Wood Shavings as bedding

[Birdman18]

Hi,
Does anyone use wood shavings for bedding over straw, sand, or other materials?
I know Petland or Petco carries the wood shavings for rabbits or hamsters would this be ok for quails and other birds?


Thanks!!

 

[gendwk]

Hi.. from what I read pine shavings and recycled paper are the best.
be careful with ceder shavings the fumes can make the birds sick
if to much is used..

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

Pine shavings from the feedstore is what I use. About #40 for $4.50. Works great.

 

[Crazyland]

I have them on shavings for the bedding area and the rest of their run is hard wire.

 

[xxSonja]

I use wood shavings in my cages now, i used to use straw but i found that my smaller chicks were having a hard time on it, it was just too big and they would get tangled in it too somehow, so i switched and now its great.

 

[joedie]

I switched mine from pine shavings to straw. I've had one drop dead about once a month and I saw one eating the shavings so I wondered if that might be the problem. I don't know but another BYC'er posted on here that he had some drop dead and when he cut open the crop it was full of shavings. I know most people use them but I'm going to see if I have this happen to any more hens.

 

[Birdman18]

Thank guys for all the replies i appreciate it

!!

If i do go with the shavings i will stay away from the cedar maybe aspen wood shavings.

 

[JJMR794]

aspen is your best bet!

 

[citalk2much]

I use aspen with straw over it

 

[wilds of pa]

Strictly pine shavings here with DE or stall dry down first, been using the pine shavings for many years with out trouble.. Never liked straw/hay types they seem to carry/allow more Bactria growth once damp..just my 2 cents on this one..

Mold and Mycotoxin
Dangers in Livestock Bedding/Litter
The issue of mold growth is not reserved just to feeding and nutrition. Livestock producers should also be mindful of mold growth in animal bedding. Straw is a popular bedding material for a large variety of livestock, however; it is also a popular material for the growth of mold spores. These spores can then be released into the air as dust, which can affect livestock and also farmers. One of the more common molds of the family is known as Aspergillus. Animals can become exposed to this through ingestion and inhalation

Chickens
Aspergillus fungi commonly cause respiratory problems in chickens also. Birds air sacs can become filled with spores through inhalation. These spores then enter the lungs and are trapped there. Chickens are very susceptible to this as they have less effective immune systems then larger animals. Inhalation of Aspergillus fungi and other airborne dust can be extremely harmful and can increase mortality and reduce performance.


PINE IS FINE
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