Abstract: Wood shavings suitable for use as absorbent bedding litter for poultry or other animals are produced at a high rate of production by a machine which includes an elongate open-bottomed stationary hopper adapted for receiving a supply of elongate wood pieces for being formed into wood shavings, with an elongate carriage positioned lengthwise beneath the elongate hopper and closely adjacent the open bottom thereof. A series of transversely extending rotating cutters is carried by the carriage at spaced locations along the length of the carriage, with the cutters being adapted for engaging the wood pieces in the lowermost portion of the hopper at spaced locations along the length of the pieces. The carriage is moved in a reciprocating manner over a predetermined relatively short stroke of movement substantially less than the length of the hopper and such that the cutters of the series collectively engage and form shavings from the elongate wood pieces over the entire length of the wood pieces.