What to use in their litter box?

vmorin918

vmorin918

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi! We have two little ladies, and we have been using paper bedding (Kaytee clean and cozy) in their litter box. We might be adopting two more piggies! So that got me thinking, 1.) we will need a bigger litter box (or put 2 side by side in front of the giant hay bag) and 2.) it’s gonna be fairly expensive to keep going with the paper bedding (right now the $25 bag lasts about 7-8 weeks) I change the litter box every other day. (so if we went from 2-4 piggies I would be buying a bag every month)

I’m wondering what you all use, if anyone has experience with the pellets, aspen shavings, etc. I’m mostly concerned about their feet with those items. I don’t want them to get bumblefoot or be too uncomfortable either.
 
Have a look at aubious online, it's used for horses, but is cheap and dust free, it's hemp chippings, like soft wood really but ground down. Farm shops or horse supplies places sell it. About £10 for a huge bag. I think it's 20L. Not sure.

I use it for gerbils because woodshavings was causing them minor respiratory issues before.

I have never used it for guinea pigs, not sure if itl cause bumble foot
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
Have a look at aubious online, it's used for horses, but is cheap and dust free, it's hemp chippings, like soft wood really but ground down. Farm shops or horse supplies places sell it. About £10 for a huge bag. I think it's 20L. Not sure.

I use it for gerbils because woodshavings was causing them minor respiratory issues before.

I have never used it for guinea pigs, not sure if itl cause bumble foot
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I read about people using various horse bedding. There’s a few feed stores around me, maybe I’ll see what they have for shavings. I mean, I have fleece in the rest of the cage so if the shavings or pellets aren’t as comfortable as the paper bedding it’s not like they are gonna be in it for long. go in, do your business and jump out 😊
 
I use recycled paper ‘pellet’ litter. It’s pretty cheap, soft, absorbent and my piggies don’t try and eat it 😂
 
Livia Rabideau said:
Equine pellet bedding covered in hay.
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Oh I saw this at Tractor Supply (for those not in the USA - it's a store for farm supplies, etc.) I was wondering about odor and/or foot problems. Do yours seem to not be bothered by it? I saw the 40lb (18kg) bag is only $6. Sometimes things are too good to be true. BUT.... for that price if it didn't work out I wouldn't care. I've wasted more money than that on more stupid things LOL
 
Roxy_Piggy_Mom said:
I use recycled paper ‘pellet’ litter. It’s pretty cheap, soft, absorbent and my piggies don’t try and eat it 😂
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OOH paper pellets! I saw this when I was at the pet store looking at bedding options. Maybe I'll try that, and the Equine pellet bedding. See what they like better HAHAHA Worst case scenario if I think it might hurt their feet I'll throw a small piece of fleece over the litter box. GOD THEY ARE SO SPOILED. LMAO.

My boss always says she wants to be one of my guinea pigs and live at my house as they are so spoiled LOL I think we are all guilty of that.
 
vmorin918 said:
Oh I saw this at Tractor Supply (for those not in the USA - it's a store for farm supplies, etc.) I was wondering about odor and/or foot problems. Do yours seem to not be bothered by it? I saw the 40lb (18kg) bag is only $6. Sometimes things are too good to be true. BUT.... for that price if it didn't work out I wouldn't care. I've wasted more money than that on more stupid things LOL
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I check their feet each week and it has not caused a problem. I am in the USA. It eliminates odor. By far the best I have tried. I have 11 piggies. 6 cages. It is so cheap. Once they pee on it it turns very soft. If you are worried just put extra hay in there.
 
Livia Rabideau said:
I check their feet each week and it has not caused a problem. I am in the USA. It eliminates odor. By far the best I have tried. I have 11 piggies. 6 cages. It is so cheap. Once they pee on it it turns very soft. If you are worried just put extra hay in there.
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11 piggies! my dream! HAHAHA I was a little nervous about adding to our two, and having 4! Thank you for the advice, definitely gonna at least try it! Doesn’t hurt to try. Do you use it in their whole cage or just litter box /kitchen area?
 
vmorin918 said:
11 piggies! my dream! HAHAHA I was a little nervous about adding to our two, and having 4! Thank you for the advice, definitely gonna at least try it! Doesn’t hurt to try. Do you use it in their whole cage or just litter box /kitchen area?
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Just in the litterbox. I use fleece in the rest. They aren't all together unfortunately. I have been trying different combinations with my girls, but there is always one female that runs it 🙄. I have 6 separate cages. 4 pairs of females. A pair of males and a single boy. I hope you love the equine pellet bedding. I do!
 
Livia Rabideau said:
Just in the litterbox. I use fleece in the rest. They aren't all together unfortunately. I have been trying different combinations with my girls, but there is always one female that runs it 🙄. I have 6 separate cages. 4 pairs of females. A pair of males and a single boy. I hope you love the equine pellet bedding. I do!
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We picked up a bag yesterday, I cut it open last night to air outand it doesn’t have a strong “pine” scent like I was expecting (20 years ago we unfortunately used cedar shavings with the guinea pig I had in junior high) the equine pellets just smell like wood. Today is cage cleaning day so we’ll put the pellets in the litter box and see what happens! They’ll probably give us a look like “what is this crap” compared to their paper bedding but then of course I’ll say “listen you freeloaders...” 😂😂😂

Thanks for your help! Would love to see pictures of your little fuzzy ones!
 
vmorin918 said:
We picked up a bag yesterday, I cut it open last night to air outand it doesn’t have a strong “pine” scent like I was expecting (20 years ago we unfortunately used cedar shavings with the guinea pig I had in junior high) the equine pellets just smell like wood. Today is cage cleaning day so we’ll put the pellets in the litter box and see what happens! They’ll probably give us a look like “what is this crap” compared to their paper bedding but then of course I’ll say “listen you freeloaders...” 😂😂😂

Thanks for your help! Would love to see pictures of your little fuzzy ones!
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Here goes. Lol.
 

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Livia Rabideau said:
It's awesome. A lot of work, but worth it.
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What do you use for litter boxes? We aren’t expanding the cage for at least 2-3 weeks and I’ll make one out of the extra coroplast then. I tried to look for cat litter boxes but they all were like 5 inches tall and figured they would have a hard time getting in. Right now I have a plastic tray I bought at walmart, it’s only 3 inches tall.
 
I get small ones online at chewy.com. None of mine have a problem using them. I have 2 corner boxes for my girls who like to pee in the corner.
 
Here are the ones I use. I also have another large grrr e one, but it takes up too much space.
 

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Livia Rabideau said:
Here are the ones I use. I also have another large grrr e one, but it takes up too much space.
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Did your piggies try to eat the pellet bedding? I just caught my oldest one try to snack away. She’s also been very skeptical and sniffing it a lot lol I sprinkled some of the paper bedding on top to sort of remind them that it is their litter box haha
 
vmorin918 said:
Did

Did your piggies try to eat the pellet bedding? I just caught my oldest one try to snack away. She’s also been very skeptical and sniffing it a lot lol I sprinkled some of the paper bedding on top to sort of remind them that it is their litter box haha
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Mine have not tried to eat it as far as I know. I just pile the hay on top and haven't had any problems. Hopefully they will adjust. They are such funny creatures 😂.
 
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