Using Shredded Paper for Coop Litter - As Good As Wood Chips?

[BDutch]

I used paper for a short period but stopped again, bc I don’t trust the used /recycled paper and cardboard being free from poisons.
Poisons tend to accumulate into the chickens eggs.
In the Netherlands we have a problem with PFAS (the forever poison) in the eggs of free ranging chickens. What they eat is what you get in their presents.

 

[Bawkbok]

I heard there is formaldehyde in store receipts, that's why the ink rubs off so quickly. I've not done any research to validate this or not but something to think about. I won't use paper in the run; the ink, the quality of paper, all of it different than what it used to be. Not worth the risk of them eating it.

 

[gtaus]

I know this post is old but thanks for all the information.

Thanks for the feedback. I hope some of it was helpful to you.

FWIW, I still use paper shreds as coop litter even after all this time. It's a free resource to me and it makes more sense to use it as coop litter than hauling off my paper to the recycle bins in town. I also shred almost all our cardboard boxes from Amazon, QVC, etc... It all makes great coop litter and then later it gets tossed into the chicken run to compost in place. Those paper and cardboard shreds make great compost when mixed with leaves, grass clippings, and other organics that get tossed into the run.

IMHO, there is no need to buy coop litter when there are so many sources of free material that can be used. I advocate for people to use or reuse any free material resources they can get. Free paper shreds have become my favorite resource for coop litter. It works for me.

 

[gtaus]

I used paper for a short period but stopped again, bc I don’t trust the used /recycled paper and cardboard being free from poisons.

I won't use paper in the run; the ink, the quality of paper, all of it different than what it used to be. Not worth the risk of them eating it.

If you don't feel comfortable using any type of litter for your coop, then I would say don't use it. There are other options, no doubt.

In defense of using shredded paper, I will tell you that all our local newspapers and magazines that I get in the mail have switched over, a number of years ago, to using natural soy-based inks and compostable safe papers. I think it's a state law here in Minnesota, but maybe companies are just more environmental conscious these days. In any case, I don't worry about using the paper products I get and shred.

We also get a lot of boxes from Amazon and QVC, and most of them are stamped with compostable safe insignia. I shred those boxes as well. If they have plastic tape or labels, I will remove them. However, even the paper-based tape used on most shipping boxes today is perfectly safe for composting.

I know some people have concerns about their chickens eating some paper shreds, but it's just not a concern for me. First of all, I have never seen my chickens eat paper shreds. They prefer to dig around in the chicken run compost litter to find tasty bugs and juicy worms, or they eat their commercial feed. But even if they did eat some paper shreds, all my paper products are compost safe so I cannot imagine a few shreds would hurt the chickens or their eggs.

Many years ago, I used to buy straw and hay bales for feed and litter. But you never know what that local farmer used for herbicides on his fields. To me, that is more of a concern than using paper products that meet quality standards to achieve that compost safe certification.

It gives me some measure of satisfaction that I am repurposing all that safe compostable paper sheds in my chicken coop and run rather than hauling it off to the landfill. It saves me money and reduces my waste footprint. I know that 100% of the paper I shred gets recycled in my backyard flock setup. It has been ~3 years since I dumped any paper off at the recycle bins.

In any case, we should all demand that waste products be as safe as possible. Yes, I am trusting that our government and industries have worked out standards for safe compostable paper products for my paper shreds. I'm not worried about the paper I use for coop litter, composting, and then adding back to my gardens.

I can't speak to situations in other countries.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

If you don't feel comfortable using any type of litter for your coop, then I would say don't use it. There are other options, no doubt.

In defense of using shredded paper, I will tell you that all our local newspapers and magazines that I get in the mail have switched over, a number of years ago, to using natural soy-based inks and compostable safe papers. I think it's a state law here in Minnesota, but maybe companies are just more environmental conscious these days. In any case, I don't worry about using the paper products I get and shred.

We also get a lot of boxes from Amazon and QVC, and most of them are stamped with compostable safe insignia. I shred those boxes as well. If they have plastic tape or labels, I will remove them. However, even the paper-based tape used on most shipping boxes today is perfectly safe for composting.

I know some people have concerns about their chickens eating some paper shreds, but it's just not a concern for me. First of all, I have never seen my chickens eat paper shreds. They prefer to dig around in the chicken run compost litter to find tasty bugs and juicy worms, or they eat their commercial feed. But even if they did eat some paper shreds, all my paper products are compost safe so I cannot imagine a few shreds would hurt the chickens or their eggs.

Many years ago, I used to buy straw and hay bales for feed and litter. But you never know what that local farmer used for herbicides on his fields. To me, that is more of a concern than using paper products that meet quality standards to achieve that compost safe certification.

It gives me some measure of satisfaction that I am repurposing all that safe compostable paper sheds in my chicken coop and run rather than hauling it off to the landfill. It saves me money and reduces my waste footprint. I know that 100% of the paper I shred gets recycled in my backyard flock setup. It has been ~3 years since I dumped any paper off at the recycle bins.

In any case, we should all demand that waste products be as safe as possible. Yes, I am trusting that our government and industries have worked out standards for safe compostable paper products for my paper shreds. I'm not worried about the paper I use for coop litter, composting, and then adding back to my gardens.

I can't speak to situations in other countries.

I have to ask: which industrial strength shredder do you have that munches Amazon and other shipping cardboard? How long does it last? (blades vs motor)