Currently using maple wood chips in my uncovered chicken yard to prevent mud, but will need to replace soon, maybe next year? I can get locally sourced free chips from a tree service, but may not know the type of trees used. How important is that? I will be able to let them age for a while.
Another option is to buy from a landscape supply company. Mostly they sell bark chips, which I know many reasons not to use. Buuuutttt...
they also sell clean barkless splinter-free cedar chips.
They are used in every playground around my region. I hear every person everywhere say to never use cedar because of fumes, oils and whatnot, but I have yet to see an actual study or scientific facts proving health risks for chickens OUTSIDE. The studies I've come across are done only with rodents and fresh bedding inside, most of those studies don't even differentiate between cedar and pine shavings. So are people just making assumptions and repeating what they've heard over and over, because if it's on the internet it must be true?
I've seen other advice to let the cedar "air out" for some time before using in a coop and it will be fine. Well, I don't want chips in the coop and they will already be dried and in the open air from the landscape company and I'd be keeping them outside anyway. But of course I don't want to endanger my birds.
Does anyone, have some verified evidence to prove cedar chips are actually bad in an outdoor run? (Not a blog, not a company trying to sell their own product, not a rodent study) I could have easily missed something.
Another option is to buy from a landscape supply company. Mostly they sell bark chips, which I know many reasons not to use. Buuuutttt...
they also sell clean barkless splinter-free cedar chips.
I've seen other advice to let the cedar "air out" for some time before using in a coop and it will be fine. Well, I don't want chips in the coop and they will already be dried and in the open air from the landscape company and I'd be keeping them outside anyway. But of course I don't want to endanger my birds.
Does anyone, have some verified evidence to prove cedar chips are actually bad in an outdoor run? (Not a blog, not a company trying to sell their own product, not a rodent study) I could have easily missed something.