Can Anyone Help Me Choose A Good Bedding For My Boys?

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bumbling-bambi

bumbling-bambi

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So my two boars are currently on a fine grade heavily dust extracted wood shaving - i've always used this mostly because i had a horse that was allergic to dust of pretty much any sort and always had it lying around. I'd asked my vet in the past if it would be ok and because it was totally dust free and hypoallergenic she said it would be fine! However it is pretty expensive as i no longer have that horse and don't need to be buying massive 20kg bales of the stuff just for two piggies!

I was wondering if anyone can help me out in finding some new bedding for them!
I'd prefer not to keep them on fleece as our washing and drying situation is pitiful to say the least! (we dont have room for a tumble dryer and live next to a river so go figure!)
Obviously i'd like it to be as cheap as possible while still being good quality and the less dust the better! Not only are the piggies quite sensitive to dust but being indoor dwellers it makes me sneeze too!

I've heard Hemp bedding is pretty good but I'm open to trying anything! Its mostly to minimise matting and the shavings tend not to be the most absorbent of things!

Thank you to anyone who responds in advance - i'd love to hear other peoples thoughts and experiences with different beddings!
 
There's loads of info on the different bedding on this forum but I think whatever you end up going for it is probably cheaper to get a big bale if you have somewhere to store it? I really like cardboard bedding like Finacard or Ecobale. Hemp bedding like Aubiose is also good and very absorbent. Lots of people like it on here but I have found pieces of it stuck in my boars bits :eek: so don't use it often. Fitch is also popular it's like ripped up toilet roll but I think it's got a bit pricey over the last year or so. You can also get oil seed rape straw bedding and other shredded straw type beddings but you have to make sure they are not coated with anything that might be harmful to piggies (e.g. eucalyptus oil). I guess you have to try some and see what you find easiest?
 
For disposable bedding I used Back2Nature paper bedding, no smell at all! Stays very fresh and dry.
Oh, @Kit06 has a good point- I found bits of the paper bedding in their pouches from time to time, but it's very easy to get out- just make sure to lubricate it.
 
Kit06 said:
There's loads of info on the different bedding on this forum but I think whatever you end up going for it is probably cheaper to get a big bale if you have somewhere to store it? I really like cardboard bedding like Finacard or Ecobale. Hemp bedding like Aubiose is also good and very absorbent. Lots of people like it on here but I have found pieces of it stuck in my boars bits :eek: so don't use it often. Fitch is also popular it's like ripped up toilet roll but I think it's got a bit pricey over the last year or so. You can also get oil seed rape straw bedding and other shredded straw type beddings but you have to make sure they are not coated with anything that might be harmful to piggies (e.g. eucalyptus oil). I guess you have to try some and see what you find easiest?
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This is my issue! my flat is like a postage stamp! I have to rearrange my living room everyday to get the piggies out in the run so keeping a great big bale isn't ideal!
I'm always terrified of bits getting in their bobs! My only slight worry about cardboard based bedding is that sometimes the boys like to play with a toilet roll holder with hay inside and sometimes like to chew on it - i can't imagine nibbling on their bedding would be too good for them xD
But thanks for the warning about eucalyptus oil and coatings!
 
TheCavySlave said:
For disposable bedding I used Back2Nature paper bedding, no smell at all! Stays very fresh and dry.
Oh, @Kit06 has a good point- I found bits of the paper bedding in their pouches from time to time, but it's very easy to get out- just make sure to lubricate it.
Click to expand...

I'll have to look into that! My boys are both very long haired so pouch checking is difficult to say the least so anything that could get stuck easy i would be a little wary about - certainly worth giving a go though if its as good as you say it is :)
 
We use snowflake for our boys. Occasionally get a bit stuck in their boy bits but not very often! We found aubiose much worse in that respect. Snowflake is great - we use it over paper in a c and c cage and only do a full clean once a week.
 
When I had a tiny box bedroom at uni I was still buying bales of substrate as value for money. But I found they fitted reasonably well (in different houses) into the bottom of a wardrobe, and with a blanket on top made a reasonable seat. So it might be worth even with small house if to anything would work there - because buying smaller bags is so hideously expensive in comparison.

Also could be worth looking at the precise dimensions of the bales too, as some substrates are more square in cross section, while others are very rectangular. And if you're low on space, small differences like that can be dealbreakers.
 
I use puppy pads ( 3.00 for 30 from Wilkos) and then fleece on top :) I know you said the whole washing thing but if you got say 5 (mine are from the 99p shop and my boys love them) you could just throw them in with your wash once a week? I don't have a dryer but they are so quick drying I hang mine on the doors and they dry :) I had mine on the same as you and I tell you the difference in mess is amazing ! I wouldn't use anything else now .
 
Kit06 said:
There's loads of info on the different bedding on this forum but I think whatever you end up going for it is probably cheaper to get a big bale if you have somewhere to store it? I really like cardboard bedding like Finacard or Ecobale. Hemp bedding like Aubiose is also good and very absorbent. Lots of people like it on here but I have found pieces of it stuck in my boars bits :eek: so don't use it often. Fitch is also popular it's like ripped up toilet roll but I think it's got a bit pricey over the last year or so. You can also get oil seed rape straw bedding and other shredded straw type beddings but you have to make sure they are not coated with anything that might be harmful to piggies (e.g. eucalyptus oil). I guess you have to try some and see what you find easiest?
Click to expand...
No don't use rape seed oil straw, in Brazil & other places, they destroy whole forests & wildlife for that stuff.
 
Tiamolly123 said:
No don't use rape seed oil straw, in Brazil & other places, they destroy whole forests & wildlife for that stuff.
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Tropical deforestation is certainly a big global issue, but oilseed rape isn't a tropical crop. It's usually grown in more temperate climates - the main historic producers are Canada, India and China. But there are increasing amounts being grown in the USA and Europe (including the UK) now as it's used as a source of biofuel.

I don't know where the UK substrate brands that use rape straw grow the crop as I don't use it (tried it once, made my asthma really bad), but I'm sure they would be able to tell you if you emailed to ask. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was EU.
 
I find cardboard is great at not sticking to hair (I have Lunks, perus and a sheltie - the Lunks are like velcro!) or fleecy tubes, beds etc. It's easy to clean out as it's in large chunks so you don't drop bits everywhere. I've not noticed them eating it. The only issue I have is getting hold of it now as it's not sold locally so I order a pallet of 10 bales and try and fit them in my garage! You can buy single bales from GJW Titmuss
 
I use Fitch for both my guinea pig and hamster. It lasts for AGES. I have been buying since June/July and am only now on my second bale. That's with weekly cage changes, daily spot cleaning and hamster cage cleaning (hamsters need a lot of bedding to fulfil natural burrowing instincts). It costs me just over £20 for 20kg.

It is virtually dust free, very soft and is white so everything shows up in the bedding.

Oreo almost popcorns (he almost never does because he's lazy and got used to the idea of luxury ;) ) when he goes back in a fresh cage of Fitch.
 
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