Can I use railroad ties for raised garden beds around chickens?

[kennedyscochins]

Just wondering if I can do this? Are there toxic chemicals in railroad ties that would hurt the chickens or the food for us?

 

[wekiva bird]

I think it is bad .

 

[annaraven]

Quote:
Don't use railroad ties for vegetable gardens. http://cmg.colostate.edu/gardennotes/713.pdf

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I'd go with cedar.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I would use them. Never seen any harm from them an if I didn't use anything with a so called cancer risk I would have almost nothing.

 

[BarkerChickens]

It depends. Railroad ties are treated with creosote, a non-water soluble hydrocarbon. Creosote itself is toxic. However, it is NOT water soluble and has a small leach radius from the tie. Additionally, old RR ties usually have much of the creosote leached out and; therefore, are not too much of a risk. I use RR ties here for my garden; however, to be safe, I have line each railroad tie with plastic clear across the bottom of the tie up to the sides that are inside the bed. That way, should anything leach out from the tie, it is not in the garden soil. Untreated RR ties are not a risk whatsoever. If they are brand new ties or look "oily" I would not get them.

 

[Randy]

For many years aunt and uncle used raised bed gardens with railroad ties. Several years ago my aunt died from stomach cancer. Now by cousin (my aunts daughter) is battling the same kind of cancer. Do I know for sure the railroad ties caused it? No I can't know that for sure but just the same I won't ever use any for a garden.

 

[kennedyscochins]

Okay, thanks everyone. What about landscape timbers?

 

[Spookwriter]

I'm not sure I understand the question correctly.

Given the chance, a chicken will feast in a raised garden as
quickly as a conventional garden. So the material used isn't
going to concern the chicken so much, as long as it isn't poison
to the extent of killing the bird outright.

If it's poison, you don't want it in the garden either.

Would I use the railroad ties? No. Safer material around.

None of it is chicken proof.

A fence?

That sounds like the answer. You want a garden to grow near
your chickens, you need a fence.

 

[Amyable]

I'd also vote against the RR ties. When I worked for my dad, landscaping, we had to install a large retaining wall with those things. We wore gloves but I still had an itchy rash on my arms and hands every day. And if I touched my face, it burned there too. Creosote, nasty stuff.

Cedar is pricey, but will last ages. How about brick or pavers?