shredded paper?

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lily 74

lily 74

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I have always used hay to stuff into boxes etc to keep my piggies warmer in the cooler weather, but recently I have read that thi s not good because hay contains spores and mites.

Also the piggies trample on it wee/poo etc and then eat it so it's not protecting them anyway, I see the sense in this....

Shredded paper was recommended as an alternative, is this okay to use?

thanks:)
 
A great idea, having said that alot of people use hay with no real problems, I suppose it is personal preference really, and they will wee on what ever you put in.rolleyes.Pros and cons with everything you use really.
 
I don't really see a big difference over all but there are adv and disadv of both. Hay may contain mites etc. depending on where it comes from but this shouldn't happen (shouldn't doesn't mean that it doesn't unfortunately...)

Hay is a good natural flooring/filler and your piggies will feel comfortable rooting around, peeing on it and eating some of it. This is less likely to happen with shredded paper.

Your piggies will pee on pretty much whatever you put in there anyway so bear that in mind. Paper is less nutritious than hay so, although they probably will eat it, it's not great for that - it's not unsafe either usually.

I imagine cleaning out the paper would probably be easier than changing the hay though. We used to have hay flooring and it took forever to change the cages out. Now we use a synthetic (vetbed) which is much easier and nice and snug - plus it can be reused and reused...

I suppose it will come down to your personal preference and of course, what you piggis prefer. You could try paper and see how they get on - they may prefer it :)
 
Thanks:))

I use fleece and towels as their main bedding the shredded paper was just going to be used to pile into their bed area so they could snuggle in it for added warmth as supposed to using hay in there which sticks to the fleece and is a pain shake off to wash:)
 
Shreded paper is awful and stinks whenever I have used it but I do have lazy pigs! Hay is much easier for my lot. If your pigs end up with Static just spray them with the Johnsons spray and give them a bath. Should soon be gone.
 
I have to agree...shredder paper stinks! I tried it once for a few days, but it was just too foul.

Remember that pigs need constant ad lib hay for their diet. As long as you get nice, fresh, green bags of hay you shouldn't have any issues with spores or mites...and the chances of getting mites from hay is very slim.
 
Lizzie said:
I have to agree...shredder paper stinks! I tried it once for a few days, but it was just too foul.

Remember that pigs need constant ad lib hay for their diet. As long as you get nice, fresh, green bags of hay you shouldn't have any issues with spores or mites...and the chances of getting mites from hay is very slim.
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One day I decided it was a good idea to give them toilet paper to play with.. Bad idea! Just a horrible mess.. Now I stick to giving them the insides of toilet rolls filled up with hay and they love it.
 
Shredded newspaper, like horse bedding, is good and floofy and keeps a lot of warmth in. However your average shredded office paper is pointless and rubbish, inkjet paper is coated with something to make it slightly water repellent and as such wee just gets everywhere, and it does smell funny too, yuk!

However if you can try the horse bedding do, I can send you a little bag if you like, I am having lots of fun playing with different bedding at the moment but am so far favouring recycled egg boxes!
 
Doeylicious said:
Shredded newspaper, like horse bedding, is good and floofy and keeps a lot of warmth in. However your average shredded office paper is pointless and rubbish, inkjet paper is coated with something to make it slightly water repellent and as such wee just gets everywhere, and it does smell funny too, yuk!

However if you can try the horse bedding do, I can send you a little bag if you like, I am having lots of fun playing with different bedding at the moment but am so far favouring recycled egg boxes!
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yes that's the stuff I was thinking of trying the horse bedding, not shredded office paper as I am going to buy the paper bedding:)

yes that would be great if you could send me a sample, let me know cost etc:)
thanks
 
lily 74 said:
yes that's the stuff I was thinking of trying the horse bedding, not shredded office paper as I am going to buy the paper bedding:)

yes that would be great if you could send me a sample, let me know cost etc:)
thanks
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PM me your address and I will put some in a sandwich bag! Don't worry about money it's very light and won't cost much to post.
 
I have used both shreeded paper and straw, and I much prefer straw to paper. I use to use shredded paper on my 1st piggy, as it was free and with me only being 10 and gettin no pocket money, was the only thing available. I usae to have to change it nearly everday, as he would pee and poo on it and then end up in a right state! When I was 12 and started to get pocket money I started buying straw for him and it was sooo much better! When he peed the straw wouldnt absorb it like the paper would so he stayed clean and I didnt need to change it everyday, so in my opinion straw is much better.
 
monica1607 said:
I have used both shreeded paper and straw, and I much prefer straw to paper. I use to use shredded paper on my 1st piggy, as it was free and with me only being 10 and gettin no pocket money, was the only thing available. I usae to have to change it nearly everday, as he would pee and poo on it and then end up in a right state! When I was 12 and started to get pocket money I started buying straw for him and it was sooo much better! When he peed the straw wouldnt absorb it like the paper would so he stayed clean and I didnt need to change it everyday, so in my opinion straw is much better.
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Thanks, it's not going to be used as thier main bedding as they have fleece and towels but just for added warmth in their bed area:))
 
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