Bunny Bedding

[Sabine]

Hi there, not sure if this is the right section to post this, but I'm looking for the ultimate answer in what's the best litter for my bunnies. Originally I started with wood shavings+hay+straw in that order. That seemed to work fine until I read an article about the dangers of softwood bedding and was trying to phase it out (I also found the wood shavings don't compost very well) I've been experimenting with half a dozen other products like pressed wood pellets and recently bought the hay pellets from Oxbow. I quite like the clumping stuff because I can tell for sure which bedding is soiled and which is ok. Now I just read in an article that the clumping varieties can be dangerous if your bunny ingests them, lead to blockages or something?
I'm not sure what to do. Wood shavings at least are cheap and widely available, most of the other litter I have to order online and it costs a fortune.
Would anyone like to share their thoughts or experiences on this issue. Apologies if this has already been discussed to death in the past but as a new member I wouldn't know. Sabine

 

[SOOOSKA]

I use the wood stovepellets and just love them. I pay about $4.70 for a 40 pound bag, and with 6 bunnies the other bedding was getting really expensive. I also put a plastic screen on top of the wood pellets so it's much easier to clean up.

Susan

 

[Sabine]

Is that a plastic screen with holes in it? Do those pellets clump together when wet?

 

[SOOOSKA]

Yes they have small holes, I actually got them in the crafts department at walmart. The pellets actually turns into a sawdust . It's very easy to clean up.

Here's a couple of pictures of the screens.

Susan

 

[Sabine]

That sounds fabulous. I'll keep an eye out if I see something similar. What do you put on top of the plastic then? Hay? Straw? Do they chew the plastic at all? Not sure I can get hold of wood stove pellets. They are usually imported and rather dear I heard. Not environmentally friendly etc. But they sell some pressed wood pellets at pet stores. The pressed hay pellets just cost a fortune (and I have to order them from the uk) and I have ten (!!!!!!) rabbits at the moment

 

[SOOOSKA]

I put hay on top of the plastic for Buttercup. On Winston & Vega's litter box I just have a hanging hay rack. I don't put hay on the plastic in theirs. Winston has chewed the plastic, he didn't swallow it though. With Jackie and Wilbur's litter box I actually have a bowl of hay at one end of it. I have a picture somewhere I'll try to dig it up.

I get the wood stove pellets at our Rona's it a building supply store. If you have one around maybe they sell the stuff. Also if I'm not mistaken I think some people on here actually get them from horse farms. I think they use them for horses.

Susan

 

[SOOOSKA]

Sorry double post.

Susan

 

[SOOOSKA]

Here's a picture of Wilbur & Jackie's setup.

Susan

 

[Sabine]

Thanks, That gives me some ideas. I think I have been too generous with bedding putting it all over the hutch. That's why they soil everywhere and I have to change the whole lot almost every second day. I have started using more plastic trays and left the rest apart from the enclosed sleeping quarters bare. Hope she learns when she stands in her own piddle The bottom of the hutch has started deteriorating already although I only bought it in February