I've been gone awhile so I guess I could be considered a newbie.
I have a question about bedding. A friend of mine and I do lumber planing and I have quite a bit of cedar shavings. Can I use it for chicken bedding in the coop?
Hiya, and welcome to BYC!! Come say hi to some other cheeseheads in the Wisconsin thread.
I don't think cedar is so great. I know for my parrots it can actually kill them. I doubt it's THAT toxic to chickens but I wouldn't use it for that reason.
Yes the oils in Eastern Cedar can damage their lungs. Western cedar doesn't contain as many oils and it can be used if it airs off in the environment for a while. It has no smell after a while piled outside in the wind, rain and sun. I have never used Western Cedar in brooders however I have had no problems in the coop and run.