MissHisssss
New member
I would like to find out who uses pine shavings for their mice and who doesn't, and why.
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Mouse bedding question/poll
- Thread starter MissHisssss
- Start date
CowBoyWay
Cocked & Unlocked member
mouse bedding substrate
I use shavings
They're inexpensive by the 2 cubic foot bale at the feed store. Cheap and easy to get.
I like a product called carefresh but it gets pricey fast.(read expensive to use)
Got a tub or two of mousee's going,what the heck,great stuff
I use shavings
They're inexpensive by the 2 cubic foot bale at the feed store. Cheap and easy to get.
I like a product called carefresh but it gets pricey fast.(read expensive to use)
Got a tub or two of mousee's going,what the heck,great stuff
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MissHisssss
New member
Thanks Cowboyway. I use them too. So do a lot of people in my area.... it's just that since I've been surfing the web I've run across those that are putting pine in the same (no no) catagory as cedar shavings and now I'm wondering if I'm hurting my snake food. I guess time will tell. Thanks again for your reply.
MissHisssss.
MissHisssss.
I maintain 5 colonies of mice and 3 of rats. I've used pine shavings for all of them for the past 2 years and evern have one mouse from the original first litter that is still producing large litters herself. I don't find an incredible amount of dust and no animals have died unexpectedly, none have died in the birth process, and since I recycle the adults every year or so (except for the phenomenal breeders) I have very little unexplained death.
I typically change the bedding every 4 days or so depending on how many hopper and larger offspring are present. The more the dirtier it gets faster. The colonies are in my garage, so we can tolerate the odor that begins about 10 minutes after cleaning.
Pine shavings are cheap here in the greater Sacramento area at about $4 for 12 cu feet at my local feed store.
I also reserve the aspen for my snakes. When my oldest daughter was caring for my animals while I was away, she mistakenly used some aspen for one mouse colony and boy did it stink after only a day. We'll not do that again.
I typically change the bedding every 4 days or so depending on how many hopper and larger offspring are present. The more the dirtier it gets faster. The colonies are in my garage, so we can tolerate the odor that begins about 10 minutes after cleaning.
Pine shavings are cheap here in the greater Sacramento area at about $4 for 12 cu feet at my local feed store.
I also reserve the aspen for my snakes. When my oldest daughter was caring for my animals while I was away, she mistakenly used some aspen for one mouse colony and boy did it stink after only a day. We'll not do that again.
Pine is cheap, but not free
In the poor mans world of the appartment pine isn't cheap enough, however the newspapers i pull outta the recycling bins are. I usualy rip them up a bit but it doens't matter much if a nest isn't needed right away cause the mice do a job on that paper like nothing i could do. I've also thought about investing in a cheap shreder. Newspaper is also great for keeping clean. I had a guinie pig once and he got lice, the vet said to use newspaper because the lice didn't like it as much. Finialy, there is no chance of the "evil" chemials from pine (just the evil chemicals from glue, but i dont' think they are that evil) Just don't use glossy paper.
In the poor mans world of the appartment pine isn't cheap enough, however the newspapers i pull outta the recycling bins are. I usualy rip them up a bit but it doens't matter much if a nest isn't needed right away cause the mice do a job on that paper like nothing i could do. I've also thought about investing in a cheap shreder. Newspaper is also great for keeping clean. I had a guinie pig once and he got lice, the vet said to use newspaper because the lice didn't like it as much. Finialy, there is no chance of the "evil" chemials from pine (just the evil chemicals from glue, but i dont' think they are that evil) Just don't use glossy paper.
Matt L
New member
I recently switched to Alphalfa pellets for my bedding. I maintain a fairly large colony (about 150 breeders) I use a enough pellets to cover the bottom of the tray and a small handful of pine for nesting. With pine shavings I had to clean every 5 days. I am now on day 14 and still hardly any smell. This was a test run so I will probably clean every 12 days. They cost a little more but I don't have the labor of cleaning as often. about $8.00 for a 50 pound bag. Hope the info helps--I was very impressed with the results and the pellets are also a part of there diet.
Matt L.
Matt L.
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MissHisssss
New member
Thanks Matt
Are these those really thin looking rabbit pellet dealies that just recently came out as bedding? If yes... I saw some in a pet shop being used with some of their reptiles, but didn't know it could be used for bedding for mice. Coool. I'll check into it.
MissHisssss
Are these those really thin looking rabbit pellet dealies that just recently came out as bedding? If yes... I saw some in a pet shop being used with some of their reptiles, but didn't know it could be used for bedding for mice. Coool. I'll check into it.
MissHisssss