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Post by darthchinchi on Apr 24, 2017 13:56:19 GMT
Sorry if this is in the wrong place.
I've tried asking around in the danish chinchilla community but didn't really get enough response.
I would like to write an article on the different types of bedding you can use for chinchillas. I'm putting it here anyway as degus and chinchillas should be able to use the same types of bedding.
It's more of an info chart on what types of bedding you can get. I'm thinking it will get sorted into categories with with good to bad bedding types, and a bit of info on why it's good/bad.
I would like a list on bedding types and a picture of the bedding itself. If the bedding doesn't vary between brands I only need 1 picture of the bedding.
People often ask what type of bedding to use. This should end up being a helpfull tool help people choose a type of bedding. I want the list to be as complete as possible no matter how good or bad it may be.
So first of I need a list of bedding types (please comment with what you can think of):
Shavings (not really sure about the types as we just call it shavings/woodshavings and never look to the type. Info on this issue would be apprisiated, especially since I keep on hearing about a phenol problem when urin come into contact with the shavings but I can't find any documentation on this issue)
Hemp
Fleece (Cage liners)
News paper
Granulated pellets (straw, mais and shavings/sawdust)
Carefresh
Straw
Pro/con info is very welcome!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2017 14:07:13 GMT
I think there's already a list like this on the degu cage section  |
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 24, 2017 14:15:52 GMT
deguworld.proboards.com/thread/8754/cage-bedding-reviewsIn europe shavings are usually softwoods, presumably spruce, fir and pine. They are cheap but the phenols in them can cause irritation. I don't know about urine affecting the phenols, maybe some moisture helps release the phenols or perhaps acid in the urine releases it? Aspen shavings are commonly available in USA and have less phenols than softwoods. Cedar is also available in USA and is generally not suitable due to very high phenols and irritant properties (I think). Hemp chips. Cheap if you can find it in bulk. Odourless, moderate absorbtion, low dust usually. Granulated pellets. Good for absorbtion. must be checked that they don't swell in case of ingestion. dustiness varies. Straw. cheap and natural therefore safe to eat. not very absorbant. Carefresh, Fitch, other paper flake products. Price varies. High absorbency. Low odour usually. Dustiness varies.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2017 14:31:38 GMT
I've tried everything in the book.
Hemps probably my favourite out of the lot, it's just expensive. £17 to cover a lazybones style cage. It lasts a long time though. That's if bought from Zooplus but I don't know where else to buy it. It's pretty odourless and keeps odour under control except for the smell of the hemp itself. Some will rough it up though and ruin it. Pickle has ruined hers completely and Poppy has ruined her bottom section. Not cost effective if you keep having to replace it too soon.
Pellets - I used these when I first had degus, I didn't like them as they were so hard on their feet. Kept smell under bay well though.
Straw - never used it, don't really consider it an option as it's not very absorbent at all. Okay for things like guinea pigs on top of fleece I suppose. I see a lot of people do that.
I've tried lots of paper and cardboard flake products. Repticard I hated as it goes all mush and sticks everywhere. Finally cleaned it all out but I had to scrub the tiles so hard to get it off. Looks gross too. Smells as well imo.
Paper based products are fine but need changing out a LOT.
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Post by alan1302 on Apr 24, 2017 21:54:10 GMT
That's if bought from Zooplus but I don't know where else to buy it. It's pretty odourless and keeps odour under control except for the smell of the hemp itself. Got mine from Amazon 100cm x 40cm for £7 |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2017 22:06:36 GMT
Yeah, that's the same price as Zooplus. X
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Post by savvy on Apr 25, 2017 11:35:27 GMT
I use a local, independent pet shop for most of my degu needs now (apart from forage which comes from ratrations) and he can get his hands on almost anything.
I use his own brand wood shavings which are steam cleaned and kiln dried. They are the softest wood shavings I have ever come across. There is no smell, they are absorbant and the boys like them. And it costs me £3.50 to fill two aventura cages. Plus he delivers for free.
I tend to put piles of hay in various places as they like to sleep on these and just eat their way around them.
In the nest boxes I use toilet tissue.
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 25, 2017 12:20:03 GMT
Just to clarify, Emily and alan are talking about hemp matting.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2017 17:53:44 GMT
Sorry yes we are.
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Post by randomname on Apr 26, 2017 10:23:54 GMT
I personally use hemp & flax mats, covered by hemp chips, on the floor, & a small amount of hay/straw in the nesting boxes. Rescues won't rehome to people who use sawdust/wood shavings as they have been linked to respiratory issues in rats & guinea pigs. Phenols are a huge problem - they are in pine disinfectant, which has been linked to kidney/liver damage in dogs & cats who ingest them when grooming their paws after being exposed to it. I don't like unnatural things like fleece (plastic) just in case they eat it. Environmentally, wood shavings & fleece (plastic) are a total disaster to produce & to dispose of, & owning a pet makes your carbon footprint giant-sized, so I like the idea of mitigating the negative effect with some better choices. Don't like the idea of wild animals dying because I choose to adopt homeless animals. I've tried all the bedding out there over the last 20 years, but always go back to hemp chips (Auboise horse bedding or Siccofloor) I use a layer of newspaper, hemp chips & lots of straw/hay for the rabbits & guinea pigs, the degus & chins have hemp mats & chips with only hay as bedding as they are not big hay eaters & I don't want them eating straw instead. I read that fleece doesn't stay wet from urine, it soaks through & dries pretty quickly, so you need newspaper or something underneath, which seems to defeat the object somewhat to me. Wood shavings just stay wet, I find no absorbency at all. My hemp chip bag says it's more than 200% absorption plus it wicks away the urine & the top layer dries. This bears out as I find that the rabbits don't have a problem with flies in the shed/hutch in Summer any more. With previous bedding (wood shavings) I found flies a massive problem if I didn't clean their litter trays twice a day, but with hemp chips I don't have a problem at all. I tried Fitch (recycled paper) lately, I liked the size of the chunks, didn't fly out of the cages like shavings or hemp chips, but it didn't last as long before it needed changing. I find hemp chips last longest before needing a change from all the bedding. It is usually more expensive to buy hemp, but the benefits & longevity make it more economical than it seems. I use around half the amount of hemp than I would shavings. EDIT: I find straw is useful for warmth, but is nutritionally very poor & totally non absorbent. I only really use it for the outdoor rabbits for warmth, the degus & chins don't need it. I use cheap hay as a nesting material for them as it might encourage some nibbling.The degus, guinea pigs & rabbits like a lot of hay to burrow through & hide in, so I tend to put a handful in the nesting box & a huge lump in the middle of the cage, but the chins don't really care about that - they ignore huge piles so I don't bother. Edit 2 - I should add NEVER EVER use the fluff style bedding (like this - www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Animal-Dreams-Fluff-Wool-Bedding-Nesting-Hamsters-Gerbils-Mice-Rats-Guinea-Pigs-/141789727820) as this stuff KILLS. It wraps around the legs & causes huge problems usually ending in amputation. It is fatal if it's eaten & gets wrapped around the guts. Awful stuff. Not usually sold for degus or chins, usually sold for hamsters. Poor hammies are even worse served than degus in some respects. This is NOT the kapock bedding, looks similar, but kapock isn't dangerous when ingested & doesn't have fibres that can wrap around digits or limbs. |
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Post by darthchinchi on Apr 27, 2017 14:06:34 GMT
randomname here that type of bedding is called hamster cotton and every body hates it. Actually I don't get why it's not made illegal yet.
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Post by randomname on Apr 28, 2017 1:02:33 GMT
Me either darthchinchi. It's been blacklisted from hamster care for more than 10 years - it's the one thing breeders, forums & rescues seem to agree on. Can only really be new owners who buy it, so I don't understand why it's still around. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2017 12:38:27 GMT
As in Kapok?
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Post by randomname on Apr 29, 2017 7:47:39 GMT
No, Em, Kapok is fine as far as I know. It's the stuff that looks like Kapock, but I think is usually cotton based. |
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Post by deguconvert on Apr 29, 2017 18:47:19 GMT
I think it may even be polyester.
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Post by randomname on Apr 29, 2017 23:10:39 GMT
You may be right DC, it feels plasticy & waterproof to me. Hate the feel of it.
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rambam
Foraging Degu
Posts: 64 
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Post by rambam on May 21, 2017 21:04:27 GMT
Hiya, Can I ask if you guys use Hemp mats do you put anything underneath or is it absorbent? I'm looking of improving the cages.
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2017 21:29:58 GMT
The hemp flooring? I don't put anything under it no. |
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2017 21:30:13 GMT
Pretty absorbent yep! It's the best thing I've tried.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2017 21:51:06 GMT
I largely use newspaper under wire. (bumble foot is a myth with chinchilla. Due to their feet being designed to hop on rocks they need a variety of hard, and soft area to walk. Wire helps build the callouses needed to protect the feet. Bacteria and unhygienic conditions cause bumble foot.)
This alows easy cleaning, clean animals, but does need changing very regularly.
Kiln dried pine shavings-whilst yes, the Phenols could be an issue with sufficient ventilation (unlike an enclosed hutch) this should be little to no issue with chinchilla in a ventilated cage and daily spot cleaning. It is the "go to" product for many. Personally-it annoys me. They kick it everywhere. some pine shavings do include Douglas fir which is also safe.
Some prefer aspen, I have yet to find a cost effective option to buy this as here it is mainly marketed at reptiles.
Fleece-holds bacteria. Thus needs cleaning at least every 2 days, and ruins your washing machine! It is handy in squares places under food bowls if you use mesh, to prevent chins digging through.
One thing I strongly avoid is things like carefresh-where they add extra "odor neutralizing" chemicals, and paper based bedding that swells in the stomach if eaten.
I also avoid straw-due to its ability to poke chins in the eye, and the way it breaks down it is hard to spot clean!
These are just my experiences of the above.
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