Question about bedding

Skippy · Oct 14, 2009

For years now, I have been getting wood shavings from the pet shop to line Skippy's cage with. However, it is very expensive to get when you have a big cage to fill so I was wondering if it is ok to get the kind of large bags of wood shavings in farmer's co-ops that are designed for horses?

I know what you get in the States is probably different that what I can get here in Ireland but the thing I would be worried about is that I don't really know what kind of wood is used in those large bags or if it has been kiln-dried.

On the other hand, I don't know for sure what wood is in the bags I get now or how that is treated. It doesn't say on the bags. I know some woods are toxic to chins but does it really matter that much what kind of wood is in the shavings? I don't think she really chews on any of it and if she does, it is very rarely.

At the moment I am paying €6 per 5kg bag. And that is at a discount when I buy them in bulk. They are normally €7.50 each. It takes half a bag to fill the bottom of the cage so as you can imagine, the cost builds up very quickly. I have been paying this for years but thought it was about time I look for a cheaper alternative. I want to make sure I get something safe yet at the same time I know that I have never known for sure what Ihave been using or where it comes from. I only have to assume it is safe as it is sold for animals.

I appreciate any advice that you can give

Stackie · Oct 14, 2009

Check to see if it has a very strong odor. Most pine that hasn't been kiln dried will be very strong.

I'm not sure if you said what type of wood it is, either. I know some people use cedar in their horse barns (at least I have seen a lot of cedar advertised as for horse barns), and cedar is toxic to chins so that is a definite no-go.

I also wanted to suggest fleece liners. When I added cages, it was getting pretty pricey to even buy the big bulk shavings because I would have to go buy a new bag every two weeks or so. When I switched to fleece liners, I just used a small pan of shavings for them to use as a potty pan. Now it probably takes me at least 5 months to get through a whole big bag of shavings.

Btw, It's not all about ingesting the wood that makes it toxic. Some contains oils that are detrimental to their respiratory systems, and it hurts them when they breath it in for a period of time.

Skippy · Oct 14, 2009

I definitely know that cedar is a big no-no. I don't actually know yet what wood they do use because I haven't looked at it yet. I just wanted to know if other people us it at all.

As for the fleece, I have always avoided getting her some because she is the kind that chews up everything. Maybe I will invest it some. I have always had a thought about that though - I put a nice thick layer of wood shavings in the cage to absorb the shock and to provide a nice landing when she jumps down quickly from higher shelves. Will the fleece provide that much support or is it really needed? Perhaps I am being an overprotective Mom!! The only other thing about the fleece is that the bottom of my cage is ever so slightly uneven so that when there is not much woodshavings in it, it can make a loud noise when she jumps down onto it. I wonder would the fleece absorb that noise at all? - Just a thought!

alli713 · Oct 14, 2009

I buy large bags of shavings specified for horses. You just have to make sure it's pine.

It is a lot cheaper than those small bags! I'd just look around and see what you can find. Chances are, you'll be able to find pine. Most of what I've seen around here for horses is pine.

tunes · Oct 14, 2009

If it's for horses, most likely it's kiln dried. Horses are very sensitive to things, just like chins are. You can't use cedar for horses either.

BTW, I use Devil's Tower shavings and they have a strong pine odor to them, but they are still kiln dried. They also make the barn smell wonderful after cage cleaning. They in large bales (bags) and they do quite a few cages.

Spoof · Oct 14, 2009

Any horse bedding that is made out of white woods will be fine for use, I know in the U.K. they mix a lot of aspen, birch and other softwoods.

Reality is if it smells like pine you're smelling phenols, kiln dried or not. It's just how strong it is vs. your cage ventilation. With a cage as large as yours you could get away with just about anything.

Just head to your nearest horse facility and ask about their stall bedding.

)

Chinniechantel · Oct 14, 2009

I love the feed store, great shavings and they are always so helpful with me, checking the bags for "kiln dried" or KDHT and helping me find the right size shaving. I found one I really like, it is super airy and fluffy and smells great.