Questions about bedding for feeder mice

[ShenziSixaxis]

So I've started looking around at different places to check out what I can put my mice on when I get them, and there's everything from Carefresh to plain ol' wood chip beddings. So I'm wondering, what types of wood are safe for mice and if that little bit on them would affect the corn when being fed. I'd like to mix some Carefresh or something with some wood chips to make it last longer, and because rodents will stink no matter what, I find, so why pay a lot for bedding that doesn't get rid of the stink for a long time?

 

[wstphal]

Some mouse breeders have reported health problems from cedar or fir bedding, so I would stay away from those. Aspen + Carefresh sounds reasonable, so does shredded paper + Carefresh. I used to use aspen + a little fir (maybe 10% fir chips) and that seemed to work well for mouse health & odor controlo. YMMV.

 

[ShenziSixaxis]

I don't see any fir here, but I also haven't checked. I also see very little cedar, but I can find pine. What about that?

 

[ComoxCorn]

I don't see any fir here, but I also haven't checked. I also see very little cedar, but I can find pine. What about that?

I've been using nothing but pine shavings for my breeder mice & asf's. Never any problems whatsoever with it. As far as those "little bits" stuck to the mice, my suggestion is to clean off your mice before feeding them to your snakes.
Mice will smell regardless of the bedding you use. The only true tested method I have found for odor control is daily spot cleaning, and total bedding replacement every three to four days.

 

[wstphal]

Pine has the same issues as fir & cedar. Some mouse breeders think it is harmful to mice. That said, If you are planning on feeding them off, it's probably not an issue, and many other people who breed mice say they have no problems with keeping mice on pine, fir or cedar.

 

[carnivorouszoo]

The problem is that the phenols (I think that is the term) in hardwoods like pine and cedar cause liver and lung issues with longterm use. I had a lot of troubles with things like that with gerbils but then they live much longer than mice. Esp those bred to feed other animals. Personally I do not use pine products as I am highly allergic to the aromas. Nor can I have cedar. I had to give away a cedar chest because it caused my airway to close if I went without my pills. I use shredded paper with a thin layer of regular cat litter under it. No issues in the past, shouldn't have issues this time either (I just got myself 4 mice ).

 

[Buzzard]

Tractor supply company makes a horse pellet bedding. The bedding is made up of processed pine,hay and straw. (Super absorbent)The odor is almost non-exsistant. The only issur is that it can be very dusty. I strain out the bedding, using a hardware cloth type strainer. I then use the stuff thats is whole for the mice, rats, asf's. The dust material I use in the horses stall. Its the best stuff every. I change once a week with this stuff and 1 handfull of aspen shavings (so they can build a nest). Its worked out so well, and cleaning is a snap.

 

[ShenziSixaxis]

I'll check out pine and other wood shavings then. I can probably check out some horse pellet bedding, but I will probably be to lazy if I find something else that I can easily obtain.

I'll also try the cat litter and shredded newspaper stuff.

 

[Buzzard]

I'll check out pine and other wood shavings then. I can probably check out some horse pellet bedding, but I will probably be to lazy if I find something else that I can easily obtain.

I'll also try the cat litter and shredded newspaper stuff.

If you dont have a Tractor supply company most feed stores or Co-op stores will have the pellet bedding. Dont be lazy it could save you a bundle(money or time or both) by being diligent, and trying different things... Good luck

 

[ShenziSixaxis]

Thing is, I have NO idea where to go without going way out of town, which isn't an option.

 

[wade]

you must have a feed store in Sparks. I have always used pine shavings, I buy it from Intermountain Farmers Assoc. Any place that sells grain should carry it.

 

[Longspider]

No pine chips

I also recently thought I would do my own breeding. Bought 6 mice put them rinto a aquarium I had just bought. It was filled with a fresh bad of the pine bedding. With in 5 miles of the store my Buck mouse was dead another 4 miles one of my does. I reserched alot of web cites and found the soft wood to be bad for their little resp system. So off t wal mart i whent and found a paper like bedding twice as exp as the pine but no deaths due to the pine. Hoping to see first set of births in 20-30 days woot

 

[Buzzard]

I also recently thought I would do my own breeding. Bought 6 mice put them rinto a aquarium I had just bought. It was filled with a fresh bad of the pine bedding. With in 5 miles of the store my Buck mouse was dead another 4 miles one of my does. I reserched alot of web cites and found the soft wood to be bad for their little resp system. So off t wal mart i whent and found a paper like bedding twice as exp as the pine but no deaths due to the pine. Hoping to see first set of births in 20-30 days woot

Where did you get the mice? Mice can die due to stress from being moved. Not saying it wasnt the pine but it sounds like there could of been a different factor in play there....

 

[Longspider]

/whisper "petland" lol

 

[ijen82]

Shame n you for supporting "petland" j/k LOL...I've been breeding/keeping mice and rats for over 5 years now. I have kept them on pine all this time and never had a prob, I just prefer that it is kiln dried because it removes some(not all) the oils. I've also been feeding them to my snakes, with no ill effects thus far As for the smell, try some vanilla extract(can be imitation) in the water. I put 3 spoonfuls in my 5 gallon autowater bucket. It makes a difference on smell and is harmless I hope this helps..

 

[Reddevil95128]

I breed mice,rats and guinea pigs and I keep them all on aspen .With some shredded newspaper and some hay.Ive used pine years ago and found less babies made it then when I use aspen.cypress is also fair game tho and you should be able to find that at a home depot or other hardware store

 

[ShenziSixaxis]

you must have a feed store in Sparks. I have always used pine shavings, I buy it from Intermountain Farmers Assoc. Any place that sells grain should carry it.

I'll check the phone book (or rather, bug my mom to ), but I'm honestly not sure if there is a feed store NEAR here. My mother hates going way out of the way to get something, whether for me, her, or whoever.

I also recently thought I would do my own breeding. Bought 6 mice put them rinto a aquarium I had just bought. It was filled with a fresh bad of the pine bedding. With in 5 miles of the store my Buck mouse was dead another 4 miles one of my does. I reserched alot of web cites and found the soft wood to be bad for their little resp system. So off t wal mart i whent and found a paper like bedding twice as exp as the pine but no deaths due to the pine. Hoping to see first set of births in 20-30 days woot

Sounds more like you got some bad mice, honestly.

As for the smell, try some vanilla extract(can be imitation) in the water. I put 3 spoonfuls in my 5 gallon autowater bucket. It makes a difference on smell and is harmless I hope this helps..

I heard a lot of people here tried that and that it didn't work. I'll see if it does for me, though.

I breed mice,rats and guinea pigs and I keep them all on aspen .With some shredded newspaper and some hay.Ive used pine years ago and found less babies made it then when I use aspen.cypress is also fair game tho and you should be able to find that at a home depot or other hardware store

Never thought about that. Thanks. It also helps that I found that PetCo sells aspen pellets for real cheap.