Who says cedar is bad for chickens???

[gumpsgirl]

Thanks for all the great information. I worry about my nephews chickens, Cyn will tell you that. They don't get the top rate treatment that most people here on BYC give their chickens, so I panic when he tells me things like about the cedar. By the way, the coop is covered in cedar, not just a little here and a little there. Oh well...

 

[redoak]

A few years ago I got a new cedar headboard. That night I couldn't sleep, my eyes watered, my nose ran, and this was just in the first 1/2 hour of laying down. I ended up sleeping on the couch that night. The next day I sealed the headboard, let it dry and was not a problem again. This happened in the summer so I even had the windows open. Cedar shavings have ALOT more surface area then cedar posts. So if a cedar headboard can do that to me, I bet cedar shavings can have a worse effect on chicks.

 

[MichiganWoods]

Pine is toxic to small mammals, and I wondered about it with chickens since for small mammals (like gerbils) both pine and cedar is supposed to be avoided. Aspen was the preferred choice bedding back when I was raising gerbils.

 

[Morning Dove]

So, what's the difference between Pine and Cedar? Aren't they different types of evergreen trees?

So, then what should I be putting in my coop? Hay? Straw? A paper based product?

Dove

 

[Akane]

Cedar shavings should not be used around any animal. They not only cause respiratory damage but liver damage long term. That's long term. That means you won't see anything in a day, a week, maybe not in months but over years. Also you may not realize that the cedar is why your chickens died. If a chicken dies after 2years of internal damage would you guess it was the cedar shavings if you hadn't been told?

Yes pine contains the same volatile oils but in a much much lower concentration. You'll still smell cedar months later while pine will have lost it's scent in a few weeks. Personally I do not like using pine that isn't at least kiln dried in any smaller spaces such as a brooder or very small coop. In big open spaces it airs out fine and the smell will fade quickly. It works fine in horse stalls and midsized to larger coops along with places with good ventilation. In places with poor ventilation kiln dried pine, spruce-less oils than pine, or a good quality hardwood shaving like aspen should be used to minimize possible health problems. The problem is finding a hardwood shaving that isn't in splinters. There are a few good brands and lots of really bad ones.

 

[cmom]

Here is a good site about using cedar.

http://www.poultryhelp.com/bedding.html

 

[rebecca10782]

Quote:
I would say " I am your elder, speak to me with respect, you noob!" A little added -finger jabbing the sternum- for emphasis would be appropriate.

I can't do that, all my nephews are about 10-15 years older than me

 

[rebecca10782]

I have found a great bedding at Pet Food Express. It's called Care Fresh Pet Bedding. It is environmentally friendly and much softer then shavings in my opinion.

 

[gamebirdsonly]

I used pine once my wife accidentally bought started loosing chicks I was wondering what the heck was going on then checked the bag of bedding out and that explained it. Never had probs with cedar been using it for last 3 years.

 

[sweetcorn]

Anybody have an opinion on aspen shavings? Supposed to be nonaromatic so not cause the problems cedar and such does.