Cedar Chicken Coop...Yes or No

[kybeagle]

I know a man that makes a coop out of Red Cedar, I know I read here not to use cedar chips but what about a coop made out of cedar?

 

[FluffyChic]

I'm sure others w/more experience will chime in, but I'm pretty sure that is a No,No. How I understood, it was the oils and what is in the cedar itself that is not good for chickens. I may be totally wrong though.

 

[jab91864]

I seem to recall reading somewhere that using Cedar to build a coop was okay, something about it being less concentrated oils than in using chips. Have not done it myself and am sure someone who has used Cedar to build will chime in soon.

 

[bigstack]

I know that chips is a big NO!!!!!!!! But I have talked to some who have used cedar for nest boxes and coops. I am thinking along the same lines, Its the concentration of oils and the chicks lil noses being so close to the chips. I guess I need some one with more expertise too! I have access to ALOT of cedar planks. I would love to line the coop but don't want to cause Probs. I will be hatching my own eggs so the chicks would never be exposed to the cedar. Just the chickens. I hope some one will answer who knows more!

Good Luck and God Bless!

 

[DaveD]

After you make it, you paint it. Nothing to bother the little ladies, if it's painted

-David

 

[DADDYS HENS]

kybeagle,
I have just asked a dear friend of mine who has been raising chickens for over 25 years now about cedar coops. She is very very up to date on do's and don'ts of chicken raising. When she gets back to me I will give you her advice on cedar coops.
My opinion is NO NO! I talked to a local coop builder last year when i got my chickens because i was going to go to home depot and buy one of those cedar sheds and convert into a coop and he told me not a very good idea. The cedar when it get warm from the sun gives off fumes that will cause the chickens bad bad breathing problems and would very likly die in just a few weeks.

He also suggested not using the shavings as well because of the fumes it gives off.

You my want to get expert advice before spending the money in building a coop out of cedar?

 

[ColoradoMike]

My coop is sided with 'recycled' cedar siding with no problems. Fresh cedar is more problemeatic due to the higher levels of fumes/etc that the freshly cut/shaved wood emits...

As pointed out above, painting/sealing fresh cut cedar siding should alleviate the problem...

--my $0.02

 

[fiddleblue]

I built my coop out of cedar board siding. I first built the coop with 2 by 4 framing, then added 1/2 inch plywood for the sheathing. Then, as finish siding on the outside I used 1 by 8 cedar boards and 1 by 2 pine battens for a board and batten finish. It looks very nice. The cedar boards were less expensive than redwood boards, which I otherwise would have used. All the cedar and pine on the outside has been treated with UV-protector sealer. The chickens don't peck at the siding, that I have noticed.

 

[DADDYS HENS]

Quote:
Ok are we talking siding??? or having the inside of the coop exposed cedar?? For siding as long as the chickens cannot peck at the cedar siding from the inside it's a go. You can side your coop with cedar as long as you put sheathing up first. If your talking about having exposed cedar inside the coop that the chickens may peck at and eat Defiantly not. For example if you were to go to a home depot or lowe's and purchase one of the cedar pre made tool sheds or garden sheds and convert into a coop, not a good idea the sun light will heat up the shed giving off fumes that are toxic to chickens and cause repertory problems in their breathing. My advice stay clear of the cedar and you wont have to worry. there are so many mixed opinions on this subject. I'm not an expert but many many people I have talked to feel cedar is bad not only for chickens but lots of other animals as well. They all have said the same thing "causes respiratory breathing problems in animals.

 

[txchickie]

One of the solid walls in my coop/run is rough cedar boards. It is FINE