Vanilla extract ... about one teaspoon per 8 ozs will cut the smell. I've done pretty extensive testing with additives to the water to cut the smell. Vanilla will cut the smell ... however ... ive found that they end up drinking more water when it is added. More vanilla water equals more urine and feces. Something I remember from school is that they body processes plain water differently than any other liquid (this includes flavored water). Its kinda like trying to slake your thirst with soda ... and you still end up having to drink water anyhow. Vinegar didnt have any appreciable difference with smell.
There is nothing wrong with housing rodents on pine
IF it is a high quality pine. None of this $5 walmart stuff unless you are willing to sift it manually before using it. You want a pine that has been sifted multiple times
and has been kiln dried. Look for a high grade pine that is designed to be used for horses (horses get RI's easily also). Average flake should be dime sized or larger.
Most dog food shouldnt even be fed to dogs ... it will keep them alive but thats about it. I have used Nutro Natural for Seniors with good results (this is what I feed my dog). The number one way to cut the smell, as mentioned, is good food and water. Alot of breeders swear by Mazuri ... Its a good food but I'm not a fan of it. Rodents cannot process corn or alfalfa ... most dog foods contain one or both of them (as does Mazuri). Unusable food is going to be discarded as feces. My personal preference is for
Harlan 2018. This is the food I model
my lab block after. Ive found 18-19% and 7-10% fat is best for rats. 16% protein and 5% fat is best for mice. Becky's mix is a good diet for someone breeding rodents as pets or for a small collection. I used a recipe similiar to that when I first started out.
The last thing that affects smell is their caging ... If using fish tanks you will need to make sure there is great air flow (fish tanks are designed to hold liquids, ammonia, and to have poor air exchange to reduce evaporation). While some people say you can go 2 weeks between cleanings I suggest at least weekly bedding changes ... even more often if in areas with high humidity.
Like the other Bryan I've housed hundreds of rats and mice in my house ... My wife hated the smell so I did alot of experimenting. Above is the results of those experiments.
Bryan
