pine straw or cedar shavings?

[jonathansenn]

I'm new to BYC and have been reading a lot of useful information. I will be bringing home my first flock this week and wanted to know if I should line the brooder with cedar shavings or pine straw. I have heard that cedar shavings could be toxic to chickens and with pine straw readily available (here in GA) I would like to use it. Any suggestions?

 

[addicted2chicks]

Pine shavings. Don't use cedar, it is toxic to your chicks.
I am new to the chick thing too, but I do know that much. Someone else may be able to chime in on the pine straw as I don't know.

 

[jonathansenn]

Thanks, I have seen "scent free" or "fume free" shavings, but being cheap I thought straw would be like shavings. My dad uses pine straw in his nest boxes and his chickens don't have mites, but I didn't know about little chicks.

 

[lisahaschickens]

pine/white shavings are probably the most common bedding for chicks and chickens, and it works great! Just skip the cedar, which can be toxic.

 

[HillsHalfAcre]

I am also new to having my own chickens and will pick up my 1st batch of 1-day-olds in 2 days on April 1. I was told by the man at the feed store that the cedar was not good. They sell a well compressed pack of pine shavings for just over $6. We have a cross-cut paper shreder and have been told low ink paper, other than newspaper, can be used also.

 

[SussexInSeattle]

What is pine straw? Here where I am, pine is a tree and straw is a plant. So there are pine shavings and there is straw which is hollow tubes of plants. Shavings can be easier to clean than the straw that we have here but I have never heard of pine straw so I have no clue of it's composition to have an answer for you.

 

[serendipity22]

in my neck of the woods, Pine Straw = chiggers.

 

[Imp]

johnathansenn,
Just yesterday someone posted a warning that they had made their chicks sick with pine. They were using it in a closed brooder. They said that when they put their face close to it the fumes were so strong it made their eyes water. The chicks survived. but had tremors. There have been lots of posts that experienced chicken raisers recomend using paper towels at first. Some chicks will eat shavings? I think that when I raised chicks I used newspaper, but that is not a good idea, as it is too slick for their feet & legs. (didn't know better at the time). Someone should be along soon with more experience than me. Good Luck,

Imp

 

[jonathansenn]

Quote:
Pine straw is/are the needles of a pine tree. pine straw is used to line landscaping to deter weed growth. I am surrounded by over 200 acres of pine trees which produce a huge amount of pine straw. I would use shavings (pine), but straw is free.

 

[jonathansenn]

Quote:
I thought the same thing, but I haven't seen any on my dad's flock.