7 Best Bedding Options for Your Goat
- Pine Shavings. Pine shavings are the best kind material to use for your goat pen bedding. ...
- Straw. Just like pine shavings, straw is also a great bedding material for your goat pen. ...
- Pelleted Bedding. Pelleted bedding (made of compressed wood) is mostly used in horse pens but it can also be used in goat pens.
- Sawdust. Sawdust is probably the most popular bedding material for most animals. Sawdust is light, easy to spread, absorbent, prevents smell, and provides many other benefits.
- Wood Chips/Landscaping Chips. Wood chips, just like other bedding materials, are effective in insulating the goat pen and also prevent moisture from building up in the ground.
- Cedar Chips/Shavings. Cedar chips or shavings are good for your goats as a goat pen bedding, but it is not as cost-effective as some other options.
- Sand. Sand or sandy soil is great for drainage. It is best to use sand as a bedding amendment (will be discussed later) rather than just the actual bedding.
Full Answer
What is the best type of pet bedding material?
Cedar and pine became popular as pet bedding materials because they are good at controlling odor and have some natural insecticidal properties (they kill or repel bugs like lice, especially the cedar chips). These softwood shavings also smell nice due to the volatile compounds (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols) that are given off.
Are cedar chips and pine shavings safe for pet bedding?
Cedar chips and pine shavings are commonly used as pet bedding materials. However, there have been many discussions over the safety of these materials among exotic pet owners and advocates.
What types of animals do not need bedding?
1 Goats and Sheep. Sheep and goats do not respond well to treatment, if they become ill, they usually have a very difficult time recovering and often expire. 2 Pigs. These meat producing animals do not require much bedding. ... 3 Beef Cows. Comfort is a crucial aspect when providing bedding for cows. ... 4 Poultry. ... 5 Horses. ...
What kind of bedding do pigs need?
Some bedding is used in indoor pens, especially with farrowing pigs. No bedding is required in confinement housing if slotted floors are used. Pigs emit a lot of moisture, to help expel this, allow for good ventilation and frequent changing of bedding.
What is pine bedding good for?
Cedar and pine became popular for pet bedding material because they are good at controlling odor and have some natural insecticidal properties (they kill or repel bugs, especially cedar). These softwood shavings smell nice due to the volatile compounds (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols) that are given off.
Can rabbits eat pine bedding?
The phenols in the softwood (pine and cedar) shavings causes changes in the liver's enzymes. Your rabbit's liver tries to remove the phenols by producing more of certain enzymes that destroy these chemicals; this is a natural part of you and your rabbit's defense against enviromental toxins.
Can pine bedding be used for dogs?
The Bottom Line With Wood Shavings It is thought that heat-treating pine shavings may reduce the levels of aromatic hydrocarbons that have been shown as a potential concern. Therefore, products such as kiln-dried pine are safe (many pet products are heat-treated like this).
Are pine shavings toxic to chickens?
However, pine shavings contain dangerous toxins that may cause serious harm to your chickens.
Is pine bedding safe for guinea pigs?
Don't use cedar. Pine also gives off aromatic hydrocarbons (phenols) that are harmful to guinea pigs. Kiln-dried pine gives off fewer phenols and may be used, although with the variety of bedding available, it is best to choose a bedding that gives off no known phenols. Don't use pine.
Is pine bedding safe for hamsters?
No Pine and Cedar Wood Shavings According to multiple studies , pine and cedar shavings are generally considered harmful to hamsters, and in large enough doses, can even trigger allergic reactions in humans.
Is pine bedding OK for cats?
Pine bedding and other wood shavings are safe for use as cat litter, as long as they're kiln dried to remove phenol. Pine shavings make a great alternative to clay cat litter due to pine's natural antimicrobial properties.
Do pine shavings repel fleas?
A pile of fresh pine needles, or cedar shavings, placed underneath a dog's bed will discourage fleas from settling.
What is the best bedding for outdoor dogs?
Outdoors. Dogs that live outdoors in cold weather need bedding with higher levels of insulation and moisture-resistance. A layer of fresh, clean hay from grasses such as big bluestem, Indian grass, smooth brome and Timothy provides good cushioning.
How long does it take for pine shavings to decompose?
The wood and bark chips, as well as the green materials, can break down into finished compost in as little as three months, especially during the hot summer months when the center of the pile gets hot. Do not turn the pile through winter because the heat can escape and slow decomposition.
What's the best bedding for a chicken coop?
Medium- to coarse-grained sand is the best chicken coop bedding as it's non-toxic, dries quickly, stays clean, is low in pathogens, and has low levels of dust. Sand is a much safer choice than all other bedding materials.
Is pine shavings safe for ducks?
Pine shavings are highly recommended. As with chicks, do not use newspapers or cedar chips as bedding; newspapers are so slick they can damage the duckling's legs and cedar chips give off harmful fumes.
What bedding is bad for rabbits?
Shredded paper, straw, and paper pulp bedding are not great choices for the litter box. Pine and cedar shavings should be avoided for use in bedding or litter for rabbits. They are toxic and can lead to liver complications.
What bedding is safe for rabbits?
A rabbit's bedding must keep them safe, comfortable, and warm. Rabbits often eat their bedding, so it cannot be toxic. Shredded paper, Aspen shreds, specialist litter or pellets, and hay are all safe options.
Can rabbits have pine wood?
Wood That Would Harm Him Types of wood high in phenols and therefore harmful to rabbits include cedar and untreated pine. Some pine chew treats have been kiln-dried to remove the majority of the phenols, but many veterinarians still recommend against them.
Are wood shavings toxic to rabbits?
Wood products Sawdust has commonly been used in the past as an absorbent layer in rabbits' sleeping areas. This not advisable; sawdust can irritate the skin and lungs because of the oils/phenols contained in the wood. These can be absorbed into the rabbit's internal organs and cause low grade liver inflammation.
What Are The Best Pine Pellet Bedding Alternatives?
While pine pellets are still a popular bedding choice amongst rabbit owners, they can be viewed as controversial. Below, I’ve broken down 7 suitable alternatives to help you decide:
Is Pine Pellet Bedding Okay For Rabbits?
Yes, pine pellets are fine because they are kiln-dried, which ensures that the phenols which are harmful to rabbits are removed during the drying process.
Can You Use Horse Pellets For Rabbit Litter?
When you buy a bag of horse pellets, the label will often say that they are safe for rabbits as well.
What is bedding for livestock?
In general, bedding for an animal must be comfortable, clean, and absorbent. There are several materials, both organic and inert, that may be used for bedding, and most may be used for all types of livestock. When organic materials are used, ammonia volatilization is reduced, improving the air in the housing facility. Bedding, as with other aspects of livestock management, can be manageable through proper care and attention. In the case of milking, pregnant, nursing, or very young livestock, specific attention to bedding is required. These four categories of animals are the most susceptible to disease. With milking animals, because the udders are in such close contact with the bedding, environmental pathogens, mainly ones that cause mastitis are of major concern. Comfort is another crucial aspect of bedding because discomfort of an animal leads to sores and other ailments. The breed and age of animal, housing, flooring, and population density will dictate the type and amount of bedding needed. For example the foaling season is especially important with equine.
What are some examples of alternative bedding?
Examples of alternative sources include but are not limited to: corn stubble, cardboard, peanut hulls, and tobacco stems.
What should bedding be free of?
Cleanliness‐ Materials should always remain free of any chemicals, sharp objects, molds, dust, and excess moisture. Clean soiled bedding areas at first sign of trouble. Inert‐ Ideally, bedding should not sustain bacterial growth, but organic matter such as straw, wood shavings, and paper byproducts do.
What is hay used for?
Hay‐ Is cut and dried legumes and/or grasses. Most commonly used for feed, poorer quality may be used for bedding purposes. Ensure that the quality is not palatable so animal (s) will not consume it. Never use old hay, as it may give off dust that could result in respiratory damage.
Why is comfort important in bedding?
Comfort is another crucial aspect of bedding because discomfort of an animal leads to sores and other ailments. The breed and age of animal, housing, flooring, and population density will dictate the type and amount of bedding needed. For example the foaling season is especially important with equine.
Why is newspaper used in farming?
On an environmental level, utilizing newspaper allows for reduction of landfill space and farm land that would have been used to grow a crop for bedding. Obtaining newspaper may be done by purchasing it ready‐made or from a source, such as a recycling center, where the farmer would then need to process it themselves.
Why are wood chips not recommended for animals?
Wood chips create a highly damp environment generating mold and mildew, which promote microbial growth. If showing animals, using wood chips is not advised because when moist, color is emitted and may stain the coat of the animals.
What is the best bedding material for pigs?
What’s the best bedding material to use in their pen to keep your pigs comfortable and happy? The best bedding material for pigs is straw since it is easy to find and easy to use. If the cost of straw is prohibitive in your area, consider other bedding options for your pigs such as shavings, old hay and wood chips.
What to use for pig bedding?
The best bedding to use for your pigs is straw. Straw is easy to find, easy to handle, easy to add to freshen up the pen and makes a great compost component when you clean out the pen. You can use straw from any of the small grains, with wheat, barley, rye and oats being the most common straw types available.
Why do pigs need straw bedding?
Straw bedding gives the pigs something to play with and keeps them interacting with their environment. It’s important to remember that pigs would stay busy all day, if they were left to find food for themselves.
What does "deep bedding" mean?
By deep bedding I mean that you need to make sure the pigs have a foot (or more) of bedding material in the pen to start with then add, as needed.
What do wood chips do to pigs?
Just like straw, wood chips give your pigs something to play with. Your pigs want to stay busy and bedding material that is able to be carried around will do the trick to keep your pigs happy and content.
Do pigs like leaves?
If you have access to leaves from fall leaf collection, you are set, at least as far as your pig bedding needs go. Leaves are easy to spread and the pigs like to play in the piles!
Can you get pig bedding cheap?
If you have wood chips available in your area , you’ve got a great potential source of pig bedding material, especially if you can get them cheap.
What are the best things to put in goat pen bedding?
Another advantage of chips is that they can be stored outside, so they are easier to handle. 6. Cedar Chips/Shavings. Cedar chips or shavings are good for your goats as a goat pen bedding, but it is not as cost-effective as some other options.
What is the best bedding for goats?
3. Pelleted Bedding. Pelleted bedding (made of compressed wood) is mostly used in horse pens but it can also be used in goat pens. This bedding material is cheap, absorbent, easy to manage, and unattractive for goats to eat.
What Can You Do With Spent Bedding?
If your bedding is spent (i.e. you have used it in the pen and it is time to dispose of it), can it be reused? What can you do with it?
How to make compost from unused bedding?
To make great compost, mix some unused bedding material (or any dry material such as dry leaves) with your spent bedding material and then keep the mixture in your compost bin.
What is the best material to compost?
Spent bedding materials are really great for compost because people use one part nitrogen (fresh or green materials) with four part carbon (dry or brown materials).
What to use for goat pen?
As you already know, bedding helps your goat pen by insulating it and reducing smell and harmful fumes. Some of the best materials to use as bedding are wood chips, sawdust, pine shavings, etc.
What to use for goat pen bedding?
1. Pine Shavings. Pine shavings are the best kind material to use for your goat pen bedding. Pine shaving is not only very absorbent, it is cheap and easy to remove when it is soiled. Depending upon your region and the season, you can use pine shavings for a few days to a week. 2.
positives and negatives of animal bedding as mulch
I am looking to buy a couple of those 4cu ft bags of shredded pine or cedar that Walmart sells as hamster bedding and use it as mulch. What are the positives and negatives in using this? It will be used in flower beds and in a somewhat windy location. Once wetted, will it blow around or will it mat down?
Comments (5)
Isn't it cheaper to buy regular mulch in the garden section at the big box store?
Toxicity
- Many of the studies on wood toxicity have actually been conducted on humans who are exposed to these woods and their by-products in the wood product industry (such as those who work in lumber mills who are exposed to lots of wood dust). These studies often compare the incidence …
Other animals
- Studies of laboratory animals have shown fairly dramatic changes in liver enzymes of animals housed on cedar bedding though. These changes, in turn, can affect the metabolism of drugs in the liver, including anesthetics, but there is not much information on a direct link between these changes and disease or clinical symptoms. The changes in liver enzymes can be problematic fo…
Prevention
- Based on the studies that have shown concern with the compounds in the cedar chips that may cause changes within the body, it seems it is best to avoid using cedar as bedding or litter for our pets, especially since alternatives are readily available.
Risks
- With pine shavings, the problem isn't as clear cut though. Pine shavings emit similar volatile compounds as cedar chips but the risks aren't clear. It is thought that heat treating pine shavings may reduce the levels of aromatic hydrocarbons that have been shown as a potential concern. Therefore, products such as kiln-dried pine are safe (many pet products are heat treated like this…
Merchandise
- The concerns over pet bedding safety seem to have led to a bit of an explosion of alternative bedding products on the market. As far as wood shavings go, aspen is a good option that is widely available. There is an increasing number of other litter or pellet type products on the market now, which are appropriate for use as bedding or in litter boxes. The best option for you …
Variations
- Some of the newer alternatives include paper-based pellets and fluff like Carefresh Ultra (an absorbent bedding that also holds together well so the wet parts can easily be scooped out), litters made from a variety of other organic materials (e.g. cherry/maple wood, aspen wood or bark, grain by-products, wood pulp fibers), and even paper strips (which are soft, but not very ab…
Introduction
Considerations in Choosing Bedding
Five Bedding Characteristics
Types of Bedding
Manage Bedding
Specific Requirements For Livestock
- Goats and Sheep
Sheep and goats do not respond well to treatment, if they become ill, they usually have a very difficult time recovering and often expire. (Gillespie p 541) Therefore, keep your goats and sheep as clean as possible. Specific bedding is dependent on the flooring type. Concrete floors must h… - Pigs
These meat producing animals do not require much bedding. Their housing is simple, either indoors or outdoors. With indoor facilities, slatted floors are often used to allow manure to fall through into a catchment, where the manure is then handled as a liquid. This type of system allo…
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