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

[gtaus]

Shredding Super Heavy Cardboard - Can Do?

Recently I got a new BBQ grill. The shipping cardboard box was made out of double thickness heavy cardboard. My main shredder is rated for 9 sheets, so the question was could I even shred that super heavy cardboard?

The only way I can shred any cardboard is by first cutting it into 2-3-inch-wide strips that can go down the center "credit card" slot of my shredder. My go to tool for cutting cardboard is the cordless power cutter. I have two different cutters, but both are about the same. Save yourself some money and get the inexpensive Tool Shop power cutter at Menards if you can...

I am really happy with the performance of this cutter. It works just as well as my 4X more expensive power cutter that I bought from Harbor Freight....

After I cut all that shipping box into ~3 inch strips, I was able to shred all that heavy cardboard and got a lot of really nice cardboard shreds. I save the cardboards seperately for the nest boxes because the heavier cardboard will not stick to the eggs like lighter paper shreds will.

I mentioned that the shipping cardboard box was double thickness. It barely fit into the shredder slot. I had to force it down into the machine until it got caught by the teeth. Then it pulled the rest of the cardboard down on its own. However, in the process, I mucked up the sensor that tells the machine to automatically turn itself off because the paper is done shredding. Now I have to turn off the shredder manually. I must have jammed that switch, or something. It's a totally manual shredder now. Oh well.

I stopped by the local charity Thrift Shop today and they had a 10-page shredder on sale for $2.00. That's bigger than the one I just mucked up. Good timing. Seems like they get a shredder every ~6 months and I always buy it unless it is only good for light office paper. Dear Wife and I shred almost all our paper and cardboard in these Thrift Shop used paper shredders. I run them until they break. Then I put my backup shredders into action.

Google picture of the model I just picked up...

I already have my chicken coop filled with fresh paper and cardboard shreds for the winter. I'll continue to toss in bags of fresh shreds throughout the winter, maybe a bag full every other week. It's still my favorite coop litter option. Next spring, all that used paper shred litter will be dumped out into the chicken run for composting. It's just a great way to reduce our home paper products that we used to send to the recycle center or landfill.

Of course, none of these paper shredders talk about shredding cardboard. I would not shred cardboard in a brand new, expensive shredder if I wanted it to last a long time. But cutting the cardboard into strips and feeding it down the center credit card slot seems to work for me. These are working machines for me, so I don't expect them to last forever shredding cardboard, or newspaper, like I do for the chickens. But I always get more than my money's worth out of these shredders before they wear out or break.