Pine shavings or Cedar

[speckledhen]

Chickens are basically allergic to cedar. If it's highly aromatic, it can cause respiratory distress. By the same token, pine is an issue IF it is not dried well. I opened a bag of pine shavings and it smelled strongly like disinfectant because it was packaged while damp, I believe. ANYthing aromatic can be harmful to chickens in high dosages or in coops without adequate ventilation.

http://www.poultryhelp.com/bedding.html

 

[cmom]

I agree with speckledhen. I read the same article and have seen it posted in another post on another thread.

 

[scubagirl]

I read that Cedar and Pine were both bad.

Cedar smell just as pinesol smell irratates their respiratory system making them more susceptible to respiratory infection.

I use White - Fir Shavings

I have been really happy with the stallion brand I think it is called. They really pack alot of cubic feet in there and it is really soft.

The chickens like it.

 

[Guitartists]

http://www.losh.ucla.edu/catalog/factsheets/creosote_english.pdf

Doesn't really appear to be linked to shavings, unless they heat treat them.....

Wood creosote is created by high temperature treatment of beech and other woods

from Wikipedia

 

[txchickie]

I just use straw and avoid this issue all together

We have an abundance of pine shavings here from the pigs runs and the horses stalls, but I still won't use it for my chickies.

 

[AlabamaChickenHead]

Some folks say straw and mean hay, others say hay and mean straw, so it all depends........I tend to steer clear of "wheat straw" the hollow straws are the perfect breeding ground for mites/fleas ........I use dry pine shavings, deep liter, toss it a few times per week and sprikle with DE regulariy and add a good layer of DE everytime just prior to adding a new layer of shavings (which I do every week or two)

 

[Guitartists]

I use some straw .... always scatter some DE on it when I add it to the coop and also the birds are treated with Ivomec.... so, hopefully I won't have any problems with mites/lice.

 

[txchickie]

Quote:
I guess I should clarify, I am one of those folks

I use coastal hay....but I call it straw so hubby won't know that I'm using his horse hay for chicken bedding