Chinchilla Community Forums
Chinchillas => Q & A => Topic started by: Hoppinchins on November 30, 2008, 09:55:33 PM
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I just got a white chinchilla yesterday, He is a picky eater when it comes to the food, but he likes to eat the bedding. Is that safe for him to eat that?
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What kind of bedding do you use? if it is pine or aspen then yes it is safe. Anything else is not safe for them to eat.
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The bedding brand is carefresh. It says it is environmentally friendly, biodegradable. It also says formulated to be pine and cedar oil free. Its free of dyes, clay and chemicals used in the paper making process. It is processed to remove potentially harmful aromatic hydrocarbons. Do you think its safe to keep using or should I switch to something else? If so, what/where should I buy it at? from the lone star chinchilla website, they have Aspen Bedding 1800. Would that be better? I'm almost out of my bedding, so I have to buy new stuff anyways.
Thanks for you help.
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I would stop using the carefresh I prefer Pine shavings. but Aspen is fine too. DO NOT ever use Cedar it is toxic
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Yes, I would agree. I recommend staying away from Carefresh. There have been cases of chins that eat too much of it and develop a bowel blockage, which is very dangerous. But, there are also many people who use it without any problems. It really just depends on your chinchilla. If you've seen him eating it then I would change to pine or aspen bedding if I were you.
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Carefresh is usually used for litter tray under a cage with a wire base. If your cage is one where it will be an area which a chin is running through the carefresh? don't use it.
Why do you need bedding? a chinchilla doesn't really require bedding and often gets urine stains from soiled litter etc Some people do use bedding though. It's just my personal choice not to use it. :)
You mentioned Chucks site named Lonestar having aspen bedding? Aspen as Chuck mentions is safe. He is a well known breeder(even here in UK) If he said it's okay for bedding I would trust him. He is too well known to have unsuitable materials for using with chinchillas. he has been breeding for a long time and knows what he is talking about.
happy chinning Aileen :chin:
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Thanks everyone for the advice. Its also good to know that the lodestar website is one I can trust.
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I use all pine bedding here, it works great and they tend to chew it a little but it won't hurt them.
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I just switched to pine bedding. My chins seem to like it. They also started to eat it right away. The pine bedding I have isn't soft though. Should I find some that is soft?
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Do you have the large chunks of pine? I like the finer shredded pine, it is much better.
I am attaching a photo of what my pine looks like.
(http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk72/mylittlechinchillas/phoebegracebabies.jpg)
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Yes, I have the larger pine bedding. I'll try to attached a pic of my bedding later. I'v god to get back to study for finals. UG.
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I think the more finer shredded is the best, I started with the large chunks and was having issues with odors. I found the other shavings the chins LOVE it and I do too! They always nibble it a little but it won't hurt them.
I think you can get the kind like I use at TSC..
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Ok, Thanks. Wat is TSC?
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Tractor Supply.. sorry.
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Its cool. There's one of those around me. Thanks.
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I was wondering if Pine bedding that contains baking soda is safe to use?
Thanks :)
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I have never heard of pine shavings having baking soda...?
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I guess its new then. I sow it at Krogers, a grocery store. It said something like pine shavings now with baking soda or something. It said it helps with the odor. Do you think I should not get that kind of bedding?
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You shouldn't have any odor. Chinchillas have very little odor to their urine or feces. If you are keeping the cage properly clean you shouldn't need any deodorizing product. Anyway, I don't know if baking soda would be ok or not. My policy is better safe than sorry. I never use anything with my chins if I am not 100% sure it is safe for them.
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::silly:: Please do not use anything that has added "odor controllers". The ones that put off a smell themselves also cause fumes that can cause an upper respiratory infection.
I've never heard of baking soda being added to bedding, but it does not surprise me. Many manufactures add things to their product that make them "seem" to be more attractive/desirable, but do so without good research. To my knowledge, it has not been tested on a long term basis with chinchillas, so I would not even venture there.
I use the large chip pine bedding. The chins seem to love it. They do occasionally chew on some of it. As long as they do not eat an excessive amount, I would not worry about it.
Urine stained fur is usually caused when bedding is not being changed frequently enough ...
OR
Urinary tract infections ...
OR
On rare occasions, a chinchilla that is not as clean about itself, even though, almost all chinchillas are very clean.
If you have a chinchilla that always has urine stained fur...
1) Have a vet check it for a possible urinary tract infection.
2) Clean the cage more frequently.
3) Use a good bedding to prevent puddles for the chin to sit in.
4) I would not breed this chinchilla until the problem is solved ... kits learn most of their habits (good and bad) from their parents within the first 6 weeks of life. Do not pass on this bad habit.
::wave:: Jo Ann
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Ok, Thanks both for the help. I wasn't going to use it inless I knew it was safe. I curently use pine bedding that has large chips.