Bedding (new stuff I'm trying)

I am tired of aspen, and the smells. Sorry if this is a possible repost of other bedding threads.

I came across this local farmer that has flax bedding ($4.75 and it's half my size and I'm 6').

Then found someone that has rat chow (50 lb bag for $34)
He also sells this thing called stall dry. It's like kitty litter. Cost $16 a 25kg bag.

So, I put the stall dry first, then flax bedding on top. One of my rats is actually pooping in one spot now. Very cool. The smell is gone, and the stuff is easy to maintain.

I'm actually testing it on my cats litter. I saved $200 on supplies switching to farmer found products. The rat chow is the same as pet store $13 3.3 pound bags, but actually better product.

Rats and mice are thriving, and no loss of any babies.

- - - Updated - - -

The aspen bedding at a local pet store cost me $14 for those big bags. I bought four of these flax bags for $20.

Haven't heard of flax for bedding, but worth looking into. I started buying aspen, instead of pine, but have been mixing in straw with good results. It is not as absorbent, but it's firm, and creates more 'ventilation' in the bedding, and more structure, keeping the bedding from getting compressed and extra smelly. The mom's seem to really love it for constructing perfect bowl-nests out of for their babies as well.

What exactly are the ingredients in the stall-dry?

Just loading up the bags and info now.

So, I put about 1/2 an inch of Stall Dry below the Flax. I've been using it with my cats to test, and wow it is great. They use this for farm animals as well. The zoo here is switching over, and once all my rats convert, I'll truly see and smell the difference. I just did the aspen about two days before I got all this, so I don't want to throw it out right away.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...p/IMAG2368.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...p/IMAG2369.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...p/IMAG2370.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...p/IMAG2371.jpg



Here is the food I am getting now. 50 pound bag for $34. (thankfully he gave me a tip prices will go up, so I will be buying a few bags before the price jumps)

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...p/IMAG2373.jpg

I'd be hesitant to use the stall-dry in any cage/ tub with pinkies in it, for the suffocation hazard. Anything older than that I think ought to be ok though. Its awesome that it seems to be helping so much already. I'm fairly tempted to look into getting some of the flax bedding just because I think seeing little rat nests instead of hills (I just use kiln-dried pine shavings) would be cute, lol.

I'd also worry about the small particles and dust causing respiratory problems. How dusty does it seem? Does it leave a coat of dust on the bottom of the cage? If not, great! Just keep an eye out for ay sneezing.

Great concerns. Literally, the flax is sitting ontop about 1-2" thick. Which doesn't sound like a lot. I will check after I eat my breakfast. I'd hate to lose those litters as they are two in one, and both moms are helping each other with them. I think it's a great idea you both are suggesting. I only found it dusty with the kitty litter. I'll up date shortly.

have to ask, any update on this old post?