Switched to wood pellets for litter

[masteroffm]

we had been using newpaper for a few years and it had always bothered me that Jessica and Marvin would chew on it even though the had plenty of hay.  and lately we had been putting hay over the litter to try and persude them from eating the news paper.  recently after browsing through posts i had comes across one about using pellet fuel as litter.  did a little more research and sounded like a good idea.

so I went down to orchard supply and picked up two 40 pound bags for $12.  it is working out for the most part, just taking a little work with Jessica and Marvin used to it.  they had been leaving little piles outside of their litter box and peeing outside of it.  we having been putting just a few strips of news paper on top of the litter so it is familiar and they realize that is where they should potty.  one thing is that there is a definite reduction in odor compared to using newspaper.  I just have to keep a more watchful eye on the bunnies to make sure they actually are going in their litter box

[Binkles]

What kind of wood is it?

[Scarlet_Rose]

Yes, i am cuirous, what kind of wood is it and since you got it from and orchard supply (Is that a feed store?) what are the pellets made for?

[osprey]

Orchard Supply is a harware store that sells wood stove pellets.  The pellets are most likely made from pine sawdust.  I have used these before, but I often have trouble finding them.  They are usually stocked only in the fall and early winter.

 

[Binkles]

But…pine=bad, right? Aspen=good.

[Sarita]

Pelleted pine is fine.

[wendyzski]

it’s only the pine shavings that are bad. 

The pelleted products are heat-processed during manufacture and that “cooks” off all the phenols which are the problem.

I’ve been using Feline Pine for almost 2 years now with great results and I only have to change the box once a week!

[Binkles]

^^ Oh. Well that’s good to know!

[Scarlet_Rose]

Thanks for clearing up the type of store it is Osprey! I had no idea as we don’t have any of those here.

[masteroffm]

I had to abandon using pellets for litter.  Marvin was peeing everywhere around the litterboxes, but not inside, apparently he has something against the pellets .  Jessie on the other hand picked it up right away and only a couple of times did I have to pick her up and put her in the litterbox before she peed on the carpet.  With Marvin being so skittish each time we thought he was going to pee would end up with 5 minutes of chasing him around the house.  Of course at that point he is mad/annoyed and is likely to pee outside the litterbox out of spite.  Plus with them being in their pen for 16 hours a day while we sleep/work there would be no way to stop him from going outside of the litterbox.

so I have had to revert back to shredding newspaper and using hay for litter, but havent had either rabbit pee outside the litterbox in almost a week.  However Jessica no longer likes where we had been placing the litterbox and has taken it upon herself to move it into the middle of their pen. 

[osprey]

Maybe Marvin did not like the feel of the pellets on his tootsies. Poor little spoiled boy 🙂

[masteroffm]

spolied it righ, but now that you bring it up he does have sensitve feet.  he is fussy as it is and trimming his nails is a two person job.  i had tried putting hay over the top so it would be more familiar for them.

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