Good cheap mouse bedding

[daniel1983]

I thought pine was toxic????

[Ginevive]

I use pine; I have not noticed any troubles with it. I have several breeding rats that are over 2 years old, and they have no health problems that I can see. Fat and happy, and breeding out of control.
Since I see no problems with it, I just can't see spending more for aspen. The absolute cheapest I have seen it, is $11 for a large bale that is the same size as the pine I get, which is only $5.
This is the honest truth; when I used aspen, I had to clean things out every three days; pine, once a week.

[TekWarren]

I'm using pine along with the free local paper that gets delivered every week. I will usually put a sheet in the bottom of the tub and cover it with the shavings...the rodents enjoy pulling the newspaper up and shredding it

[Shelby]

Ok guys.. I just went to petsmart and got a 7.5 cubic foot compressed bale of pine for... $5.66.

The secret? It was in the horse section. Go find a place that sells horse stuff, you'll get pine shavings cheap!

[TekWarren]

That's basically what we do only its a local farm store (tractor supply).

[amg20102006]

so pine is safe for mice and rats? i thought the dust from the bedding causes RI?

[amg20102006]

??????

[Shelby]

Come on now, be patient. There is no need to try to try to hurry anyone along with an answer.

Obviously if Smulkin and Adam are suggesting using pine, it is safe for the rodents. I can't imagine Adam of all people using something that is not safe (mr anal retentive himself )

[Adam_Wysocki]

Obviously if Smulkin and Adam are suggesting using pine, it is safe for the rodents. I can't imagine Adam of all people using something that is not safe (mr anal retentive himself )

Actually, not being a big fan of rodents, I couldn't care less!

I keep my rodents on aspen because I have a TON of it left over from when I kept snakes on it, but once it runs out I wouldn't have a problem with pine.

I'm not sure that it is "the best bedding" for the overall well being of the rodents, but I don't run a large scale rodent breeding operation (I just pitch in from time to time for a friend) so I really have no idea. My guess is that it's used because it's the most cost effective and if it does cause problems they are just factored in as par for the course.

-adam

[Shelby]

Well, healthy rodent = healthier snake, so you should care.

I was aware that cedar is the culprit much more than pine.