New to chickens

[Erikgimm]

My wife and I are interested in building a chicken coop to start raising our own chickens. My question is I have a bunch of cedar I had milled a couple years ago. Will the cedar be ok to use for a coop or is regular pine better?

 

[CountryFlock]

Unfortunately cedar gives off fumes that can easily kill chicks and irritate the respiratory system of adult chickens leading to respiratory issues and respiratory diseases.

Use pine. It’s harmless.

 

[annaBsChick]

I think its fine

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I don’t think cedar wood is a problem, I know cedar shavings are problematic for chickens. Maybe seal the cedar wood.
@casportpony @Texas Kiki what do you guys think?

 

[rosemarythyme]

For the coop build it should be fine, especially since it's been sitting around a few years. Both my coops have some cedar (one is all cedar, other is cedar trimmed).

As a bedding material (shavings) I would be cautious using cedar exclusively, though once again since it sounds like this material has been aged quite a while it's less of a concern than fresh cut. If using as bedding I'd mix it in with other materials.

 

[Kiki]

I'd say use it.

 

[Erikgimm]

Thank you all for the insight on the chicken coop.