Who says cedar is bad for chickens???

[Anny]

Cedar is not only bad for chickens it's HORRIBLE for small animals (like rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, rats, ect.) It can cause horrible upper respiratory issues, that can even lead to death! To be honest for small animals even pine shavings are not so good.

 

[gumpsgirl]

Quote:
Is there anyone that could go clean out the cedar shavings for you and replace them with the pine?

I really can't guarantee that they will or won't be okay when you get back. If your coop is really well ventilated, then they stand a better chance. The problem with the cedar is the aroma from the oil in the wood and it is just to hard of the respiratory system. Some people have used it successfully and others have had losses from it. It really is a gamble. Sorry I can't be more upbeat about your situation and I wish the best of luck to you and your chicks.

 

[gumpsgirl]

Quote:
You're right. Cedar is bad for chickens and all small animals. Pine, however, is okay as long as it is kiln dried.

 

[davidkjh]

How about pine needles? I used some under my coop on the outside in the pen. Do I need to get it out.

 

[gumpsgirl]

Pine needles are on the outside of the coop. I wouldn't put them on the inside because I'd be worried about the chickens eating them and their crops getting impacted.

 

[kagedgoddess]

Quote:
this is what i use for my ferrets and for the chicks when they were in the small brooder, now it would be too expensive to use that, and i get it at a discount.
petsmart, petco and even wal mart now sells this stuff, and it comes in colors.

i was told the problem with cedar was in the brooder the heat lamp causes it to release toxic fumes.

i dont know why they even make it anymore, it isnt recommended for any small animals.... i guess some people dont care.

 

[okiecountrygirl]

Well I know now I wont be using pine or cedar shavings at all. I will stick to what I an using.... cleaned straw....Thank you all for your advice and input I learn so much on BYC

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:
this is what I do also.. and you have to consider how green the planed boards were.. I have some very old dried out boards that I would not be afraid to use 100% cedar planings/shavings from..

 

[emvickrey]

I used pine shavings with my now adult chickens and with the batch of chicks I bought back in March then again with a batch I hatched myself and have never had a problem. I used it in the brooder until they where to big for it. My brooder is a very large clear storage tub with a expandable window screen over the top. I only use the lid when it's chilly at night. I have never had a problem. Then I read it is bad for them and stopped using it and switched to pine. I really don't like the pine shavings because they are larger than the pine and it does nothing for the odor. It's about like using nothing but paper towels alone.

Now my hens do like it in their nesting area. I got a through screaming at yesterday when I cleaned out the dirty shavings and put clean in. My BO stood there and yelled at me the whole time right in my ear. When I change it I just scrape it off on the floor and they scratch it to spread it out. It will get cleaned out this fall. It gives them something to scratch through, keeps them busy.

We also put our grass clippings in there. They scratch through it and eat what they want the rest just goes back into the ground and we don't track it into the house.

 

[lichenesque]

I am brand new to chickens, still researching coop design, etc. Why don't people use straw as bedding, rather than wood shavings? Is it not dense enough to be absorbent?