"Pine Pellets" for tray substrate?

[lyzzyjayne]

What do you guys think about this stuff http://www.planetwiseproducts.com/feline.htm for putting in the tray, under the grate, out of reach of the birds? Thank You!

[ac12]

I use something similar from PetSmart, in a 25 pound sack.
I use it to absorb the urine in their poop, so the cage doesn't start to smell as quickly. And it seems to work. But I only put it under the perches, not all over the bottom. Any place other than under the perches or the food tray (or wherever they poop) would waste most of the pellets.

[ranchnanny]

I use it in all my cages and my flight and have had no trouble with it, I buy it in a 25lb bag at the feed store for under $6. It does absorb water well. Doesn't seem to harm the birds at all.

[Sally]

I actually tried a similar product one time, except it was pine pellets manufactured for use in horse stalls. I used it in trays, but my cages don't have grates, so the birds had access to the bedding. I did like it, but one thing I found was that when the birds bathed and splashed water all over the place, or if a water tube leaked, the pellets swelled and then crumbled, eventually turning into a tray full of sawdust, not pellets. Does this happen with the feline pellets?

There has been discussion in the past as to whether pine products are safe, since they are supposed to release phenols, which are not safe for our birds. Aspen shavings were always touted as safer than pine. But nowadays, so many litters are kiln-dried, I wonder if this process has made them safer.

I have used Oil-dri and kitty litter (dusty), sand (heavy), aspen shavings (light, wind up on the floor). Paper is cheap, but to me it is unattractive and messy-looking. ranchnanny Are you using it where the birds can reach it? If so, no problems with it?

[EyesofFreedom]

I have been wondering about changing the "flooring" in may cage but didn't want to hijack your thread...

So anyways my cage has a double bottom... there is a removable grate and below that a tray...

I really like it cause I can remove one or the other for cleaning and the birds still can not escape... and believe me Scratch is pretty darn smart... he found a hole near the the external bath and managed to slip out once...

Anyways I was thinking about using the cheap basic clay based kitty litter that you can buy at the dollar store... you know the kind that is $3 for 25lbs... I seen Sally said she had used it but I am curious what type?

For odor I was going to sprinkle on some Baking Soda... right now I use newspaper and like some others have said it is kind of not so attractive but I don't want anything that will produce fumes that can be harmful to the birds...

I don't know... have you considered that?

[Sally]

Yes, the kitty litter I have used was the clay-based type, not the scoopable. I bought the cheapest brand, as I didn't want one of those that has 'fragrance' added, and the cheap ones are just plain. I still have never found the 'perfect' bedding material.

[EyesofFreedom]

how did the kitty litter work out for you Sally?

[debbie276]

Anyways I was thinking about using the cheap basic clay based kitty litter that you can buy at the dollar store... you know the kind that is $3 for 25lbs... I seen Sally said she had used it but I am curious what type?

I used the cheap litter that petco and/or pet smart sell. It's natural clay with baking soda added.
Here's a link to the petco brand I used.
http://www.petco.com/product/6653/Petco ... SiteSearch
Right now I've been using the same type that I found in BJ's. They have all worked well for me.

[skyjump100]

Well, I've got to say that I still use newspaper ass I'm so busy looking at the birds I've never really thought about what was under the grate (I use cages with grate and tray) to catch the waste.

I think if I was to use the cages without th egrate I think I would use something natural so pine pellets sound ideal to me.

Something for me to ponder....

[EyesofFreedom]

Well, I've got to say that I still use newspaper as I'm so busy looking at the birds I've never really thought about what was under the grate (I use cages with grate and tray) to catch the waste.

Yeah it is hard to beat the price of the newspaper... free leftovers

[Nerien]

We use newspaper, but then cover it with a layer of paper towel so that it's just plain white. Looks great. And it helps keep an eye on color/size/etc of poops. And, as long as they don't go nuts with the bathing splatters, you can just change the paper towel layer one to several times before having to change the newspaper below, depending on amount of pooping going on, quicker clean up than messing with all that newspaper.

(Why don't they either make bird cages the same size as newspaper, or newspapers the same size as bird cages? Just hate all that folding and fitting!)

[Sally]

how did the kitty litter work out for you Sally?

The kitty litter works OK, but I do find it is dusty. I might try the pine pellets made for felines, maybe it doesn't break down as quickly as the ones made for horse stalls--plus they might be a bit smaller.

[Asym]

If you want plain paper you can always buy plain packing paper. I had purchased a box at UHaul for one of my moves and I LOVED LOVED LOVED using the remaining in the bird cages. Easy, attractive and neat.

http://www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplies/Protective-stuff


Maybe I should go buy some.. Kind of forgot about using it till just now.

[Ursula]

I use something similar in my parrotlet cage. Only it's not made of wood but recycled paper. Called "yesterday's news".... Environmentally friendly.

[Nerien]

Back to the pine pellets, how big are the pellets? We use aspen pellets for our guinea pigs and hedgehog, get them from Petco. They work great, none of the worries of pine, but the pellets are fairly large, for pellet stuff, seems like it would take quite a layer of it to properly cover the bottom of a bird cage, which would make it a bit pricey if changed out often. How often do you clean out when you use pellets?

Aspen pellets:
http://www.petco.com/product/10515/Gree ... dingLitter