Microcut fluffy shredded cardboard boxes - OK for bedding?

[fujiapple]

Hello! I am very new and we don't even have chickens yet. But the lumber to build the coop is sitting on our patio so we are getting closer!

I routinely shred corrugated Amazon shipping boxes in my micro-cut paper shredder - which I then use in my compost bins and worm bins.

I was wondering if I might be able to use this same stuff as bedding in the chicken coop and nesting boxes?

Attaching a pic of what the shredded cardboard looks like.

Thank you!

 

[azygous]

Looks like good stuff for bedding to me. It's great to be able to recycle and repurpose stuff. Go for it!

Good luck with the new chicks when they come!

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Love it! Composting the boxes is a great way to reduce waste, and using them for bedding will make them work double duty!

I’d say give it a try...you may find you need to do a mix of the shreds with regular bedding (shavings, etc.) or you may find they work fine.

What of shredder do you use on thick cardboard? How small do you have to cut the pieces to fit?

 

[chickenlittle21]

I reccomend using pine shavings for the coop bedding and straw for nesting boxes

 

[PirateGirl]

Corrugated cardboard consists of a lot of glue...

 

[CindyinSD]

I think you may find you need to mix it with other materials such as pine shavings, pelletized (horse stable) bedding, pine needles dry leaves, dry hay, straw... any dry high-carbon material. Ideally you would not use glossy printed cardboard, though I read recently that such boxes are now more environmentally friendly (ie nontoxic) than they used to be, because of better inks currently in use. I would research that, though.

I’m not sure I would use it as chick bedding. Generally you would want coarse pine shavings (not the medium/fine that are easier to swallow). Sometimes the so-called “medium” is all I can find here. Either way, be sure to give them chick grit. They’re bound to swallow at least a few pieces, so they’ll need it to “chew” the bedding they’ve ingested.

I’d like to know more about this shredder of yours. I didn’t know there was a practical cardboard shredder out there for the consumer market.

 

[speedy2020]

I use the shred paper on the floor and nest box material and it works just fine.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Hello! I am very new and we don't even have chickens yet. But the lumber to build the coop is sitting on our patio so we are getting closer!

I routinely shred corrugated Amazon shipping boxes in my micro-cut paper shredder - which I then use in my compost bins and worm bins.

I was wondering if I might be able to use this same stuff as bedding in the chicken coop and nesting boxes?

Attaching a pic of what the shredded cardboard looks like.

Thank you!

That sounds like a great idea! Then you can recycle it from your chicken coop to your worm bins and compost.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Ooh! Let us know how it goes! It's a great idea (and I'm in the process of moving - I'll have tons of cardboard). Love the recycling idea!

 

[aart]

Corrugated cardboard consists of a lot of glue...

Yep and worms will eat it(I think, so maybe OK for vermiposting)
but I'd not want it in my chicken bedding in large quantities.

Corrugated cardboard is one of the few things remaining that is almost guaranteed to actually be recycled at your recycling center.

What of shredder do you use on thick cardboard? How small do you have to cut the pieces to fit?

Was wondering the same.