Sawdust / wood shavings for chickens - Perth

[suem]

Hello,
Does anyone know a good source for 'safe' sawdust / wood shavings (i.e. from untreated timber). I need it for deep litter for chickens and I'm not sure where to find a supplier in Perth.

Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Sue.

[ppp]

Can't help on sawdust, but do you put mulch on your gardens? Could you add nutrients to the mulch by putting it in with the chooks first?

[SueinWA]

Ask around for tree-cutting operations, or someone who has some trees they are cutting for firewood. That's an all-natural, non-treated source. Find out where they're working, and ask if you can collect the sawdust after their workday is over.

Beware of types of trees with natural protective oils: cedar, eucalypts, etc, as they tend not to be good for small animals, esp chickens, that peck and may eat some of it.

Sue

[chooknet]

I get a big bag packed full from the Wooroloo General Store for $5.

I think they might get it from the prison, which has a workshop there and makes furniture.
I could get it from the prison myself for free, but the guy at the shop was the one who told me about the prison having a workshop and he made the effort to get some in after I asked him about it so I just buy it from him. The bonus is I can go there whenever I want instead of organising a pickup time from the prison.
Since he has got it into his shop, someone else is also buying it from him so thats good!

The best place would be a sawmill that mills timber they have heaps of it. But of course they are out in the country. So if you find somewhere that makes furniture, or anything out of timber and get it from them. Eg. you could lookup some of the timber truss companies there are lots of those all over the metro area. Eg. Worlwide Timber Traders in Bibra Lake. Or you could try one of those places that makes timber pallets. There are a few of those. You would have to make sure its not treated timber though of course! ( and don't go to a cabinetmaker the chipboard and mdf they use has glue in it )

[thepoolroom]

Tree loppers are a good source, although you might have to fit in with their schedule and collect it yourself. If you have a local woodturners club, you can get lots. They're always trying to get rid of their waste, and they're not usually turning treated or glued timber.

[bazman]

Find your closest rural stock feed store, they will sell compressed bales for about $10, if you have a horse area close by a feed store will not be far away.

It's not treated and animal safe according to the label.

If you are after bulk ask the local landscaping yard or at the stock feed store.