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Post by kaligneyrats on Oct 16, 2008 18:59:26 GMT 10
I started with Breeders choice cat litter, but soon found it was too expensive and made my boys sneeze. We used fresh hay in their sleeping area at one point to until we found out it wasn't good for them with all the dust. Now the girls just have newspaper because they are in a converted two-storey rabbit hutch which can be easily cleaned, and the boys have newspaper in their tray under the bars of their cage and two hammocks (one of which the girls destroyed when we were moving house and had to commandeer the boys cage for them all to travel in, the boys now use it as a lean-to). It has taken two and a half months for the boys to actually use the hammocks, I caught them out the other week sleeping in the top one, whereas previously they (the boys) were all too scared of heights to even go near them. It didn't help that the top hammock has nothing to support it underneath and they don't like not having support.
All I use to make the hammocks is a square piece of scrap material, you can buy scrap material cheaply for $1 a metre from Spotlight, and I didn't even have to hem the edges because it doesn't bother the rats. I put a hole in each corner and put a curtain ring through each hole. All I had to do was attach the curtain rings to the bars of the cage and when I have to replace the hammock I just take the old one off and put the curtain rings through each of the holes in the new hammock. Easy peasy and no fuss involved.
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diablo
Aussie Rat Owner 
Posts: 14
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Post by diablo on Oct 20, 2008 21:25:42 GMT 10
Maxs pet litter and breeders choice here for the main part.
I cover the remaining area with newspaper for the time being.
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Prue
Aussie Rat Owner
Posts: 45
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Post by Prue on Oct 22, 2008 13:55:48 GMT 10
Kaligney Rats; I hear you.
The various types of Recycled newspaper pellets have made my boys sneeze like hell.
The same again for the hay used to line their hammocks and boxes (even though i had shaken it off and only given them the biggest pieces to limit dust).
Im keeping the recycled newspaper pellets in their litter tray and for the time being covering the floor of the cage with old deck chair covers and towels. (scrap material). They get changed every 3 days.
As for hammocks, the boys decided they only want one half of the hammock actually suspended, and have proceeded to chew out every hammock i have put in to their specifications.
Again, I use squares of scrap material, they can be laundered and it isnt a crime if they turn them to lace. (and they boys dont mind that they aren't shop bought, pretty or hemmed)
I do have to keep a close eye on how destructive they are - to limit loose threads for catching rat feeties.
Living in Brisbane and dealing with the weater felt has never been an option for bedding. the boys overheat to fast.
To suspend their hammocks I use 'plant ties' which are soft bendable metal. twisted close, they are sturdy as hell (and the boys dont bother them like they do rings).
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Post by tariss on Oct 22, 2008 19:21:07 GMT 10
Oooh! I'm using them! I was hoping someone would come along and tell me if they were good or not! Thankyou!  |
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Post by wulfyskingdom on Oct 22, 2008 20:35:53 GMT 10
Living in Brisbane and dealing with the weater felt has never been an option for bedding. the boys overheat to fast. mmm agreed... Brisbane summers are so harsh on ratties. Stupid humidity. |
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Prue
Aussie Rat Owner
Posts: 45
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Post by Prue on Oct 25, 2008 10:12:43 GMT 10
It's funny isn't it. There's all these products to keep your rats snuggly warm in winters and at night.
All the store-bought hammocks ive seen have been too thick, fluffy etc.
You just can't go past old fabric and cardboard boxes for the little ones.
Half the fun is watching them redecorate and modify the boxes to have sufficient entry/exits.
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Post by nathan on Oct 27, 2008 8:55:22 GMT 10
when i was keeping and breeding rats i was useing wood shavings but wood shavings asways had a bad smell after a day or so.so i may try some think else this time
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Post by coffee on Oct 30, 2008 8:38:44 GMT 10
Pine shavings here. When you have as many rats as I do, you need something that is cheap, and quick & easy to clean. I haven't found a problem with it yet.
When I only had a few, I used chook laying pellets as a base. They seem to absorb all the smell, and if a rat should happen to chew a pellet, it isn't harmful at all.
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Post by oldratmum on Nov 16, 2008 1:22:22 GMT 10
used to use wood shavings in the bag from the pet store.
so, now I'll make sure to have kitty litter on hand.
as for fleece...is it polar fleece or sweatshirt fleece?
my shopping list is starting to look a little strange......
;D
oldratmum (christine)
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Post by wulfyskingdom on Nov 16, 2008 10:23:08 GMT 10
You can use old clothes for polar fleece or you can go to a material shop and buy some, either way the rats wont mind
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rach
Member For Life
Posts: 207
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Post by rach on Nov 16, 2008 10:39:04 GMT 10
My boys have little blankies from my old dressing gown as well as polar fleece blankets. I go into cheap discount stores and buy mega cheap polar fleece blankets then cut them to the size I want.
On the shelves I've started using a super absorbent "pet towel" cos they crawl our of their igloo, pee in the corner before going back to bed, lol!
I have breeders choice in their litter tray and newspaper lining the bottom of their cage... this is easy to change when it gets dirty as is all bedding. Replace blankets, newspapers, wipe shelves and igloos down and replace it all again!
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Post by chickweed on Dec 8, 2008 11:18:51 GMT 10
I use wood stove pelletw (generic feline pine), or recycled newspaper pellets.
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Post by jaimi on Dec 15, 2008 20:24:10 GMT 10
I have litter trays and just line the bottom of the cages with newspaper, which they tend to just tear up and make into nests in their igloo's. I bought heaps of hammocks for them, but they tend to be chewed to pieces fairly fast, so I might have to try and make my own in January when I have more time.
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Post by samsam on Jan 12, 2009 13:27:50 GMT 10
I have a friend that works in a lab. They use irradiated corn cob bedding and it must go through a stringent quality testing. It is double bagged and if there is a hole from transporting it gets rejected. The only reason it is rejected is because there may be harmful pathogens in the bag that would create an outbreak in the immuno deficient hairless strands. normally this bedding would be discarded but since i have been using it and it is the best bedding EVER!!!! I don't know how to get it publically. It is all natural, non dusty, sweet smelling and super super absorbant i even use it for my cat litter!!I clean the cage out fully only once a fortnight with water and vinegar i did not know about the vanilla essence i may have to give that a try!
When i was a child i used to use pine shavings, i didn't know any better but that stuff was dusty as, my rats would get eye problems and sneeze alot. I used aspen from my friend for a while and although absorbant i found the smell by the end of the week even with my one rat was awful.
I have been using this miracle bedding for 6 mths and will never use anything else, its been especially good with the temperatures here in Perth very close to 40 degrees as it is cool and airy but will be interesting to see how it goes in Winter although i have always found it easy to keep rats warm as opposed to cool. Haven't lost any this Summer which is a HUGE relief. I will have to investigate where else this bedding is available because as far as i know it is not available to the public.
Sam
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silver
Aussie Rat Owner
Posts: 11
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Post by silver on Jan 14, 2009 16:26:51 GMT 10
I've been using towels to line all the shelves and litter trained them, then fill the boxes with breeders choice. They're -fairly- good at using the trays, the big rats will never raisin out of them, but the young ones aren't quite as good- often getting confused between litter tray and hammock  |
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