Wood shavings for run

[hgottman2]

My students have been planing a lot of walnut and maple this week, and I am curious if this material is too thin to put on the floor of my run? I know cedar has to be avoided, but are walnut and maple ok? None of the shavings are treated or exposed to chemicals. Thanks for any advice!

 

[3KillerBs]

I wouldn't worry about the texture as part of a mix of materials.

I don't know if the stuff that makes walnut kill plants persists in seasoned wood or through the composting process to later interfere with your garden after the chickens are done with it.

 

[hgottman2]

I wouldn't worry about the texture as part of a mix of materials.

I don't know if the stuff that makes walnut kill plants persists in seasoned wood or through the composting process to later interfere with your garden after the chickens are done with it.

I hadn't heard that before, so I am glad you mentioned it. I will have to do more research into walnut!

 

[My Bagurks]

I have a friend who does a lot of wood working. He vacuums up all the shavings. Maple, walnut, pine, everything. My birds love it in their nesting boxes. Helps keep things dryer and it’s much softer because of the size. If there’s cedar in the mix, I just hold it until I do a deep clean of the coop and put it down first then bury it in pine shavings.

 

[aart]

My students have been planing a lot of walnut and maple this week, and I am curious if this material is too thin to put on the floor of my run? I know cedar has to be avoided, but are walnut and maple ok? None of the shavings are treated or exposed to chemicals. Thanks for any advice!

Thin is fine, just that the smaller/thinner the wood the faster it will break down.
Cedar is fine in a run.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I hadn't heard that before, so I am glad you mentioned it. I will have to do more research into walnut!

It's black walnut specifically that can cause issue (though other walnuts may have it to a lesser degree, I'm not sure) so if you know what type of walnut you're dealing with, that could help.