shavings?

[celticbuns]

We recently took in a new bunny ( i do private sanctuary from my own home, with a bun count of 27 ) this new bunny who is still nameless, came with some red cedar bedding, i use shavings from our own barn but i figure before i toss it out, i would see if its possible to use it, if not directly in the cages/hutches..i also have some bottom things i put the sawdust on it goes below the cages where the buns cant get to it...thanks ahead

 

[DyemondRabbitry]

Cedar-no. The cedar has too many oils (you know, gives it that great smell) that can cause buns to have issues with their tear ducts and even respiratory if they are with it too long. Now, it could be an over reaction but I never use cedar.

 

[Lover_Of_Lopz]

please do not use cedar:shame





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:heartbeat:I LOVE MY LOPPY EARED BUNNY:heartbeat:

 

[Hayley411]

Both cedar and pine have phenols, which are poisonous. Here is a link to an article about it:

http://www.afrma.org/rminfo2a.htm

~Hayley

 

[celticbuns]

hmm..we use whats in the barn....it doesnt have much of a smell...so there's no way to use one bag, even under the hutches where they dont have access to it and the hay covers about 4 inches thick? i really hate to throw it out?

edit*

the things i'm talking about are about 8 inches from the hutch itself, it normally would go right under but its more easily cleanable if its not attached..so it rest's on the floor..


i've read the article..i've also noted that those had direct contact with pine/cedar,,mine would not, i only use hay in their cages..i would never put shavings in with them..this is only to catch the urine that finds the way to seep thru the hay, they get cleaned every other day, so one bag, for several cages..maybe one cleaning it would not be repeated....

 

[Buneary49]

Hay or timthy hay or even shredded up news paper is fine..

 

[celticbuns]

ya i know most of the things to use..i wouldnt use newspaper for bedding or to catch urine as it would ultimatly stink with so many rabbits.. i also dont use timothy as i cant..we are organic..so its organic hay..thank you tho..

 

[Sabine]

I personally use compressed straw pellets at the bottom to soak up the urine (they even smell nice and sweet when wet) and then I put straw as a filter and hay on top last. But i am not sure if getting those pellets is an option. If you run an organic farm you are probably trying to be selfsufficient

 

[celticbuns]

I clean them so often my house always smells like fresh hay LOL..i strickly use hay, as we are biosecure and are limited to what we use..we are all natural..i just wanted to know if i could use the " red cedar" as a one time use..i have many cages..and one bag " opened and used already" would be ok..i just didnt want to throw it away...

 

[Numbat]

It's probably safer not to use it. Even though it's away from the rabbits, the oils from the cedar might still reach them.

 

[Sabine]

celticbuns wrote:

I clean them so often my house always smells like fresh hay LOL..i strickly use hay, as we are biosecure and are limited to what we use..we are all natural..i just wanted to know if i could use the " red cedar" as a one time use..i have many cages..and one bag " opened and used already" would be ok..i just didnt want to throw it away...

Can't see the problem with using up the bag. My neighbour has been keeping rabbits for years. She only uses pine shavings and hay. Half of her rabbits are 6 years and older and no respiratory problems..... I still won't use shavings knowing what I know but still using them now and again in a well ventilated area shouldn't really do much damage

 

[PixieStixxxx]

I've heard that Kiln (Sp?) Dried shavings were alright for small animals. We have a major rabbit rescue here that uses them for their buns. I've never used it though because I've stucked to the compressed wooden pellets for my guys.

Although I found this really neat brand of nesting that looks like long, thin, flexible strands of shavings called "Bio Nesting" that uses all natural, no bleach.. chemicals sort of thing. The gerbil is already loving it.

Cedar can irritate a bunny's respiratory and any small animal.

 

[PixieStixxxx]

Sabine wrote:

My neighbour has been keeping rabbits for years. She only uses pine shavings and hay. Half of her rabbits are 6 years and older and no respiratory problems..... I still won't use shavings knowing what I know but still using them now and again in a well ventilated area shouldn't really do much damage

It depends on the brand of pine shavings. Some of them contain an ingrediant (I think it's an oil) that is toxic to a rabbit. You just need to find out which brand contains it, and which doesn't. Also need to be careful of the dust.

 

[celticbuns]

You know your love for rabbits when u dream of them at nite...which made me want to ask this question also..now we use ( i think its cedar, its not pine for sure..but i think its cedar ) right from the lumber yard..as i stated we're organic and cant use the prepackaged sawdust for our cows..now this chemical is in treated sawdust " shavings" right??? as for the brand i dont have a clue..i'll edit this when i actually wake up, have a couple coffees, feed my 3 day old heiffer ( who is very gorgeous )... i think if i use it i'm gonna just use it for the hutch that has the try thing on the floor..seems like a safe distance away from the hutch 8 inches is quite a distance in a well ventalated room ( half of the rabbits will be out in the outdoor hutches soon as the weather isnt -17 below and back up in the teens at least ( i know thats cold,,we have that under control )



Edit **

Its called " Premier pets"