Hi well we have had our guinea pigs for a while and they have used sawdust. Now i see that some people say you should use hay instead. Is it vital that you use hay or is it just an opinion thing, oh and my hutch is in the conservatory until spring.(won't be in conservatory every winter)?/?/
Sawdust or not?
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daleksarah
Adult Guinea Pig
its vital they have a supply of hay all the time and to be honest i dont like saw dust and i use fleece
MintyAndGarry (TEAS)
Adult Guinea Pig
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Two of mine are on fleece, the other two are on wood shavings. Some people don't like them, but my boys seem fine with it. They like to forage in it and snuggle in it. I've tried them with hay for bedding, but they just seem to kick it out of their pigloo!
Little Piggles
Senior Guinea Pig
My girls live outdoors in the warmer months and live on meadow hay. They also have a good supply of hay for eating, as this is vital for their digestion 
I believe wood shavings have been linked to respiratory illnesses, however, as M&G above notes, many people have kept piggies on shavings for years with no ill effect
I believe wood shavings have been linked to respiratory illnesses, however, as M&G above notes, many people have kept piggies on shavings for years with no ill effect
happysaz133
Teenage Guinea Pig
Ours are on hay and have a rack to eat as well. But they eat the stuff off the ground too!
My piggies are on fleece, sawdust is one of the last beddings I'd use, it can causing respiratory/breathing difficultys, definantely not safe xx
C
charlie23
My piggies are on shavings as when i tried fleece they ate it. They destroyed so many fleeces. They have a continuos supply of hay aswell
nutmeg
Senior Guinea Pig
Sawdust is a no no, as the name says it is dust and can sometimes cause respiratory problems. Wood shavings are used by many guinea pig owners, just make sure you get the top quality, dust extracted type. Everyone has their preferences, and this is determined by what their guineas seem to like best, and also where you keep your guineas, for instance, if you keep them in the living room, you wouldn't really want wood shavings all over the place. xx
thanks
Well they always have a big supply of hay on the rack and most of the time bits end up on the floor. I know quite a bit of people that use sawdust but as i can see its just an opinion. Anyway they are supposed to be outside Oh and we do have bedding, its just not everywhere. so so so so sorry we are actually using woodshaving sorry got the name mixed up but is woodshavings ok anyway?
Well they always have a big supply of hay on the rack and most of the time bits end up on the floor. I know quite a bit of people that use sawdust but as i can see its just an opinion. Anyway they are supposed to be outside Oh and we do have bedding, its just not everywhere. so so so so sorry we are actually using woodshaving sorry got the name mixed up but is woodshavings ok anyway?
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Personally I don't use shavings for several reasons. Firstly, my pigs love fleece and their cosy cups, they always sit in their litter trays eating hay but when they want to sleep and relax they move to the fleece. Secondly shavings get everywhere! Hay is bad enough to clear up. Finally, I've had a few pigs that have gotten respiratory infections from breathing in dust from shavings.
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