Who says cedar is bad for chickens???

[Time-Out]

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/accessories/rodent__nests/182990

The chicks seem happy, so it must be doing it's job. It probably got imported from Holland lol

 

[BoltonChicken]

1, 2, skip a few... page 9. I bought a HUGE bag of shavings from a local furniture maker. He doesn't use cedar, I checked for that, but he does use pine, as do I for my degu. The bag was £1 for about 30kg, best bargain of the year, however it's also very dusty. After reading this, I thought "Oh dear" and have promptly changed the bedding in the brooder to lovely soft hemp.
I hadn't tried hemp before, but it feels wonderful, and, best of all, no dust!

The chicks had been sneezing a bit, I hope I haven't harmed them. Thank goodness I'd ordered some other bedding to try out too!

You haven't harmed anything. Pine shavings have been used for many decades in the southern U.S. not only as litter for farm chickens but as litter for the commercial growers. If there was a problem using it, then the use would have been ended long, long ago. What I buy is labeled "dust free," however the dust should settle out in a bit. It looks as if the hemp would be a good substitute,​

 

[Time-Out]

Quote:
It sure has... All over the house! (They're brooded indoors)

 

[ezekielSM]

I've been told NOT to use Carefresh, that since it's paper the cellulose will expand in their guts and cause damage and/or death. So I've been using pine this whole time.

I just was told to use cedar for a while due to having found that they've got lice. I haven't sprayed the girls with Permethrin 10% yet since they seem to be doing just fine (and I'm nervous about using the stuff!). I usually have the fan or AC on in here except overnight. Will the cedar hurt them? I bought 2 bags' worth of Kennel Care cedar bedding and it's a loooong drive north just to make an $8 refund and back down again. I was told the cedar will prevent the bugs from doing anything.

Thanks! I'm really worried about this.I've never used cedar for my small animals growing up and knew it was bad for them but thought it'd be fine for chickens since other poultry people told me this was okay for them.

As a side note, I clean the coop out every other day since they poop a ton, and I've just added pine shavings on top of it (the store tractor kind- very little scent). The coop itself has a chicken-wire (the plastic stuff) front and tall open 'windows' with the stuff on it on the left side and on the right side, so it's got good enough ventilation.

Thanks!!

 

[scottkumbier]

I have built many cedar coops and have raised chickens in cedar coops for years with no problems. My understanding is that using cedar shavings could be toxic if ingested.

 

[ezekielSM]

Good to hear except for the last part- my girls occasionally eat the bedding and I caught them at it last night when they were unused to it. How long should I use the cedar for before the lice stay gone? I just sprayed my girls with permethrine 10% and used it on the coop too. Thanks! I'd like them as safe as possible.

 

[scottkumbier]

I would not use cedar shavings. Its not worth the risk. Having a coop built out of cedar would be better because they can't eat it then.

 

[moondog425]

I sprinkle seven dust on top of pine shavings about once a month to keep the lice and fleas away. I dust the chickens to ,when i can catch them. Google cedar shavings for chickens......might help.

 

[Redcap]

Here are some studies to this topic ... in relation to humans. Don't forget that we are also affected.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0091674989900730

Full texts on request.

 

[reallynewatthis]

Any thoughts on using Cedar chips as groundcover in a yard? We have a 50x50 foot yard (some trees and shrubs), but it is turning into sloppy mud (we live in Seattle...). I was thinking of putting down a yard or two of cedar chips to cover the dirt. I would think that this is ok, given the outdoors, ventilation, etc. Ideas?