The added humidity from chicken poop can actually make the coop a breeding ground for dangerous pathogens, like E. coli
“Inside of two days, I had 3 chickens with respiratory issues. They had been respiratory with problem, 1 was braying Virtually just like a donkey and squeaking in between breaths… I straight away suspected that the shavings have been the perpetrator.” — Lisa Steele, Fresh Eggs Everyday Blog
You'll want to never ever use cat litter during the chicken coop. Chickens can peck at it and take in it, leading to bad digestion challenges, And maybe a painful Loss of life. Cat litter also produces great amounts of dust, that can cause respiratory troubles as part of your flock.
You say no cat litter. But I would cats use pine pellets as litter, can you utilize the sifted accustomed to put within the coop?
This is when substantial-absorbency elements like wood shavings occur into Participate in. By absorbing humidity and reducing ammonia stages, wood shavings create a cleaner and safer environment for your personal chickens to reside in.
I’m completely speculating right here, but I wouldn’t be surprised if chickens living in pine shavings long run may well endure some respiratory concerns down the road, or may be extra prone to respiratory ailments.
UPDATE: Just before examining this submit any further, make sure you initially take a look at my more recent posting, Pine shavings while in the coop: The trick chicken killer?
For instance, it is typically Significantly darker. Other procedures for instance decay or insect invasion could also discolor wood, even in woody plants that don't sort heartwood, which may bring on confusion.
“Though I was taking away the shavings, my eyes started to water and my throat started to tickle, in order that they undoubtedly do make a honest level of annoying dust.” Read More — Lisa Steele, New Eggs Every day Blog
That is also why I in no way set aromatic herbs in my coop or nesting containers, and another excuse I’m not insane about pine shavings.
These types of wood derivatives are greatly applied: wood fibers are a crucial ingredient of most paper, and cellulose is used as being a component of some synthetic elements. Wood derivatives can be utilized for varieties of flooring, one example is laminate flooring.
Wood is usually dated by carbon relationship and in certain species by dendrochronology to find out each time a wooden object was produced.
Making a choice on chicken bedding (also referred to as litter) is Probably the most hotly debated subject areas in chicken holding.
Pine shavings materialize to become quite inexpensive—low-priced, even! There are a few much less expensive, even totally free possibilities, for example grass clippings and dried leaves, but these aren’t very as long lasting and absorbent as pine shavings.