead needle/leaves. I'm wondering about freshly cut off stuff.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Unless you mulched them, I doubt they'd be a good bedding in the coop but possibly okay in the run.

One caveat, arborvitae are a cedar type, which in concentrated amounts can be poisonous to chickens.

So I personally don't know that I'd go there. I have lots of arborvitae in my borders, which the chickens love to scratch under, but that's not a concentration in their coop or run.

LofMc

 

[artbykarenehaley]

Unless you mulched them, I doubt they'd be a good bedding in the coop but possibly okay in the run.

One caveat, arborvitae are a cedar type, which in concentrated amounts can be poisonous to chickens.

So I personally don't know that I'd go there. I have lots of arborvitae in my borders, which the chickens love to scratch under, but that's not a concentration in their coop or run.

LofMc

Yeah those are good points, I think we will either discard the trimmings or use them as pathway mulch. Thanks you helped me I appreciate it

 

[aart]

One caveat, arborvitae are a cedar type, which in concentrated amounts can be poisonous to chickens.

It's the aromatic type of cedar that can be a serious respiratory issues for chickens.
But, I don't think green arborotivae would make good bedding, especially inside a coop.