Hay and Wood Flakes

[mlkuan]

Hay and Wood Flakes

I am from Malaysia and my country is quite hot here, sometimes reaching up to from 28C to 34C. I have gone hunting for a suitable bedding and only found the available types they have are wood flakes and timothy hay in this particular pet shop. The other pet shop most of them have only pine shavings. Since I heard alot of people saying not to use ping shavings so I didn't dare get it. I just want to know is wood flakes suitable for guinea pigs. Since my country is hot, is it ok to have both wood flakes and timothy hay mix together or should I just have wood flakes as my bedding.

 

[n1shell]

Re: Hay and Wood Flakes

Hi Mlkuan

I wouldn't dare get wood <em>flakes</em>! The reason for wood <em>shavings</em> is that it's soft as well as absorbes urine! The wood <em>flakes</em> might injure your piggies!!!! (& I couldn't see it being comfortable for them!).

Hay is <em>definitely</em> better... but the same again, <em>you have to be careful</em> that there <em>are not</em> any hard/sharp buts that would be uncomfortable or injure your piggies!

PINE <em>is not</em> the best wood shavings to use but it is <em>much</em> better than CEDAR! & if you have to use Pine shavings you just <em>try to get</em> some that has the <em>least</em> fragrance possible... some pine shavings bedding has been kiln dried to reduce the oils & thus the fragrance.

Or another suggestion is compressing the pine shavings down as much as possible to reduce it's proximity to their nostrils & them breathing in the fumes, or mixing it with another bedding! (Maybe you could have as soft a hay as you can find in their cage & only a bit of shavings where they usually sleep?

& Mlkuan... we can only do the best we can, with the materials available to us, & the knowledge we have! (At least you are expanding your knowledge for the best care you can give your piggies )

As for the heat... you do know piggies can die from heat stroke?? Have you got them indoors? & with frozen water/ice packs to lie on/against? & circulating air?

All the best...

Shell, Cailin, Chet, & Dylan

 

[mlkuan]

Re: Hay and Wood Flakes

Thanks for the reply. I have not own a pig yet as I am waiting until I get an apartment of my own. However, I am a bit confuse here about the bedding used. I came across a website (broken link removed) and it says that it's suitable for pigs. I try get the link to the site so you can see what I mean.
(broken link removed)
The things here in my country is limited when it comes to other types of animals other than dogs and cats, so I have very limited choice to choose like bedding brands.

Freezing bottle is a good idea. I had alot of discussion in general chat from the others and my solution is to use air-con as I will be mostly out at work and won't be there to change the bottle once it's melted.