How much Equine Fresh to use (pics)

[frankykeno]

I have GOT to start phoning around to my local TSC or Sweet Feeds store to see if they carry this stuff. I just had Mike haul home two huge bags of low dust pine for the rats this morning and I'll be hauling out the nasty bedding later today. Anything that works better on rat tub cleaning day has got to be an improvement (and my lower back may thank you for it!).

[frankykeno]

Just to clarify something here Connie, you put a good bit of aspen on one side for the mamma rats to nest in? They will naturally put their babies there will they? I'm assuming this is because the Equine Fresh isn't as nice to have the babies on?

[littleindiangirl]

Just to clarify something here Connie, you put a good bit of aspen on one side for the mamma rats to nest in? They will naturally put their babies there will they? I'm assuming this is because the Equine Fresh isn't as nice to have the babies on?

Yup... all of them use it. They don't keep it near as pretty , always moving it around to where ever they want the aspen, but generally they always use it. Plus, it doesn't get the dust into the babies nostrils like the pellets are prone to doing.

It's not as much as it looks, it's two handfuls of aspen from my tiny hands. They get one deli cup full of equine fresh, then the aspen. At the second changing they go to all pine pellets. Otherwise it's stinky.

Of course, there is always the exception to the rule!

[rabernet]

Joanna, for any mothers just about to give birth and up to two weeks old, I do just a little bit of Equine Fresh and then cover it all up with wood shavings. When I didn't do that, I lost two litters from the dust of the equine fresh. Deb had warned me she had the same problem, but I have to see it for myself to believe it.

After seeing that the babies were breathing in the dust and clogging up their noses, I switched to this method and haven't lost any babies since.

[frankykeno]

Jo,

There are a handful of companies that make a compressed pine product. Equine Fresh, Woody Pet, etc. Just check with the farm/feed stores for compressed pine horse bedding.

Jamie

Thanks Jamie. I know I can't find Woody Pet anywhere in Toledo after a fruitless search for it but I'll try to see if anyone sells this Equine Fresh or a product like it.

Joanna, for any mothers just about to give birth and up to two weeks old, I do just a little bit of Equine Fresh and then cover it all up with wood shavings. When I didn't do that, I lost two litters from the dust of the equine fresh. Deb had warned me she had the same problem, but I have to see it for myself to believe it.

After seeing that the babies were breathing in the dust and clogging up their noses, I switched to this method and haven't lost any babies since.

Yup... all of them use it. They don't keep it near as pretty , always moving it around to where ever they want the aspen, but generally they always use it. Plus, it doesn't get the dust into the babies nostrils like the pellets are prone to doing.

It's not as much as it looks, it's two handfuls of aspen from my tiny hands. They get one deli cup full of equine fresh, then the aspen. At the second changing they go to all pine pellets. Otherwise it's stinky.

Of course, there is always the exception to the rule!

Thanks for the advice ladies. I'll have to give this bedding method a try soon.

[rabernet]

Jo - you can also buy ExquisiCat Pine Pellets at PetSmart to give it a try. A bit pricier than Equine Fresh or something similar. Are there any Tractor Supply companies near you?

I just picked up a small bag of the ExquisiCat today to get enough to finish up changing out tubs today, because I am out of Equine Fresh at the moment.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

After seeing that the babies were breathing in the dust and clogging up their noses, I switched to this method and haven't lost any babies since.[/

Told you so

On another note Jo for mice and ASF I use Equine Fresh only and I have not had any problem.

[jglass38]

I haven't seen any problems with babies dying with Woody Pet only, but maybe it's less dusty than Equine Fresh. Best of luck!

[frankykeno]

I'm pretty sure we have a TSC somewhere in Toledo or the outskirts. I'll have to check it out. This heavy pine bedding is a back killer on tub cleaning day.

[jglass38]

I have GOT to start phoning around to my local TSC or Sweet Feeds store to see if they carry this stuff. I just had Mike haul home two huge bags of low dust pine for the rats this morning and I'll be hauling out the nasty bedding later today. Anything that works better on rat tub cleaning day has got to be an improvement (and my lower back may thank you for it!).

Jo,

There are a handful of companies that make a compressed pine product. Equine Fresh, Woody Pet, etc. Just check with the farm/feed stores for compressed pine horse bedding.

Jamie