Do you reccomend certain bedding?

[cinn&sprinslave]

Does anyone reccomend a certain bedding? Right now I am using fleece and I have 7 changes for each cage and take them to the laundry place once a week which costs me about $1.75 a week> But I want to change to an actual bedding because its summer where I live and I can easily clean the cage out, outside. I don't like pine bedding because it doesn't absorb very well, i just stopped using it and Carefresh was costing about a hundred dollars a month. So I am looking for like a mix of beddings that works well and lasts atleast a week with spot cleans! I found some beddings online at petsmart that looked like they might work. The names were "Sweat Scoop" "Aspen Supreme" "Clean n' Comfy" has any one used these? I tried Corn Cob bedding but it didn't absorb very well at all and it was hard and sort of pointy. Well if anyone has a good bedding advice please tell me thanks!!

Cinn&sprinslave

 

[piggielover92]

I use timothy hay as my bedding. I know most people freak out when I say that, because they think I get in those $10 little bags of it from the pet store. But, I get it from a farm supply store by the bale for only $20! One bale lasts me about 2 monthes or more. (I have a 3x4 C&C cage plus a petstore cage to fill once a week.) I fill up 2 scrubbed out trash cans with one bale. Hope this helps!

 

[cinn&sprinslave]

I use timothy hay as my bedding. I know most people freak out when I say that, because they think I get in those $10 little bags of it from the pet store. But, I get it from a farm supply store by the bale for only $20! One bale lasts me about 2 monthes or more. (I have a 3x4 C&C cage plus a petstore cage to fill once a week.) I fill up 2 scrubbed out trash cans with the hay. Hope this helps!

Thats a wonderful idea!!! Thanks so much but how often do you clean it out?

 

[CavySpirit]

Timothy hay would need to be cleaned out very frequently. Every other day at least. The hay is not absorbent at all. Because I use a LOT of hay in the cages, I find that the Timmy adds to the humidity and moisture content in the room. I actually have to run a dehumidifier to make up for it.

I would be very cautious about using hay. It's really not a bedding and I wouldn't recommend it as such.

My personal preference is Aspen Shavings with a light layer of Carefresh over it. Then I add a lot of hay. If you can't get Aspen shavings, then kiln-dried pine. Many people swear by wood pellets, but I find them too heavy. If you use wood pellets I would add something softer over the top of them.

 

[piggielover92]

Thats a wonderful idea!!! Thanks so much but how often do you clean it out?

I take two dust pans and scoop out the hay and throw it all into a trash can. Glad I could help!

 

[piggielover92]

Timothy hay would need to be cleaned out very frequently. Every other day at least. The hay is not absorbent at all. Because I use a LOT of hay in the cages, I find that the Timmy adds to the humidity and moisture content in the room. I actually have to run a dehumidifier to make up for it.

I would be very cautious about using hay. It's really not a bedding and I wouldn't recommend it as such.

My personal preference is Aspen Shavings with a light layer of Carefresh over it. Then I add a lot of hay. If you can't get Aspen shavings, then kiln-dried pine. Many people swear by wood pellets, but I find them too heavy. If you use wood pellets I would add something softer over the top of them.

I always put newspaper under to help absorb it.

 

[piggielover92]

Timothy hay would need to be cleaned out very frequently. Every other day at least. The hay is not absorbent at all. Because I use a LOT of hay in the cages, I find that the Timmy adds to the humidity and moisture content in the room. I actually have to run a dehumidifier to make up for it.

I would be very cautious about using hay. It's really not a bedding and I wouldn't recommend it as such.

My personal preference is Aspen Shavings with a light layer of Carefresh over it. Then I add a lot of hay. If you can't get Aspen shavings, then kiln-dried pine. Many people swear by wood pellets, but I find them too heavy. If you use wood pellets I would add something softer over the top of them.

Shavings never absorb anything! Hay is much better because the pigs love it!! Nothings better then happy pigs!

 

[CavySpirit]

I totally agree hay is great and the pigs love it. Mine get a ton of hay in their cage, but it's over the bedding. Different shavings absorb to different degrees, but they -all- absorb urine better than hay. Hay doesn't absorb at all, whereas shavings do.

 

[piggielover92]

What if you have newspaper under it too, like I do?

 

[mncavylover]

I think Aspen would work, though I've heard that Woody Pet is better... I don't know personally though. Cell Sorb works well and is on sale at www.amazon.com . I think they may even give you free shipping, not sure. It's a nice bedding, not exactly the cheapest but a 40 lb bag should last a while. For $20 it's nothing compared to CareFresh. Fleece bedding should work out well for you, but you could also try something pelleted like Yesterday's news if you want to. Check out the bedding link (broken link removed) Good luck on the bedding quest! =)

 

[cavylover_76]

My alternative is Crittercare. It is available at Wal-Mart. I have a 2x4 C&C and it takes 4 small bags to fill the cage. That's about $16, but it works so well I only have to change the entire litter every 2 weeks for a total cost of about $32!!!

Not too bad considering!!!

 

[DanishCavy]

I use "woodflakes pressed into pills"-I have no idea what its called in english sorry. Its quite expensive here in Denmark but its the best. very absorbant (twice its dry size), no smell and immensely easy to clean out. I have a few sheets of paper to stand his ground-then the pills and then loads of good hay.Use it for my rabbits as well. Its used for allergic ppl and animals as well so theres hardly any dust either and it have improved our homeenvironment a great deal. But I do also clean out every once og second day.

 

[cinn&sprinslave]

Thanx for all your help I am going to use a mix.

Wood pellets first
Then super shavings which is neither ceder nor pine
then pour aspen over the top

All this will cost me about

3.99 for 32lbs of wood pellets
2.99 for big bag of super shavings
3.49 for aspen bedding

 

[Emily F.]

Bedding

Hey, I use this bedding from a petstore in my town. But I don't know what kind of bedding it is. It has no brand name. It works wonderful. VERY VERY soft, and fluffy. Oscar loves it. It lasts me a couple weeks. I usually just spot clean, and it works awesome! It's just in a big clear bag. It sorta dosent have a scent. I get it for $3.99. It's great!

Lots of Love,

Em

 

[cinn&sprinslave]

Hey, I use this bedding from a petstore in my town. But I don't know what kind of bedding it is. It has no brand name. It works wonderful. VERY VERY soft, and fluffy. Oscar loves it. It lasts me a couple weeks. I usually just spot clean, and it works awesome! It's just in a big clear bag. It sorta dosent have a scent. I get it for $3.99. It's great!

Lots of Love,

Em

If you get the name of it please tell me!!

 

[supertramp]

I use wood flakes, those are great. They are better than wood shavings because the flakes are bigger and there is no dust, but they are still very absorbing. Plus they are pretty cheap - definitely cheaper than other brands I've seen here and a big bag lasts a long time.

 

[lipglossartist]

I am from Canada and am having a hard time grasping the concept of these wood "flakes". I have never heard of anything like this before, but if its such a great products I think it might be worth pushing my petstore into carrying. Does anyone know a place online where I can see pics or product info?