1. Wood shavings are among the best bedding types that poultry farm owners use specifically for chickens due to its numerous benefits and affordable price compared to other bedding types. This article covers everything you need to know about safe wood shavings for chickens.

  2. What is the Best Bedding for Chickens?

    With the significant development in poultry production and the desire of many to establish poultry farms, everyone seeks the best bedding type to increase productivity in this field. Wood shavings are among the best resources for chicken bedding, offering multiple benefits at a lower cost than other materials.It is preferable to use coarse wood shavings for several benefits, including:Helping to reduce and protect against high moisture levels, which cause issues for chickens.Providing an ideal temperature for chickens, especially chicks who cannot regulate their body temperature in the first five days.Reducing foul odors by trapping chicken waste, making it easier to remove.Easily replaceable, ensuring that old wood shavings can be discarded to maintain a clean coop.Reducing the spread of various diseases among birds, including skin and respiratory diseases caused by dust accumulation.Reusable as an organic fertilizer for plants, benefitting various types of agriculture and field crops.Reducing stress in birds by keeping the coop clean regularly and creating a healthy and stable environment that improves comfort, leading to fewer illnesses and increased production.

    What are Safe Wood Shavings for Chickens?

    Most poultry farm owners prefer coarse wood shavings as they are safer than fine shavings. Coarse shavings have larger, somewhat brittle flakes, making them the best choice for chicken farms. Fine shavings, however, come in small granules, either finely ground or semi-ground. This type of shavings is generally not preferred, as fine particles may cause respiratory issues in poultry due to the lack of odor absorption and waste containment provided by coarse shavings.

    How to Choose Safe Wood Shavings for Chickens?

    Selecting safe wood shavings for chickens is not easy. Some tips for purchasing wood shavings include:Knowing the type of wood used, ensuring it has good moisture absorption capacity, is untreated, and free from aromatic oils that might negatively impact chickens' respiratory health.Ensuring wood shavings are free from contaminants or toxic chemicals and do not contain any paint or adhesive residues.Ensuring shavings are dust-free and clean to prevent respiratory diseases, ideally opting for wrapped or compressed shavings for quality and cleanliness.Ensuring the shavings can absorb liquid waste, helping to keep the coop dry and clean, essential for minimizing disease spread.Choosing medium-sized shavings that are neither too fine nor too large to provide a soft, comfortable feel for chickens' feet, facilitating better care.Checking for natural odors in the wood shavings without added chemical or artificial scents. Shavings with strange or unpleasant smells should be avoided.Farm owners should research and read reviews on wood shavings, especially on e-commerce sites and stores, to ensure they select the safest options.

    Main Uses of Wood Shavings

    Wood shavings are versatile and can be used in various industries. Key products made with wood shavings include:Poultry bedding due to its excellent waste absorption capacity.Soil fertilizer for gardens and orchards, acting as a substitute for the brown compost material that adds carbon to compost mixes from food residue decomposition.Decorative ground cover for roads and shops after adding colors or designs.Fuel production, providing thermal energy for factories by mixing with other residues.Compressed charcoal production through shredding and compressing wood shavings with specialized equipment.Cosmetic products that enhance skin beauty and radiance, serving as an alternative to botox and filler procedures.Handicrafts and art pieces sold by combining wood shavings with other materials for profit.

    Types of Wood Shavings

    Various types of wood shavings are available at affordable prices, with the most popular being:Coarse Wood Shavings:Used as bedding for poultry, horses, and rabbits. Also suitable for smoking meats and fish as it is free from bacteria, mold, and nails. It is soft, fluffy, and made from large, brittle flakes, commonly derived from red beech or white spruce.Fine Shavings:Primarily used for charcoal and fuel production. Fine particles range from ground to semi-ground and come from coarse shavings after cutting and sanding.Tree Shavings:Made from trees like casuarina, eucalyptus, and ficus, known for medium flake size and strong waste absorption, making them ideal for poultry bedding.Types of Shavings to Avoid for ChickensCoarse wood shavings or tree shavings are the best options for safe poultry bedding, as they:Minimize respiratory illness in birds due to high moisture that breeds bacteria and fungi.Absorb foul odors and trap poultry waste.Act as a heat insulator, making chickens comfortable during extreme weather, which enhances production.Tips for Poultry Farm OwnersNew poultry farmers should know key aspects to ensure increased production:Use tree or coarse wood shavings as these are among the safest for chickens.Place the bedding at 5-7 cm thickness in summer and 10 cm in winter.Ensure wood shavings are free from chemicals, bacteria, or mold toxins.Keep bedding clean and dry, changing it periodically to avoid moisture that causes issues.Ensure bedding is free from wooden splinters or nails that might cause cuts or skin issues.Avoid fine wood shavings to prevent respiratory issues from dust and fungi growth.Coarse wood shavings, with their absorbency and softness, are ideal for chicken bedding.Places to Buy Safe Wood Shavings for ChickensMany places sell wood shavings as they are a profitable trade for many people. Common stores selling safe wood shavings for chickens include:Farm and pet supply stores.Hardware and lumber stores.Online stores.Animal feed stores.Woodworking shops.Many farm owners aim to improve productivity for higher profits by using wood shavings as the best choice for farm establishment, thanks to its numerous advantages and affordable price compared to other bedding options.