Really need some feed back on bedding

[mithious]

Sorry to post this as a separate post, but I really need some feed back on using mixed free shavings from the local log mill...I have chickens coming and can't find out why it is, according to my farm and garden store guy, "bad" to use hardwood shavings? I got two garbage bags from a big pile of shavings. They are from mixed cedar, pine, and various hardwoods. I am a shoestring chicken Mom and really need to use what I can get free or very cheap....I asked guy at store, he did not know why. I googled it, found nothing...is it poisionous or can some diseases come in it? It's a bit damp and I wanted to get it under the heat lamp, in my living room, next to my heater, to make sure it is really really dry, but if there is something wrong with it, besides personal preference, I won't put it in the box! I will find something else. The prices on the stuff at the store was not in budget, as I have gotten to the end of the $ I had for the start up stuff...already made 3 trips to store, cause I forgot things, or found I needed something I hadn't thought of...I am trying to prepare a bit ahead...I DID post this under the bedding topic but no one must've seen it? I also need to know if the "crumbles" feed is ok to feed if the package says so for 0 to 8 weeks???? When I used to have chicks, many years ago, I just used sawdust, and the fine "mash"...lots of stuff is new now, so I am kinda starting from scratch

please don't be mad I started a whole new thread just for this...I just really need you guys imput

I can't afford to replace these chicks if I do something wrong, and it would break my heart if I killed the wee ones

doing something the "old way" ! And, in my defence, I did post both questions under the proper topics and they both had people talking on them several hours before I posted...

so they were not old topics! Thanks

 

[Dorte]

Check this thread, it may be helpful: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/131758/are-pine-shavings-ok

 

[mithious]

Thanks for the link

The guy at store said use ONLY soft wood, not hardwood? I have spent the $ I had for my start up costs

and I have been lurking and reading all you guys posts and am soo confused

guess I'll start shredding some newspaper, for now, till I find out more ! Is it ok to use newspaper shredded in a paper shredder?

 

[siobhan118]

I'm a newbie as well but I will tell you what I was told and what we are using. We researched bedding on here and on Meyer's hatchery before we bought are chicks. Both sites led us to believe pine was a good choice. When we went to Agway to get our chicks we spoke with the Agway staff as well as a women there who was giving a "new chick owners seminar" again they both said pine shavings were fine. We bought a bag of pine shavings and have been using them for 4 weeks now and have had no problems. Hope that bit of info helps.

 

[mithious]

Hi and thanks for the info

unfortunately I have spent my startup $, so am putting newspaper through the shredder...it is long though..I did throw it in the big box I have and cut with scissors on the top and plan to use paper towels on top of that for the first few days/week...depending on how quickly their walking skills start getting good ...I just don't have any more $ to go back to the store again for their packaged shavings

I still have to build a coop and run! Do I really need to cut it up futhur, if I am using paper towels on top?

 

[tymimo]

The problem with cedar (and possibly other hard woods) is the chemicals that the cedar shaving release. You can search the threads but I believe it is the same oils that make cedar aromatic are harmful to the chick's respiratory system. Using cedar in construction is not as harmful because there is less surface area releasing the chemicals. Another concern with using byproduct from a mill is the fine sawdust might also be damaging to the chicks. Newspaper sheets are slick and can cause leg splaying. Personally I'm using pine shavings for my chicks and I'm not even halfway done with the bag after 5 weeks. The shavings are pretty compacted so the bag goes a long way. A friend told me that he uses wood stove pellets as they are the same as pellets sold for bedding but less expensive. You could also search the forums on using sand as a bedding. Hope this helps

 

[mithious]

Thanks you sooo much. I don't want to hurt or kill my little ones

but they will be here before my next SS check comes. I will get a bale from the store then...I have no choice but to use the newspaper,( have a lot, as I haven't gotten to the recycling place for a bit) but I am shredding it AND cutting it and will put paper towels over it and change them as often as needed...is the news paper still slippery when shredded? I know it would be if I just lay it in there whole...can I get by with this system till I get my SS ?

Thanks to ALL of you for your helping me. I am a bit long in the tooth now

, and all I remember from years ago has all changed...I really need these chicks to make it, for eggs and for food...have 15 straight run coming...trying to do this all on a shoestring budget...am scavaging wood, and such for making my coop and run, will buy new wire, hardware cloth though...if I get too tight, or short on time, I can use one of the horse stalls for this winter with little $ but for wire ect. No horses in them ever...was a project that never happened but for the stable and a small wood post fenced in area, which could be temp run., the stables are 9' by 12', so plenty big enough if I need one...so just cost of temp wire/hardware cloth...then can reuse on coop/run...I think I put the chicken before the egg and should've done more research on costs...I thought I had???? OH was I wrong

so...can I get by with shredded and cut up newspaper with paper towels on top, for a week or so till my SS comes? I did leave it kinda loose. Can't use sand or dirt...too many ticks this year and chicks are gonna be in my living room

 

[Eggcessive]

You can use dried grass cuttings (no chemicals), sand (they might eat a bit of it at first,) dried leaves, pine shavings (which are only $5 a bag here, and that should last a couple of weeks,) and pine needle mulch I have also heard that sawdust, cedar, and hardwood mulch are bad. Oh, the shredded newspaper is fine, just don't use sheets.

 

[mithious]

You can use dried grass cuttings (no chemicals), sand (they might eat a bit of it at first,) dried leaves, pine shavings (which are only $5 a bag here, and that should last a couple of weeks,) and pine needle mulch I have also heard that sawdust, cedar, and hardwood mulch are bad. Oh, the shredded newspaper is fine, just don't use sheets.

Thank you

I have been shredding a bunch of those free news papers and was hoping it was ok

I have a lot of them! I did cut it a bit, as I thought they could trip over the long strips but left the longer ones under the top. Wish I could use the outside stuff...we are over run with ticks this year...first time too. I am going to have the chicks in my living room...really hate ticks in the house

I will pick up some of those store shavings when my SS check comes...chicks will be here first though so was a bit desperate, as I had no clue on not using the mill shavings

Things have changed, that's for sure!

HUGE thanks again everyone, I really appreciate all your help

 

[3riverschick]

About the wood chips. Tractor Supply sells two kinds. You want the chips in the white bale. When you open the bale, the chips should smell like fresh sawdust (hardwood) not turpentine(softwood). The guy at the farm store is getting his hardwoods and softwoods mixed up. You'll also notice the white bale(hardwood) shavings says "low dust" on it. That's what you want. If you want to, you can raise the chisk on a hardware cloth platform. I have done it for years. Use 1/4 hardware cloth till 2 weeks, then swap out for a 1/2 inch hardware cloth platform for the rest of the time in the brooder. Build the platform floor with hardware cloth stretched over it to fit the bottom of the brooder...so the hardware cloth is 1-2 inches above the litter below on the bottom of the brooder. The poop will fall thru. Just change the litter if the litter gets stinky.
Best,
Karen