bedding options

[luvfamrap]

I was wonder what other kind of bedding besides carefresh is safe for your piggers because sending 30$ on care fresh every three weeks in really EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!

 

[pennick]

I use aspen and I like it. Many here use fleece. One very large bag of aspen is about $12.00 - $15.00

 

[Piglet]

I use towels. Thinking of getting vetbed in a day or two

 

[Amanda]

I did use fleece with towels underneath, but with 5 boars, it became a very stinky problem. I decided it was worth the money to use carefresh. I was spending all my time cleaning the fleece everyday.

 

[luvfamrap]

a vetbed what is that

 

[Piglet]

there is thread already on vetbed. I can't remember where though so do a search. Its like super absorbant fleece

 

[dagwellismypigy]

https://guineapigcages.com/bedding.htm

 

[Ly&Pigs]

Also see- https://guineapigcages.com/threads/2131/

 

[silkerlover]

I use kiln-dried pine. It is very cheap. I have heard at several sites that pine isnt good, but I have never had any problems with it.

 

[mncavylover]

Silkerlover, it depends--if the pine is "smelly" it has harmful phenols in it still. Kiln-dried is generally safe, but that varies by brand (as there are different ways of "kiln-drying"). For example, Kaytee's pine is "kiln-dried" but still smells a lot. If it does smell, put it in a large, open container or box to air out until you can hardly smell it any longer. That should make it safer. I use aspen and it's working great!

 

[charliesmommy]

According to my vet, ALL wood is somewhat harmful to the piggies' respiratory systems. Carefresh and fleece are the most healthy things to use. The kiln-dried pine and Aspen wood aren't as bad if you let them air out for a day or so before using them, but wood will always naturally retain some of the oils that it contains, which is what is dangerous.

 

[mncavylover]

Aspen doesn't have the harmful phenols that pine and cedar do. I've never seen evidence of it being unsafe. If you have any, please do post it. Thanks!

 

[LiciaMommycott]

I've been trying fleece and I like that it's really easy to swap out but it just needs cleaning way too often. I'm going to try switching back to my kiln dried pine. I get it in bulk so it's really cheap and lasts longer than the fleece which gets stinky too fast. I just have to work on my cleaning technique so that it's not such a pain to clean.

 

[kat_0521]

I've been using "critter-care". I get 10 liters in one bag for about $3.00 at Wal-Mart. It's made from recycled materials and is non-toxic. Very absorbent stuff too. I also layer newspaper underneath so when it's time for a change, I just roll it up.

 

[suzy_99]

I use fleece. I made blankets out of one layer of fleece, cotton batting, and a sheet on the back to hold the batting in. I use puppy trainning pads in spots that I know they wet a lot. I personally find that towels under fleece tend to stink very fast and I had to get rid of mine after only one day, because I could not handle the musty smell that they got.
Fleece is more expensive to start but once you have all of the materials, the cost is next to nothing. I spend about $10 a month on puppy pads and that's about it. I only have to wash my fleece every 3 days.

 

[charliesmommy]

Aspen has a lot fewer natural oils than other woods, but it still has some. That's why my vet told me to stay away from all wood if possible. I find it easy enough to use fleece and carefresh and not even chance it with the Aspen or kiln-dried pine.

 

[Katie]

Aspen has a lot fewer natural oils than other woods, but it still has some. That's why my vet told me to stay away from all wood if possible. I find it easy enough to use fleece and carefresh and not even chance it with the Aspen or kiln-dried pine.

But how many pigs do you have? If I only had 3 or 4, I would be using carefresh or fleece, but I personally like Cell Sorb and would use it if it were cheaper. It just depends on what works best for you and your pigs. I've been using KD Pine and Aspen for 7 years and have never had any cases of URI's
::knocks on wood::

 

[charliesmommy]

It's just a difference of opinions.