Re: Top soil as alternative bedding for mice
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cchardwick
Topsoil - Brilliant! I actually just tried Cypress mulch with fantastic results for both my mice and rats. I live in a dry climate so there's nothing getting wet or turning to mud. Rodent bedding is a huge expense, it's probably a quarter of my total costs raising ball pythons. Anything to cut those costs and keep the animals healthy is a bonus. I'm going to try it next!
how often did you need to replace the mulch? Winter months Home Depot doesn't sell topsoil. For now, I been using cat litter. Cheapest cat litter I found was from Tractor Supply which comes out to be 14 cents a lb. Topsoil nothing but soil 4 cents per lb for $1.49 for 40 lb bag of dirt. Just imagine the economy to scale
Re: Top soil as alternative bedding for mice
The pine shavings at Tractor Supply are not kiln dry. I’d be more worried about the oils in that one. I have a bag just as big as that of kiln dry pine from Walmart for $6. Lasts me at least a month for 4 giant tubs and 4 small standard cages.
Re: Top soil as alternative bedding for mice
Quote:
Originally Posted by
copper
The pine shavings at Tractor Supply are not kiln dry. I’d be more worried about the oils in that one. I have a bag just as big as that of kiln dry pine from Walmart for $6. Lasts me at least a month for 4 giant tubs and 4 small standard cages.
Tractor supply pine is fine I have been using it for 11 years and produced well over 50000 rodents.
Re: Top soil as alternative bedding for mice
Quote:
Originally Posted by
breederfeeder
I read a few forums where people would use topsoil as an alternative to pine shavings. They said literally only had to remove the top layer of soil once a month. It's a lot cheaper than pine or recycled newspaper. However, they have to bake it in the oven prior to using it. I thought since mice in the wild live in dirt, couldn't you use topsoil out of the bag? I can't imagine baking or freezing topsoil.
The smell of the mice on Topsoil will be over barring unless they are in a outside building you have were it doesn't effect you. Not to mention the muck it will make. Stick with Pine or Aspen.
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