aviary bedding

[dachsiemom]

I have 12 Zebra finches, and I was wondering if it is safe to use pine shavings in the bottom of my aviary?

My aviary is 6 ft tall x 6 ft wide x 2 ft deep, and currently I am lining the bottom of it with newspapers or brown craft paper. It is SO time consuming!!! I have to tape the paper down or it blows around and won't stay put. Then when I have to clean the aviary, sometimes the tape is hard to get off and trying to roll the soiled paper up to dispose of it is very inconvenient.

I am looking for a safe alternative. Something that I wouldn't have to clean quite as often as I do the paper, but something that is safe and my finches won't ingest.

I have heard that aspen shavings are the best, but I'm not sure of the cost or where to find them, and I have easy access to pine shavings.

I thought about using corn cobs, but I heard that they tend to mold when wet, also I would need to buy them in bulk and I am supposing they aren't cheap.

I also have an aviary full of parakeets, and I would like to use the pine shavings for them as well. I'm fairly certain that the pine is safe for the parakeets because that is what I use in the nesting boxes when I am breeding the parakeets.

The pine shavings I have in mind to use is what my dad uses when he has baby chicks (chickens and turkeys) in the chicken house. It is sold vacuum sealed in 20 pound bags, I believe. It is clean and sterile. It is what is recommended for baby chicks, so I figured it would be safe to use in my aviaries as well.

I just wanted your opinion, and whether it is safe, specifically if you think the finches would ingest it.

[cindy]

You can get aspen in big packages at feed stores. I also got large pacages at the pet store...Petco.

[Ursula]

I personally wouldn't use pine because of what I've read about it. I used aspen shavings for years but the dust was finally getting to me and I just couldn't stand it anymore. I now use Fibercore Eco Bedding and so far I'm very happy with it. It's small paper squiggles and I get it at a local pet store. They order 30 pound boxes for me.