[maisymouse]

Hi
Ive been putting hay in with my mice and using shaving of different sorts, lemon scented/lavender from pets at home
Some of my mice seem to be wheezing and there eyes seem to be a bit stuck shut when they first wake up, one of my mice is about to go to the vets for some baytril

Is there anything I can use for bedding which is just plain and simple, wont cause them to be allergic or anything??

 

[Matt Haslam]

shredded paper, or i used to use Bio Catolet for my rats.

 

[maisymouse]

Isn't Bio Catolet cat litter?

 

[Matt Haslam]

yep, but it is completely paper based, with dust extracted. If you look on the packet it shows a picture of a rat/mouse and states that it is suitable for rodent use.

Its like grey pellets.

TBH if you don't have many mice, i think it would be great, with a little shredded paper too.

 

[maisymouse]

I get loads of junk mail and have a shredder so I dont have to buy any, should be safer than hay

 

[WoodWitch]

Aubiose is another good substrate, but I don't know that they sell it in any less than a 20 kilo bale which may be no good if you only have a few mice.

 

[Kallan]

I like Aubiose. It does come in huge sizes, but it smells nice and keeps well

I have had issues with scented stuff before, it seemed to irritate some of my mice.

 

[WoodWitch]

I like Aubiose. It does come in huge sizes, but it smells nice and keeps well

I have always used Aubiose.
Occassionally I fancy trying something new out, and I do, but I always come to the conclusion that Aubiose is better and go back to it.

 

[AnnB]

I'm another fan of Aubiose and the mice quite like it too.

 

[maisymouse]

I have about 20 mice in my flat and havent really got the room for a massive bag of bedding, I'll see how they go with the shredded paper but I have just taken a few of them to the vets to get some baytril and they are all being treated

 

[racingmouse]

Hi Maisy. The horse substrates (Aubiose, Bedxcel and Ecobed) are all larger baled beddings, but they are economical. I`ve used Bedxcel cardboard square bedding for years and never had problems with it. I did try a sample of Aubiose and although it did`nt cause me or the mice any problems, I decided to stick with Bedxcel.

Never use Carefresh or shavings or anything that has a `scent` to it. Mice will start sneezing at the very whiff of anything with a smell. I know many people use shavings and that`s their choice, but if you want to be totally safe, stick with paper based substrates. Even thick newspaper is better than nothing and it`s absorbant!

Good on you too for getting some Baytril. It`s best dosed two or three times a day for at least two weeks on a small 5mm piece of rich tea biscuit or digestive. I treat for three weeks to make sure symptoms are completely gone. This is how I prefer to dose it.

 

[maisymouse]

I always thought carefresh was a good one! I'm going to just use shredded paper for a while just to be safe and I'll look into the horse substrates and Bedxcel as I might be able to store it at my dads and just take some when I need it, I'm giving them the baytril in the water bottles as this is what the vet advised.

 

[Laigaie]

A lot of people here, particularly those in the UK, really don't like CareFresh. Personally, I've never had a problem with it. I've used it for seven years, for everything from mice and rats to chinchillas and guinea pigs. I've never had an animal with an allergy, but and the dust has always been really minimal. The one time it had a weird scent to it was right around November, when all the packs in the store smelled strongly of pumpkins. :? These days, I use a store brand of the same kind of bedding, and I find it keeps the does smelling fresh for ages longer than wood or other paper beddings. The bucks I can't really tell with, since they always get less-than-full bedding changes and start to smell faintly within a few days.

 

[maisymouse]

New improved mouse cage number one

Cage number two

Let me know what you think!!

 

[Cait]

I would give a lot more shredded paper than that if you have more - they will make some great nests with it. And is that one of those gnawing mineral block things I can see in the first picture? If so, do your mice actually use it? In my experience rodents neither want or need them, so I wouldn't bother replacing it when it's time to throw that one out.

 

[maisymouse]

Okay I'll put some more paper in, yes it is, they do chew it its got big gnaw marks in it and chunks missing

 

[geordiesmice]

Its how you want it Maisymouse you can put more toys in too thats a big tank and can take more if you want.

 

[maisymouse]

Yeah I am going to add some more mice just getting these guys better first, they actually have had loads of toys in the past, I bought them a swing, that got chewed, they had a big wooden bed like a ball with holes in made of straw, that got destroyed, they seem to chew and destroy everything I put in, I'd like some kind of climbing frame for them, main thing is the hay and shavings has gone and they are being treated so health is more important than toys at the moment.

 

[katytwinkle]

we use mega zorb for the litter - and straw for bedding, the mice tear all the straw up and make it into small shreds! we have used wood based cat litter before too. As far as the straw is concerned - we always make sure we treat it for mite infestations as a preventative measure.
katy x
ooo someone told us that shredded paper can give mice little paper cuts - so it may be something to look out for. Ive not used shredded paper myself - but its always good to pass on any knowledge!

 

[geordiesmice]

Shredded paper can get wet easily and hold moisture and pee smells too I love Megazorb katywinkle what a nice username too.