Wood Shavings

Penola Poultry · **Posted:** Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:07 pm

Hello, Does anyone know where i can get hold of bulk wood shavings? The type that stables must buy. I am currently buying the small bales and the cost is killing because of the high quanitity i require. Any info appreciated.

Darryl

Vicky · **Posted:** Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:40 pm

Hey there,
I don't know where minden is, but I bought my woodshavings from a produce shop called "Rochedale Produce" it's in Rochedale, Brisbane - off the pacific mwy.
It cost about $7 for a big bale of it about the size of a carton or two of beer. hehe sorry couldn't think of any other way to describe the size. :-)

greenaus · **Posted:** Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:58 pm

Sounds kinda, sorta similar to what I buy out here for $12.50.

It's been a while since I've bought a carton of beer but I reckon the bales I get are closer to 2 1/2 or 3 cartons...but lighter. And the chooks are less likely to get smashed and embarrass themselves with wood shavings.

Either way, the bales you get (the same or not) sound like better value.

Darryl, have you tried hay/straw?

I doubt they'd spread as far, but straw might last longer.

The rain found it's way into the nesting boxes a couple of nights ago due to a sheet of tin which shifted. I've actually got to get some more nesting material myself tomorrow.

I'm also getting a dog kennel which I'll be renovating and then lining with whatever nesting stuff I get.

Lou · **Joined:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:12 am **Posts:** 387

I paid $16 for a "beer bale" of shavings at Withcott produce, like everything the price has gone up it was $12 last time I got it in Toowoomba. I had muddy pens after the last good rain & put up a post, with the hints I got I limed the pens & put down shavings works great & no smell.

Back to business, there is a sawmill at Laidley & just had a look in Gatton & area phone book there's a couple there you could phone. Give me a yell if you don't have the same phone book. Or maybe have a look in the yellow pages at horse trainers & see who they get their shavings from.

Lou · **Joined:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:12 am **Posts:** 387

I just phoned a couple in the Toowoomba area 1 is dearer than the bales but the other Collins timber is $10 for a ute/trailer load, you shovel. That's where I'll be heading.

County Lodge · **Posted:** Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:21 am

Penola Poultry wrote:

Hello, Does anyone know where i can get hold of bulk wood shavings? The type that stables must buy. I am currently buying the small bales and the cost is killing because of the high quanitity i require. Any info appreciated.

Darryl

Hi Darryl,

I use Arnold Brothers for my sawdust by the truck load. Phone 38030197. Rodney the guy who delivers to me lives out at Mt Tarampa/ Gatton way even though the head office is in this way. I don't know if they have wood shavings as I don't use them in the stables as they get very dusty very quickly and forever and ever to clean. I use either granulated sawdust or fines sawdust as they are much easier to clean. Falls throught he stable fork much easier than wood shavings. I also use the granulated or fines in my chook pens and brooder boxes. If you give them a ring they maybe able to help you with wood shavings if you really want to use them.

County Lodge · **Posted:** Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:25 am

Lou wrote:

I just phoned a couple in the Toowoomba area 1 is dearer than the bales but the other Collins timber is $10 for a ute/trailer load, you shovel. That's where I'll be heading.

Be careful with the sawdust from timber places as it may not be suitable as they put various types of timeber through which maybe poisonous. Arnold brothers only source good quality clean safe sawdust.

Lou · **Joined:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:12 am **Posts:** 387

Didn't even give poisons a thought, I will give them a call & see what might be in it. Just thinking about it the shavings may well be treated with something because it's a timber place not a sawmill, I supose it depends if the timer is treated before or after their milling. Thanks for that.

greenaus · **Posted:** Mon Sep 01, 2008 1:02 pm

Saved me saying it.

When we lived south of Jimboomba, I got my sawdust from the little sawmill on the highway at Park Ridge...for free. I never asked or even considered poisons...but I didn't have APF back then.

It seems that sawdust may be a better idea than wood shavings.

I reckon I might have a chat with the guys locally.

Thanks everyone for getting me thinking.

Penola Poultry · **Posted:** Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:36 pm

apparently sawdust is too fine. I know one of the guys who works at the mill at Laidley and he is a poultry breeder and he said he wouldn't even think of putting saw dust in his coops. Sometimes i don't know what to believe. Probably not him as every time he see me washing out my water containers (i won't let them dring water form a container i wouldn't drink from) he chastises me and says, i haven't cleaned mine for 40 years. Thankyou all for your comments and ideas...i might go with barley hay....it has some seeds in it nd should keep them amused. A vet once told me never to use straw as if it gets wet coccidiosis can grow in the moist tubes of the straw. Becoming confused : (

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