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

[paintedChix]

When you’re looking for a new shredder, what do you want to see in terms of capability/ strength/ ratings to know (or believe) that they can handle cardboard?

It’s been a bit since I shopped for shredders!

Unfortunately, I didn't buy the new one. My husband goes through reviews, prices & orders most things. We hadn't really discussed the shredder, other than I told him that Office Max no longer carried one that could do cardboard (the 2 or 3 times I'd gone in) . The thrift stores i stopped in didn't have one on day(s) I got to them... The new one showed up one day.. it is much quieter than old one, which was a Staples brand one.

I think this one can do 16 sheets of paper, how ever, there are cardboard (s) too thick for it. I can sometimes split those & get them to run through it... otherwise it goes to compost w/o shredding.

It stops or jams if a piece of cardboard or even a "stack" of paper curls & runs along the edge. It's then a bit of a bear to re-straighten out that whole piece to run it back through.

I DID want one that could take 12-16 sheets of paper, fed upright. That means it will take most cardboard. The one our manager got at the vet clinic will take 250 sheets laid flat, but you can't feed cardboard through it.

The original was not purchased for cardboard, but for bills & junk mail. I didn't use it for cardboard until the last 6 years or so...

I just took pics of the new one. I cant even remember when he got it. The BEST tool, for my getting arthritic hands & shoulders is that battery chargeable cutting tool. I forget what it's called - gtaus recommended. I can part out 20 boxes, different types & sizes, in minutes...



EDIT - I disagree w/ the statements about shredding & shredded paper/cardboard not being dusty. The dust on the shredder in pics is after 30 minutes of shredding. It is dusty when I dump the bin into the bags or that blue trash can next to the shredder above. It can be dusty when used in brooder cages & coops, pens & runs. BUT it IS less dusty then using wood shavings or sawdust. I've used both wood shavings, straw, hay & sawdust in horse stalls since 1974 & different products w/ chickens since 2011.

 

[paintedChix]

That is awesome with the cardboard shedding machine! It is a lot of work to do all that.

I don't compost any papers and cardboard anymore. Now I use mostly cardboard for my chicken bedding and then the next morning throw them all in the bin. If I left the cardboard accessible to my chickens, they will eat it. It is a lot of work removing it in the morning and put new one out at night, but that is the work I need to do for free cardboard.

I re-use the feed bags under the cardboard so that if any poop spill out, it go on the bag and it is easy to remove.

Chicken stuff is constantly evolving. What work today, might not work tomorrow for me. My little bantam enjoys eating cardboard than her feed....grrrr

I agree it can be work. Like when I use the little weaving loom, crochet or embroider, I can part out cardboard while watching TV. I just turn volume up 2 or 3 notches. I listen to Pandora on my phone while running the shredder OR can use headphones & watch YouTube vids whle shredding.

I'm sorry your chickens eat the shred. I've never experienced that - even w/ 3 day old chicks. I can't imagine those type of issues.

You are SO right regarding chicken keeping being an evolving learning experience!

 

[gtaus]

The inks in store receipts are carsonogenic...

You know, I read that and wondered how that was even possible? So, I asked Copilot to give me the background on that claim and you were pretty much spot on the mark, with just a little twist to consider. Anyways, for everyone's benefit, here is what Copilot AI has to say about this issue that affects us all!

******************************

It sounds surprising at first, but there’s actually some truth behind that claim—though it’s not the ink itself that’s the concern, but the **thermal paper coating** used in many store receipts.

### What’s in the Paper?
Most receipts are printed on **thermal paper**, which doesn’t use traditional ink. Instead, the paper is coated with chemicals that react to heat to form text. The issue is that many of these coatings contain **bisphenol A (BPA)** or **bisphenol S (BPS)**—chemicals known to mimic estrogen and disrupt hormones.

- **BPA** has been linked to reproductive issues and potential cancer risks in lab studies.
- **BPS**, often used as a BPA substitute, may be just as harmful and is absorbed through the skin.

A study by the Ecology Center found that **about 80% of receipts** from major U.S. retailers still contain these chemicals. Even brief contact—like holding a receipt for 10 seconds—can result in measurable exposure above California’s safety limits.

### Should You Be Worried?
For most people, occasional contact is unlikely to cause harm. But for cashiers or anyone handling receipts frequently, the exposure can add up. That’s why some health advocates recommend:
- Declining receipts when possible
- Washing hands after handling them
- Avoiding letting children play with them

Some retailers are switching to **phenol-free paper**, but it’s not yet universal.

**************************

I had no idea about this issue until your post. Knowledge is power. I have lots of other safe paper products I can use, so those nasty receipts can go into the trash from now on. Well, in my case, I don't get many store receipts to begin with, so it's not a big deal for me.

 

[gtaus]

When you’re looking for a new shredder, what do you want to see in terms of capability/ strength/ ratings to know (or believe) that they can handle cardboard?

It’s been a bit since I shopped for shredders!

I have buying my home quality shredders used at our local church Thrift Shop for the last ~4 years. I pay less than $5.00 for the shredders. My current shredders are 9 and 10 sheet max capacity shredders. Both of them have a center slot designated for credit card shredding.

I recommend shredding any paper products you get in the house, as you get them, and not letting them pile up for one big job. Turns out that these home quality paper shredders have a relatively short working cycle before the motor needs rest to cool off. If you overheat your shredder motor, you risk jamming or otherwise damaging the motor.

Each shredder should have instructions as to duty cycle - how long you can run it and then how long it needs rest to cool down. IIRC, my shredders have something like a 5-minute runtime with a 10-minute cool down period. Since I shred my paper products as I get them every day, I only run the shredders maybe a minute or two at any time. They never overheat. Plus, I don't have waste paper sitting around the house.

In order to shred cardboard in my 9 and 10 sheet paper shredders, I have to cut the cardboard into 2-3 inch narrow strips and feed them down the center slot designated for credit cards. As long as I cut the cardboard in strips, it's no problem. However, if you try to jam down a paper sized sheet of cardboard into the shredder you would probably risk jamming the unit and breaking it.

At first, it was not worth my time or effort to cut the cardboard with my big heavy duty manual scissors - cramping up my old hands. But then, a couple of years ago, I bought a cordless power cutter from Harbor Freight on sale, plus I had additional cash rewards to use up before they timed out. At the time, I think they were selling for about $50.00 each. They are down to $40.00 now. With my discounts and cash rewards I think I got the out-of-pocket expense to less than $20.00 last year.

Anyways, that power cutter cuts cardboard into strips with little to no effort. Plus, it's much safer than using a utility knife with a razor blade in it. Now I shred all our packing boxes from Amazon, QVC, etc...

Menards started selling a ToolShop Cordless Power Cutter for less than $10.00 and I bought one of them last year. It's basically the same item, just a lot less expensive. Unfortunately, I cannot find them listed on the Menards website anymore. If you go to your local Menards, you might still be able to find one on the shelf. But there are a number of other cordless power cutters, all basically the same, offered under various brands.

As I have mentioned, it has been over 3 years since I have hauled any paper or cardboard items to the recycle bins in town. Saves me both time and gas money in one way, but also, I get free coop litter to use for the chickens, which I later compost and then add the compost to my gardens.

 

[gtaus]

If any of the paper or cardboard has ink on it, I would seriously avoid it. Some inks are carsonogenic, once the paper decomposed you're still mixing ink into your soil. Your chickens are also exposed to the inks, then transferred to the eggs and their entire bodies. Something to think about, we are what we eat.

I appreciate the concern about toxic papers or inks. However, most of the shipping boxes I get from Amazon or QVC are compost safe. Here is the latest information on that subject from Copilot AI which I hope will ease your concerns...

**************************

Amazon shipping boxes are generally **safe to compost**, and they can be a great source of “brown” material for your garden compost pile. But there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure you're not introducing anything unwanted into your soil:

---

### What Makes Them Compostable?
- **Corrugated cardboard**: Amazon boxes are made from plain corrugated cardboard, which is biodegradable and breaks down well in compost.
- **Inks**: Most of the black ink used for logos and text is now **soy-based or water-based**, which is considered safe for composting.
- **Paper tape**: Amazon’s kraft paper tape is technically compostable, though it may take longer to break down.

---

### What to Remove First
- **Shipping labels**: These are usually plastic-based and **not compostable**. Peel them off before composting.
- **Plastic tape**: If the box has any clear or reinforced tape, remove that too.
- **Stickers or glossy coatings**: Rare, but if present, they should be discarded.

---

### Composting Tips
- **Shred or tear** the cardboard into smaller pieces to speed up decomposition.
- **Balance your pile**: Mix with “green” materials like food scraps or grass clippings to maintain a healthy carbon-to-nitrogen ratio.
- **Moisture matters**: Keep the pile damp but not soggy to help microbes do their work.

---

### Bottom Line
Amazon boxes are a safe and sustainable addition to your compost pile—as long as you strip off the plastic bits. They’ll break down into rich, garden-friendly humus over time.

****************************

 

[gtaus]

I didn't do daily. Instead we had some room to allow paper & cardboard to "stack up".

Thanks for all those wonderful pictures. I use shredded paper in my brooders as well. Works great.

Although I recommend shredding paper as you get it, that is based on my setup where I don't have a separate room to let paper stack up, so it's not even a real option for me. Whatever works for a person's workflow is fine by me. I'm just happy to see all that waste paper and cardboard being put to good use at home.

 

[gtaus]

That is awesome with the cardboard shedding machine! It is a lot of work to do all that.

Well, that's part of why I recommend shredding paper products as you get them. It's never a "job" for me to shred a newspaper or some cardboard if I do it every time I have some waste paper to process.

 

[paintedChix]

You know, I read that and wondered how that was even possible? So, I asked Copilot to give me the background on that claim and you were pretty much spot on the mark, with just a little twist to consider. Anyways, for everyone's benefit, here is what Copilot AI has to say about this issue that affects us all!

******************************

It sounds surprising at first, but there’s actually some truth behind that claim—though it’s not the ink itself that’s the concern, but the **thermal paper coating** used in many store receipts.

### What’s in the Paper?
Most receipts are printed on **thermal paper**, which doesn’t use traditional ink. Instead, the paper is coated with chemicals that react to heat to form text. The issue is that many of these coatings contain **bisphenol A (BPA)** or **bisphenol S (BPS)**—chemicals known to mimic estrogen and disrupt hormones.

- **BPA** has been linked to reproductive issues and potential cancer risks in lab studies.
- **BPS**, often used as a BPA substitute, may be just as harmful and is absorbed through the skin.

A study by the Ecology Center found that **about 80% of receipts** from major U.S. retailers still contain these chemicals. Even brief contact—like holding a receipt for 10 seconds—can result in measurable exposure above California’s safety limits.

### Should You Be Worried?
For most people, occasional contact is unlikely to cause harm. But for cashiers or anyone handling receipts frequently, the exposure can add up. That’s why some health advocates recommend:
- Declining receipts when possible
- Washing hands after handling them
- Avoiding letting children play with them

Some retailers are switching to **phenol-free paper**, but it’s not yet universal.

**************************

I had no idea about this issue until your post. Knowledge is power. I have lots of other safe paper products I can use, so those nasty receipts can go into the trash from now on. Well, in my case, I don't get many store receipts to begin with, so it's not a big deal for me.

Well id been not getting most receipts by getting via text, email or just registering from bank statements what is what. Now, the ones I do get will be going into trash instead of shred.

 

[gtaus]

I'm sorry your chickens eat the shred. I've never experienced that - even w/ 3 day old chicks. I can't imagine those type of issues.

Same here. Never an issue for me either. Like you, I also start my days-old chicks on shredded paper litter and have never had a problem.

 

[SkyAJK]

Well, that's part of why I recommend shredding paper products as you get them. It's never a "job" for me to shred a newspaper or some cardboard if I do it every time I have some waste paper to process.

I used to shred papers.. used to, it is hard work for me because it is on top of my other works. This might has something to do with me being older and trying to reduce extra work.

I used to compost bin shred papers, but when I took out the compost, it did not disintegrated, it was this thick stuff that was not easily break out. I must be doing something wrong for certain as every gardening show that I watched had great compost outcome with shred papers.