May 04, 2021 · Shiitake mushrooms, for example, like to be in a mix of 95% hardwood sawdust. Animal Bedding. We have about 20 chickens at any given time, and while I don’t use sawdust for them, some people do! Our chickens do enjoy scratching around in the sawdust for insects, but because I use regular chain oil with my saw, I don’t like to put it in