Litter - are there any woods to avoid?

[Heelers&Chickens_OhMy]

Hello Gurus....I appreciate this site so much and thank you fanatics for being there to help


I can get some wood shavings from a carpenter in the area - he has alder and maple shavings. Do I need to be worried about the toxicity of any woods to my hens? I know in other small animals cedar or pine can be dangerous, but I am not sure about hens.

Thank you!!

 

[ThePamperedPullet]

Do Not Use Cedar!!!!!

 

[wyo-helpmeet]

Cedar is the only one I've read bad about.

 

[Anny]

Like every one else said Cedar.

Cedar can be toxic to many animals and really shouldn't be used for any animal bedding.

 

[redoak]

Avoid black walnut and cedar and sycamore.

 

[Heelers&Chickens_OhMy]

Got it loud and clear - no cedar! Thank you!

 

[Kung Foo Chicken]

I am guessing the majority of problems are aromatic woods. For instance the Red Oak here has a very strong slightly sweet smell. Personally I would not use it. The majority of trees that I have gotten sawdust from in the past are Water Oak and White Pine.

I use composted pine needles now. It works out much like Peat Moss without the dust.

 

[MIKE555444]

I work for a hardwood door/flooring manufacturing plant in wv. We sell most our shaving to local horse barns. They have alway declined to use walnut or chery wood shavings for the health of thier horses. For that reason I avoid those myself with my chickens just to be safe.

When I need to change my litter I just back my truck under our shoot and load it up for free

 

[patandchickens]

Hardwood shavings are a bit more apt to mold than shavings from conifers (spruce, pine, fir, that sort of thing), but if they are well dry and watched carefully there should be no problem.

Walnut can cause serious, serious problems in horses, I have no idea whatsoever about in chickens (the particular problems are very horse-specific, but the toxin, juglone, may have some sort of effects on chickens too, dunno).

Have fun,

Pat