What’s the best chicken bedding?

[Camry08]

All of my chicks are still in the brooder but will soon be leaving. I had them on cedar bedding but one of my bantams has been sneezing a lot so I switched her over to pine but shes still sneezing. Upon some research they both seem to be equally toxic but I don’t see any other good alternatives. Any recommendations or insight on the situation?

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

I use pine shavings for all of my chickens, and they've never had a problem with it. I've heard that cedar shavings are toxic, but some people swear by them. I'd stay away from them just in case. How often is the bantam sneezing? Does she seem otherwise lethargic or have a runny nose? How long ago did you switch the bedding over? How old are the chicks?

 

[SandyRiverChick]

This post/poll should have alot of good info. about brooder bedding....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-in-the-brooder.1521325/page-11#post-25685718

 

[3KillerBs]

Eastern Red Cedar contains aromatic oils that are highly irritating to a bird's delicate respiratory system. Western Cedar not so much.

Pine is perfectly safe -- though some people with a vested interest in selling you alternatives like to claim otherwise. However, the proof of it's safety is that it's a standard in the commercial chicken industry where even the tiniest improvement in their health and productivity matters to the tune of millions of dollars. If pine had even a tiny negative effect commercial farmers wouldn't use it.

Beyond that, there is no one best bedding but, as you'll see in the poll linked above, a myriad of options each with it's pros and cons.

 

[Sono]

I tried this new stuff this year and the chicks seem to love it, made from corn cobs