What bedding do you use?

Just curious!
for those rat breeders, what bedding/substrate do you use? and why? (odor control, less expensive, less fume...etc)

We use the P.J. Murphy sani chips. The chips absorb most of the odors, easy to clean, and relatively cheap. Hope this helps.

Pine pellets for breeders & Pine Pellets + Pine Shaving for nursing females with babies under 2 weeks of age.

Thanks for the reply!
I did some research on the bedding for rats. Some website said that pine shaving is bad for the rat respiratory system. Is that ture? or doesn't really matter?

Jacky

I want to say that most of the time that I've seen breeders, I recall them using Aspen. I know the local stores use Aspen as well.

"Premium horse bedding" basically its aspen but slivers, best way to describe it at the moment. Works pretty good and I don't have to worry about the snakes because its aspen on their food

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Originally Posted by j94712

Thanks for the reply!
I did some research on the bedding for rats. Some website said that pine shaving is bad for the rat respiratory system. Is that ture? or doesn't really matter?

Jacky

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Deborah's feeders are immaculate and healthy, so I'd say that report is exaggerated. ;) I'll venture a bet that the buildup of ammonia when they aren't cleaned often enough is much more detrimental.

I use kiln dried pine. Works great foe absorption and odor control. It is very cheap as well. Just $6 for a large bag. I think its a 3 cubic foot bag.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by j94712

Thanks for the reply!
I did some research on the bedding for rats. Some website said that pine shaving is bad for the rat respiratory system. Is that ture? or doesn't really matter?

Jacky

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Only untreated pine is bad. Kiln dried pine is safe.

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ok
pine shaving is cheaper than aspen, so i guess people just use pine for the rat!:P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by j94712

ok
pine shaving is cheaper than aspen, so i guess people just use pine for the rat!:P

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Some keepers use kiln dried pine for their snakes too with no ill effect. Its just personal preference.

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I use pine as it is cheap enough for me to clean several times a week. I firmly believe that dirty tubs from people trying to save $ (by not changing litter as often as opposed to buying cheap kiln dried pine) is far worse than having them on kiln dried pine. If I could afford to keep them on aspen and still clean about 3 times a week I would..but for that price I might as well buy feeders lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by j94712

Thanks for the reply!
I did some research on the bedding for rats. Some website said that pine shaving is bad for the rat respiratory system. Is that ture? or doesn't really matter?

Jacky

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I can speak base on my experience, I produce several thousands of rats each year and have done so for 6 years now (compare to some here is not much) and I have never had any respiratory or other type of issue with any of my rats.

I use Carefresh (or the PetSmart-brand equivalent), since I'm allergic to all wood-based beddings. Aspen, pine, etc, all irritate my sinuses & asthma... and since I'm also mildly allergic to the rodents themselves, no need to add to my problems! I like the Carefresh anyway, since it seems more absorbent than the wood ones.

those are some great info! thanks a lot guys!

I use pine shavings, $150 for 10 yards delivered to my building.

Pine shavings. Lots of lumber mills around here, so I'm able to get kiln dried for $4 per big plastic wrapped bale.

Kiln dried pine here as well for my rats. For my mice I used pine pellets.

Harlan Aspen $13 for 35lbs. We go through about 1 every month.

I use Harlan aspen at about 9 dollars a bag. We order 6-8 at a time and use it for both our rats and our snakes. No complaints

Kiln dried pine here... No problems in 20+ years using this stuff...

Mixed hardwood from the mill I haul for. Mostly maple and some oak shavings. Just depends on what thier cutting the day I grab some. also the most cost effictive for me as I get it free. The used piles out in the woods behind my house are getting rather large now.

I haven't been breeding for a year now - but I was using aspen when I was.