Bedding with babies

I currently remove pregnant females from tubs and keep them alone in lab cages for the first 10 days after delivery. I will be trying a new approach to try to reduce work (cleaning/moving) and increase production. I will be keeping one male and three females together is a small mixing tub full time and only removing the weanlings.

With my current method I use pine pellets alone in the breeding tubs and fine pine shavings in the birthing lab cages. The pine pellets give off a lot of dust which can be bad for newborns.

I need to continue to use pine pellets because of cost and odor in my new method. Will a layer of pine pellets and then a light cover of pine shavings over them reduce the dust enough for the newborns?

Honestly that's what I do with my breeders, keep them together 24/7 and just remove weanlings. I have been using a layer of pine pellets with a layer of shredded pine on top for about 6+ months now and haven't noticed any problems with the newborns or it being too dusty.

In nursing tubs I keep using pellet just a thin layer cover with pine shavings.

When the babies are 2 weeks I no longer use pine shavings just pellets.

I guess I'm one of the few that just doesn't see the advantage of pellets. I've tried them several times, the only thing it does for me is make my wallet lighter every week.
I use a fine shaving only. Change them once a week.

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Originally Posted by jasbus

I guess I'm one of the few that just doesn't see the advantage of pellets. I've tried them several times, the only thing it does for me is make my wallet lighter every week.
I use a fine shaving only. Change them once a week.

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I have the rodents in my basement so odor control is very important. I have tried aspen, large pine shavings, aspen sani-chips, carefresh and pine pellets. The only one that has kept the smell down for the full week has been the pine pellets.

I get a 40 pound bag at TSC for $6. I put very little in the tub and I mean barely any. There are numerous open areas on the floor of the tub where you would think urine would collect and stink but it doesn't. The pellets break down when wet and spread out and cover the floor by the end of the week. I have one temporary holding tub with 7 full grown females and after 6 days I can only smell pine.

I have found newborn babies on pellets alone dead and covered in dust, which is why I asked about the combo of pellets and fine shavings.

BTW, even the pellets don't control the smell of mice. The only place my mice don't smell bad is the freezer.

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Originally Posted by JohnNJ

BTW, even the pellets don't control the smell of mice. The only place my mice don't smell bad is the freezer.

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Or, in the gullet of a snake...
My sheds smell towards the end of the week, and it's always the mice that stink.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jasbus

I guess I'm one of the few that just doesn't see the advantage of pellets. I've tried them several times, the only thing it does for me is make my wallet lighter every week.
I use a fine shaving only. Change them once a week.

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Count me as one of the few also :P

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

Count me as one of the few also :P

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I like pelleted pine when I have organizing rats. Ya know those females and sometimes males who like to kick all the shavings out of the tubs? Yeaahhh....it's harder for them with pellets.

Cement tubs, no kicking out of those!