Bedding Care Fresh or Aspen, etc?? - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**ChristyG** · #1 07-29-09, 09:38 pm

Right now I have a 5x2 C&C cage for my 2 girls, I use fleece and towels for the main cage and then they have a litter box which is where I use the carefresh..but it is costing me quite a little penny...is aspen shavings good, or any other ideas..thanks

Also sorry if I posted this is the wrong place .

**Ibbet** · #2 07-29-09, 09:47 pm

I use aspen bedding for my hole cage plus the hamster's two cages and have never had a problem with it.

I actually like it better than carefresh but thats only a personal preference.

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #3 07-29-09, 10:01 pm

Kiln dried shavings are fine to use. You can find pelleted bedding for cheap often too.

**ChristyG** · #4 07-30-09, 09:03 am

I am so confused..what are Kiln and pelleted? I am just looking for something to put in the litter box..the girls are older, so I dont want anything that would cause them discomfort, etc on there feetsies or anything. Is pine shavings the stuff you see in the store the is a light colored wood..or what else is good? There are so many items at the store..and its pretty much just for there litter box as most of the cage is fleece..thanks for all the advice..gotta go shopping today and get my weekly supplies

**SFailed186** · #5 07-30-09, 09:19 am

Small Animal Bedding by Yesterday's News® brand Litter
That is some pellet bedding. I have heard that it is super absorbent and easy to clean, but I have not used it myself.

Also, you could get the off brand of Carefresh at Wal-Mart. I have used both and I say that they are identical. We buy the smaller sized bags of it and it costs about $4.

**YayPiggies** · #6 07-30-09, 10:01 am

I use aspen for my hamster's cage. I definetly like it better than Carefresh. I used Carefresh before and it smelled horrible, was dusty, and was expensive. I switched to shavings and now I am only paying like $3 a month for bedding, it's so cheap. It has a little dust, but not much, it's not splintery like everyone thinks, and because it's so cheap I dump like 3 inches in there and my hamster has so much fun burrowing around. It doesn't absorb very well but I still like it better because it's not costly to keep on replacing it.

**ChristyG** · #7 07-30-09, 12:53 pm

I seen you mentioned hamsters, is it okay for the piggies? Also I read on a bag of Aspen--to air it out--is that a must, does anyone know? And aspen is that light color wood stuff, right? Just want to make sure I get the right stuff..I thought i read some certain bedding can be bad for them..and I dont want to harm them in any way

**Rnd210** · #8 07-30-09, 01:12 pm

I used Carefresh for my piggies and rats once and that caused a lot of sneezing from both and myself included and changed to the kilm dried shavings and that ended all the sneezing. I am pretty sure that kilm dried shavings and Aspen are the same.

Just no Cedar bedding or non kilm dried pine and it should be okay.

**ChristyG** · #9 07-30-09, 01:16 pm

That was my next question ..what is Kiln..and is Aspen and Pine different?? I just want to make sure I am getting the right stuff for my girls.

**Ly&Pigs** · #10 07-30-09, 01:24 pm

Kiln dried means it's been through a huge processing kiln to dry it out. Usually the wood stays in the kiln for days sometimes weeks depending on type of wood.

Pelleted form means it's been compressed into a pelleted shape. Often pine comes in a pelleted form. I have tried litters like Feline Pine but as soon as they are wet they turn into sawdust like particles.

Beddings to avoid are:
Cedar
Beddings made of corn or wheat
Cat litters that are clay based or clumping

**Rnd210** · #11 07-30-09, 01:25 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristyG

That was my next question ..what is Kiln..and is Aspen and Pine different?? I just want to make sure I am getting the right stuff for my girls.

Pine and Cedar are bad for all small animals do to the oil chemicals and they are rougher in tecture.

Kilm dried and Aspen are softer, finer and Ok to use.

Carefresh is a bit dusty but also Ok to use.

As I have not used any of the other beddings for the litter boxes or the rats I can't say much about them.

**ChristyG** · #12 07-30-09, 01:42 pm

So what is thent he best to use?? So many choices...I am scared to use something else--but the cost is getting a little high at the moment

**Rnd210** · #13 07-30-09, 01:51 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristyG

So what is thent he best to use?? So many choices...I am scared to use something else--but the cost is getting a little high at the moment

I think that kiln dried and Aspen are the best, but other might say Carefresh.

It's really a personal preference. Kiln dried is cheapest.

**ChristyG** · #14 07-30-09, 07:47 pm

And Kiln is considered Aspen? I havent seen anything wiith Kiln on it at my pet shop...and no pine..right. I am just looking to save a few bucks..carefresh gets pretty expensive espically after 2 piggies, and cage changes daily.

**Peggysu** · #15 07-30-09, 10:01 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rnd210

Pine and Cedar are bad for all small animals do to the oil chemicals and they are rougher in tecture.

Kilm dried and Aspen are softer, finer and Ok to use.

Carefresh is a bit dusty but also Ok to use.

As I have not used any of the other beddings for the litter boxes or the rats I can't say much about them.

Kiln dried pine is safe. Some people let it air out before putting it into cages and some cover it with carefresh. I'd choose carefresh if these are your only choices. I personally use Yesterday's News, it's a compressed recycled paper litter that works great.

**ChristyG** · #16 08-02-09, 08:46 am

Thanks for all the advice!

**Ilovemypiggies1** · #17 08-02-09, 09:31 am

I never use an kind of pine or cedar even if it is kiln-dried, just to be on the safe side because I don't want any of my pigs getting a URI but I've heard that it is okay to use. Before I built a C&C cage, for my pet store cage, I used Carefresh. Carefresh is a good bedding but is very expensive. Then, I switched to Aspen and used Aspen which is okay. When I built the 2x6 C&C cage for my two girls I switched over to fleece and I love fleece, especially when you have a litter box because it helps a lot. For the litter box area I used Aspen, just because it's cheaper when I have to buy more.

**Deb's4Pigs** · #18 08-02-09, 11:22 am

I use Carefresh and yes it is expensive. I couldn't stand Aspen. Yesterdays News is Ok but I change the bunny boxes every day and it seems to make them heavier. I stick with Carefresh because it seems to last longer, I still go through 2 or 3 bags every week with the buns the pigs and now the rats.

**ChristyG** · #19 08-02-09, 01:02 pm

Since I have fleece for the main floor of there C&C, maybe I will just stick to the Aspen for the litterbox, which is where they stand usua;lly cause there hay rack is above it..or maybe I will just use extra pieces of fleece??