Using Wood Pellets as Guinea Pig Bedding

[@susanlee7530]

A long time member of the Guinea pig forum I frequent used these pellets for years. She put a fleece over it and changed the fleece weekly. It was easy to remove the poops from the fleece. The pee was absorbed into the pellets and as it broke into sawdust the surface became less bumpy. She also stirred the pellets to mix pellets with sawdust. Best of all, the person said she didn’t have to switch out the pellet/sawdust for 6 months. The drawback is the pellets are extremely heavy. I don’t have a Tractor Supply near me and no car. I buy Feline Pine from the pet store which is similar but more expensive.

[@fitzguineavision]

I can vouch for that they are heavy! I just started to use that for my kitchenette areas in my piggies cages, but I haven't decided if I will continue with it or not

[@Aperralll]

Wood pellets are LITERALLY the best. I’ve had many pigs over the years, and have tried all the bedding options. Wood pellets have been the best option. Best part? I can get 40lbs of it for $5.

[@chichihlin454]

Hi, can you post the info for where to purchase wood pellets at such a low price (40lbs for $5) ..thanks

[@BlanketNirvana]

@@chichihlin454 tractor supply

[@iris80G]

I’m concerned my 2 Guinea pigs are chewing there wooden hut,can they choke on the bits of wood that they are chewing off.

[@Chrystal_A]

@@iris80Gif it’s a wooden hut it should be fine but if it’s a plastic one they could invest it and get sick! Get 100% wooden toys so they can chew :) it also might be because they are bored that they are starting to chew so maybe having some interactive toys would help them with the chewing

[@lottie141516]

The sawdust is not falling to the bottom, your mistaken. What’s really happening is the Pee and drips are going mostly to the bottom of the tray where they have a longer reaction time with a few pellets that they are sitting under. Those few pellets end up absorbing that little puddle and those few pellets turn completely into dust as they expand. The, that is why you never see sawdust on top of the pellets. There is no magical sifting that is happening. Pour some pellets on your table and pour a nominal amount of water on it. Come back later and notice how the mountain of pellets looks the same, but there is sawdust at the bottom.

[@jkmoose]

You are brilliant! Thank you so much for making this video. You answered a bunch of questions I had. 🙂 Awesome job keeping your piggies happy and healthy. ❤️

[@TheOnly1brenna]

This is awesome! Thank you due sharing this. Where did you get your cage for them?

[@simsnation506]

Thanks for posting this great video!

[@doreenbrown407]

Great video. Thanks for the info and demonstration!

[@annettevanessa4697]

Hi where did you get the shifter what’s the name of it I bought one but everything falls right threw

[@jackielee8311]

Can you let me know the brand of scoop you use? Post a link?

[@jennifer123229]

Ok this is just brilliant. Great job

[@jobar7136]

Hi can you tell us what kind of scooper you used to separate it with? We tried to use a cat litter scooper but it didn’t work

[@catofallcats2347]

Being that they eat pellet food do they try ever try to eat it? Asking because I’m looking into trying the pellet bedding. I’ve tried some other types of beddings and sometimes when I clean out there’s bugs and like worm types things

[@legendarywhitewolf]

I use this for my boys, and they don't eat them! They might nibble on them at first, but once they realize that it doesn't taste good they won't eat them

[@annettevanessa4697]

Hi how many times you clean it a week

[@heidykatheryn8279]

Hello can you please provide the link for your pellets? I can’t find this type of pellets, all I see is the ones use for fires and I don’t know if those are the ones

[@kayesguineapigs]

Yup I’ve used em it’s just heavy to get them home lol I get them at the farm store

[@aaronantonio7410]

Can I ask if your guinea pigs have tried eating the wood pellets? I am planning to buy these to either place these under their fleece bedding or as is.

[@leonar3936]

Nope never. I’m sure they can tell by smell that it’s not food!

[@aaronantonio7410]

@@leonar3936 Good to know. My piggies munch on almost everything in their cage that's why I am concerned that the little buggers would chomp on said pellets. Thanks for getting back to me.

[@paulinecutie3485]

I use this to but now my girl has been chewing her belly n spots on her side.. I dunno if it's her being board or her being allergic to the pellets I get it from atwoods

[@ameena010180]

Hi, thanks for sharing this. I just picked up my wooden pellet from TSC today and will try it out for my piggies. Would u mind sharing where you got your scooper? Thanks

[@leonar3936]

I got them both on Amazon. Here are the links to them both: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DCAAP4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and the other one is www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004LOEKS4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@jennifer123229]

Better then pine shavings

[@ukasz7073]

Do you still have pigs ? or are they still on wood pellets ?

[@Ksane]

I love wood pellets. I sift mine over a bucket though. Then just dump the bucket outside.

[@zachh468]

such a great video!! Can I ask what cage this is? it looks like a great size!

[@leeryck7301]

It's the Midwest XL Rabbit Cage (www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CDXJVP2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) PLUS the Optional Extension (www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E0RWM9U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) to make it even bigger. The XL cage is 48" long and the extension adds another 18", so in total it's 5.5' x 2' for a total of 11 square feet. It's the only cage of this type I could find that was big enough! I hate the look of the C&C cages and wanted the added security/stability of the plastic base and for the cage to be totally enclosed since I also have a dog and cat. Loving this cage so far

[@zachh468]

@@leeryck7301 that’s exactly what we are thinking! We are adopting a kitten and we’re looking for something enclosed for our 2 piggies. Thank you! 😊😊😊

[@lottie141516]

Wow this is ALOT OF WORK for $5. I’m Just looking for a better way then fleece (which works and looks so well and no smell.) but my long haired show pig is crawling hndet the fleece and I can’t stop him from doing this. Didn’t want to try pellets……noise, smell of pine etc. trashy look etc.

[@LanaLiloShow]

Have you tried the Guinea Dad liner with the fleece pouch attached? Maybe your pig will enjoy burrowing under the fleece pocket and stop going under the very bottom?

[@Pupgroomer0563]

Do they ever eat the pellets?

[@PiggieTime]

Have you ever considered using fleece bedding? I used it, and it’s great!

[@Marius011]

I am planning to use fleece blanket (single layer) in combination with wood pellets for the kitchen part of my habitat. Right now it's fleece with kiln-dried shavings, while I finish off the 7 cubic foot bag I bought. The remainder of the habitat is fleece bedding. It does work well.

[@lizz89ie]

How do you keep the smell away and your washer and dryer clean? I hated using fleece it was so gross to clean.

[@Marius011]

@@lizz89ie I don't know how, but my stuff doesn't smell noticeably when I use it. I throw in a 1/4 cup of vinegar with unscented detergent. I clean off the bedding 1-2 times a day, and at end of week I shake off fur and hay and brush off anything else, then put it in wash. I have a 2x4 CnC. 2x3 of the space is a fleece bedding pad (with a layer of U-Haul absorbent cloth) and the last 2x1 part of the space is a kitchen/litter box (from guinea pig market). Most of the peeing occurs in the kitchen. The kitchen is filled with pellet bedding that is covered by a fleece blanket. The main smell that I notice is the smell of hay.

[@PiggieTime]

@@lizz89ie my recommendation would be to make sure it’s wicking properly. Sometimes if a piece of fleece isn’t wicking it’ll smell worse.

[@lizz89ie]

@@PiggieTime thanks, but I just don’t want it in my washer anymore 🤗 perhaps sometime in the future I’ll try it again and will make sure it’s properly wicking. They’re in my small living room so my concern is keeping the smell close to none.

[@nurizzah8335]

Can this bedding be used for hmster? I had bought it but they seems too harsh to be a bedding

[@Aperralll]

I wouldn’t, hamsters burrow. They need deep bedding and soft so they can make a nest. You could use it in feeding areas and stuff, but really it’s not too worth using it for a whole cage for a hamster. It’s better for guinea pigs, rabbits, etc. larger “small” pets. Mice, rats and hamsters are better off with softer beddings. Use aspen shavings (you can get it bulk and cheap if you look beyond the pet store!) and offer soft natural fibers for nesting and make it deep enough burrowing.

[@nurizzah8335]

@@Aperralll thanks a lot. I did not use it. Its too harsh

[@KermitAdventures]

No hamsters cannot use wood bedding. No wood at all. My hamster lost a leg from mites from the wood

[@JasminaBazan]

How big is your cage? I think it's big enough

[@leonar3936]

It’s 11 square feet, 2’ x 5.5’. Definitely big enough! Only the best for my princesses.

[@karendevoe6806]

Seems pretty time consuming!

[@susanbelrose2767]

so uncomfortable

[@JasminaBazan]

I really want guinea pigs but I can't because I have rabbits right now so I will do as much research so I will be prepared

[@a.jtherobot7684]

I heard rabbits and guinea pigs get along living together. I have guinea pigs and consider may have rabbits in the future. Let us know how it goes!

[@a.jtherobot7684]

@Chomp Chomp Katze My guinea pigs also two girs : ) about one year old by the end of this year. They kept us sane during 'lock at home' time. Thanks for your information that's very helpful. If that is the case then I would not consider rabbits with the piggies anymore.

[@eleniantoniou7538]

@@a.jtherobot7684 I think that’s just a myth, rabbits can actually make piggies sick as I’ve read

[@themoongateofficial]

I let my guinea pigs play with my hamster (under my supervision though) they don’t really do much aside from smell each other’s asses and cuddle surprisingly

[@heidykatheryn8279]

Rabbits and Guinea pigs don’t get along in fact rabbits can easily bully and hurt guinea pigs, I have rabbits and guinea pigs separated but having rabbits is 100000000 times easier than guinea pigs, guinea pigs poo and wee all day like every 10 min is really hard to keep up with them, they smell a lot more than rabbits