[Gpdd] (Housing)

Brad Ellis ellis_chiphi at yahoo.com
Mon Jan 19 13:10:24 EST 2004


Hi all,

Thought I'd chime in on a couple of housing questions...

I have used aspen bedding since I learned about the problems inherent in using cedar and pine.  There is a lot of difference even in aspen bedding though.  Someone mentioned that there pigs were not happy with the shavings from aspen getting into uncomfortable places and that it was rough on their pigs feet.  I have experienced the same thing with my pigs, but I have recently stumbled across an aspen bedding that it manufactured as bedding (unlike the shavings some of us are used to which are actually just bi-products from preparing aspen for furniture etc.)  It is very small and unfortunately hard to describe.  It is super soft and very absorbent.  The company states that the bedding was designed with small animals' bedding instincts in mind.  I'd be happy to give the name of the company to anyone interested,  ( I haven't got it on me so I'd have to go home and check).

As far as the shelter discussion going around:

Has everyone seen the giant new pigloo's?  They're huge!  I think even Bob (who is very large) would luxuriate in a neon colored plastic pigloo.  

I love the idea of cutting the ends off an oatmeal container!  I'm rapidly consuming as much oatmeal as I can bear so that I can introduce someone to a new tunnel.  

The instinct question and whether or not to provide pigs a house all the time is very interesting.  I wanted to mention Muse;  she loves being held and petted much more than Bob and Oreo.  Most of the time she will not run for her shelter when I grab her or pet her.  However, there are times when I come in too quickly and she scurries for cover.  In my case, I  leave the shelters in there all the time because I don't want to be intrusive when my Guinea Pigs want me to leave them alone.  That's just me!  Playing devil's advocate I have to say that Oreo uses her house excessively and I have often had to temporarily remove it just so she wouldn't become feral.  



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