What kind of bedding do you use for your breeder groups?

I've been using the sani-chips and like them, but am always on the lookout for something better and/or cheaper.

What do you use?

I do not breed ASF, but do breed rats. I just switched from pine to ABM (wood pellets). I am very glad that I switched. The bags cost me around $5.50 each, and come in 40lb bags. You only have to use a small amount, which expands during use.

Equine fresh :gj: ($6.25 for 40 lbs and it goes a long way even more so with ASF)

I love the equine fresh and was able to get hold of 2 bags a few weeks ago but since then they've not had any in. I'm hoping for something that I can get all the time, even if I have to order it online and have it shipped. Shame, I like the smell of the EF and it's only $5 a bag here when they have it.

I use equine fresh and some aspen. For breathing and nesting.... babies should be on something like aspen....

I use pure Aspen shavings. Works well.

I use wood pellets. Its $8 for 40 lbs.

I love the Equine Fresh. I gave my momma rats a paper towel or two and they made the nest from that, so no need for aspen.

we use Starbrite. its wood pelleted bedding, like equine fresh. it runs us 5.00 for 40lbs, I liked it better than the equine fresh. Plus its the main brand they carry at the supply company we go to..

Shredded kiln dried pine. It is $7 for a HUGE bag at local feed store.... I believe it is 5 cubic feet?

I have tried everything under the sun. The answer to this really will vary by personal preference. I used the equine fresh and various other pine pellets and didn't like any of them. WAY too much dust... and couldn't stand the smell of it.

mIKE

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Originally Posted by Shadera

I love the equine fresh and was able to get hold of 2 bags a few weeks ago but since then they've not had any in. I'm hoping for something that I can get all the time, even if I have to order it online and have it shipped. Shame, I like the smell of the EF and it's only $5 a bag here when they have it.

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you should be able to have the store order it for you

TSC up here has been running out of Equine Fresh for about a month now, so we've been using the other brand called Equine Pine, I keep wanting to pick up hardwood pellets again, but apparently pellets are in high demand this year. For the ASF's, they've been given shavings while pellets are MIA.

I normally use Kaytee brand Aspen bedding. But, last time I went to the pet store, they were out of the big bag, so I got the Premier Pet brand Aspen bedding. The Premier Pet had a thing that says "Scent-free! No aromatic oils!". Well, whatever scent Kaytee brand has, I liked it much better because this Permier Pet Scent-Free Aspen stinks to high heaven! I mean, it stank before you even put a single ASF on it...
Just goes to show not all Aspens are created equal. :rolleye2:

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Originally Posted by nova2door

you should be able to have the store order it for you

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There was supposed to be some on the truck Monday. I was there when they opened. No EF. When I do manage to find some, I'll be loading my basement shelves with bags so this doesn't happen again. I've already got a few bags of sani-chips stashed and some Royal wood shavings that I really like.

I agree that not all shavings are equal. Most of the stuff I've tried has just been way too dusty, including the kaytee and a few others. If the rats sneeze, I toss the stuff. I've only found a few things that don't have the dust.

Where do you guys order your bedding from online, I cant find any local stores here in Massachusetts that carry any of these products, the only thing I can get my hands on is whatever petco has, which has been their aspen 5 cubic feet for $14. Any recommendations???

If you've got a feed store near you, those are great places to get bedding.

The only thing I buy online anymore is the Harlan sani-chips and the ultra care fresh I give females for nesting. I get that stuff at http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/d...WGL0NDSKR97NR7.

I use Equine fresh As Deb and i mix with hard wood pellets(same for wood burning) works out great on smell.

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Originally Posted by escomaya

Where do you guys order your bedding from online, I cant find any local stores here in Massachusetts that carry any of these products, the only thing I can get my hands on is whatever petco has, which has been their aspen 5 cubic feet for $14. Any recommendations???

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Hi Josh,
There's a feed supply in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Not sure how far that is from Boston. Anyway, they don't carry Equine Fresh bedding but they do carry tons of the other stuff. And they'll even order Mazuri 6F rat food for you. Here's the info:

Bridgewater Farm Supply
1000 Plymouth Street (at the intersection with Mill Street)
Bridgewater, Massachusetts 02324
phone# (508-697-1995
Hours: 8-5:30 M-F
8-4 Sat
10-3 Sun

Hope this helps.

And my snake can beat up your snake with its tail tied to a post... :D

Mike where are you getting your bedding at in Jacksonville?

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Originally Posted by flameethrower

I use Equine fresh As Deb and i mix with hard wood pellets(same for wood burning) works out great on smell.

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like him i use wood pellets. i dont mix it with E.F. or anything...to me it cuts the smell down to almost nothing and where im at a 50# bag is around 5. - 5.50

Ive used corn cobb, aspen, and now pine and all worked fine. I currently use pine made by Regal Downs called blended bedding, its 100% kiln dried pine and a bag is $4.50 which expands to 7 cu ft.

for those of you that use the equine fresh, i *believe* we sell it at my pet store, not 100% sure but i'll be checking on the name later on in the day.

but it's a 40lb bag for about 6.99 CAD, and it's round cylindrical wood pellets. is this safe for ASF's? what's it like once it's expanded a bit? i guess i could go get a bag and try for myself but i know rodents are pretty susceptable to respiratory problems, so i'd rather not risk it.

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Originally Posted by Wh00h0069

I do not breed ASF, but do breed rats. I just switched from pine to ABM (wood pellets). I am very glad that I switched. The bags cost me around $5.50 each, and come in 40lb bags. You only have to use a small amount, which expands during use.

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I also use the wood pellets. I get them from a local farm supply store. Either Big R or Farm & Fleet. It comes in huge bags and is a whole lot cheaper in the long run.

It also completely gets rid of any smell and lasts alot longer than anything else as well. It will expand and crumble after awhile but as long as you change it 2 to 3 times a month its fine.

The "nest" they made is actually alfalfa stems. I give it as a treat and they eat the leaves and chew up the stems for a nest.

I put a handful of the aspen shavings in for them to make a nest for babies but aside from that its all wood pellets or aspen pellets.

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l2...s/2dd62625.jpg

Ya I was so glad when someone turned me on to the pelleted bedding, I use labor savor 35# 5.55 and pine shaving for the mamas-I think 7 cuft for like 5.79 maybe at TSC. I cant believe I started out with aspen at 11-13 a bag and I've noticed no difference with pine. The pellets pretty much eliminate odor totally and bag goes along way-not so good when a surpise litter gets dropped the babies get a bit dusty

I use straight simple pine shavings. I get 40 cu ft bags for $5.75.

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

Shredded kiln dried pine. It is $7 for a HUGE bag at local feed store.... I believe it is 5 cubic feet?

I have tried everything under the sun. The answer to this really will vary by personal preference. I used the equine fresh and various other pine pellets and didn't like any of them. WAY too much dust... and couldn't stand the smell of it.

mIKE

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That's what I get too. It's the best value for my money that I have found so far.

use pine shaving I get a bag ( about 3.5 cubic ft for about 7 bucks each at the localfeed place and i can do 4 tanks about 3 times each but that 2 asf tanks 1 mice tanks an a rat tank. 2 tanks are 40gal one a 15 or 20 long and then a 10 gal . and it no problem for me. I wish I could find aspen cheaper 4.0 cubic ft compressed about 24 bucks each..