Liners vs bed shavings - 2006/05/18 00:55Im new to the hedghog world(pun intended), and i cant decide between bedding or cloth liners. Im looking for pros and cons of each so I can make the ultimate decision. Thanks!
Post edited by: HamorHollow, at: 2006/05/28 20:09
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HamorHollow
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Re:Liners vs bed shavings...fight - 2006/05/18 01:51check the other questions in this forum. There have already been several discussions on liners and shavings. Most of the points have been made in those threads, and they are really easy to look up.
Feel free to try a few things and see what works best for you. I've done Carefresh, liners, cellsorb, and aspen, and I finally settled on pine. But what works for me may not be what works for you.
-KKelly Sosik-Hamor Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs - a New Hampshire breeder, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and any where else hedgehogs are legal. | Do you want to buy a baby Hedgehog? Please fill out out questionnaire. | Hedgehog World - A Community for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders
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Salami Inferno
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Re:Liners vs bed shavings...fight - 2006/05/20 06:52Ive searched the other threads in this forum and the answers seem...unsatisfactory. It appears that most people prefer bedding, but worry about excessive oils/scents, mites, mess, and cost. People who enjoy liners swear by them, while people who dislike them claim they tend to smell more and are a pain to clean. Id appreciate further remarks from a breeder, or at least someone who has tried both. The cost effectiveness of a liner cant be denied, but if its quality as a tool to keep a cage tidy is poor, well thats a whole new story. Im just looking for the best option.
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CThogs
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Re:Liners vs bed shavings...fight - 2006/05/20 15:52I've used both and find that the bedding is easier because you can just scoop up the soiled area as needed between cage cleanings. But it is more expensive. And you do tend to find bedding on the floor, on your clothes,etc. I like the regular Carefresh. The Carefresh ultra seems to stick to the bottom of my cages but it is more absorbent. If you only have one hedgehog the cost of bedding isn't as much of an issue. A large package will last quite a while.
The problem with liners is, once they are soiled, they can smell, especially in the warmer weather. But they are cheaper over the long run. You do have to keep enough on hand so you are not constantly doing laundry.
That being said, it also depends on your hedgehog. Some will just go in a corner, or under their wheel or in a predictable area. Then you could use a litter box and I don't think it matters as much whether you use bedding or liners.
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dlee
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Re:Liners vs bed shavings...fight - 2006/05/20 17:02I started using pine shavings and didn't mind it. I then read about liners and decided to make my own and try it. I am thinking of going back to the shavings. My hedgehog is very messy and often goes to the bathroom and then steps in it over and over and spreads it all over. If I had shavings I could just scoop out the mess in between cage cleanings. With the liners I have to change them about every 2-3 days (wich then adds more laundry) to get rid of the smell. Putting down paper towels under his wheel where he usually goes to the bathroom helps a little. However, I do like not finding pine shavings all over the house. I guess if I had to choose I would choose the pine shavings, but that is my opinion.
Hope this helps a little!
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LoriL
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Re:Liners vs bed shavings...fight - 2006/05/20 20:01I have not tried shavings because my family has allergies and asthma (with the exception of myself), and I was afraid that shavings may kick up some dust that would trigger asthma attacks.
I use liners and I love it! I find it very easy to remove a liner and wash it. Lucy is training herself to use her litter box, but every couple of days I have to remove the liner and put in a new one. I just wash it, along with the hedgiebags, and fleece strips I use for her digging box in an unscented detergent.
I made several liners and I just exchange them out of the cage when I need to. It was more expensive to start with, but I think in the long run it will pay off.
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HamorHollow
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Re:Liners vs bed shavings...fight - 2006/05/20 22:06I am not sure if liners are truely cheeper in the long run when you take into consideration the cost of water, electric, and soap towash them. Plus *most* people are not going to wash them with their regular load, so it means you have to do another load of wash.
It also depends on what bedding you compare it to. Pine is drastically cheeper then Carefresh.
KKelly Sosik-Hamor Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs - a New Hampshire breeder, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and any where else hedgehogs are legal. | Do you want to buy a baby Hedgehog? Please fill out out questionnaire. | Hedgehog World - A Community for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders
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Kiwisoo
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Re:Liners vs bed shavings...fight - 2006/05/22 14:21I really like the Super Shavings. Very little odor, easy to clean up, and Oliver has had no problem with it at all. Linda
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PogStar
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Re:Liners vs bed shavings...fight - 2006/05/28 19:12We use the alfalfa rabbit pellets as bedding, and while I know that with some people they have triggered allergies, we really like the cost effectiveness and the lack of odor using it. Out here in the country its also great to be able to take the soiled bedding out and compost it, which saves on trash bags and such, although I know that isn't a major concern for owners of one or two animals. We have a thundering herd, so I can't imagine using liners, although I will occasionally use one with an animal that has an injury or a health concern. I've heard a lot of people who really like them, and I can definitely see the up side to them, it's just more extra work than my sanity (what little is left of it) needs right now. Hope this helps at least a little!
Laura Tong PogStar Hedgehogs
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Ellie
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Re:Liners vs bed shavings...fight - 2006/08/15 05:21For those of you who use liners, what are they made out of. I want to make some for Ellie's cage so I was just wondering what kind of material you find works best, and maybe like how many layers thick they should be.
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deltadawn758
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Re:Liners vs bed shavings...fight - 2007/01/25 06:50Hi Ann. How can you stand the smell of Carefresh?! I tried that first and then switched to Soft-Sorbent. Much better smell! Then I tried the white Carefresh and it actually smelled better than the regular. Since it's so expensive, I went to Walmart and found a generic brand of Carefresh for a lot less $. Much more pleasant smell and just as good, in my opinion, as Carefresh!
Because of my hedgie babies, however, I had to switch to Aspen shavings because I was afraid they would eat the Soft-Sorbent bedding and I had heard that babies will sometimes eat the Carefresh, which isn't good for them of course. Soft-Sorbent is my #1 choice, though, and can be purchased online or at PetSmart. Has anyone else noticed the bad smell of Carefresh? I'm not talking about the smell of the urine and feces, but the actual odor these two things bring out of the Carefresh naturally. And yes, I spot clean everyday and clean my hedgies containers regulary.~~Tree
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CThogs
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Re:Liners vs bed shavings...fight - 2007/01/25 07:17They have changed the carefresh and you're right it does have a smell to it that the ultra doesn't. I guess I'm just used to it. I also use pine and I think with any bedding you have to watch out that nobody is eating it-especially when you switch brands.Ann Connecticut Hedgehogs
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Julie Pierce
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Re:Liners vs bed shavings...fight - 2007/01/25 08:42I have tried just about everything for bedding from YESTERDAY'S NEWS to Liners to CareFresh to Pine shavings and now Aspen Shavings. The shavings are a pain in the butt because they make a mess and get all over the floor, however, I do find it so much less work just spot cleaning the cages instead of replacing all the liners twice a day. Its a personal preference thing. I think if you only have one hedgie then liners are fine (try introducing a litter box too) but if you have a bunch of hedgies then you are constantly doing laundryJulie Pierce Pierce's Pogs http://www.piercespogs.com
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herbiesmom
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Re:Liners vs bed shavings - 2007/01/26 21:10My two boys came to on corn cob bedding. I got rid of that due the penile sheath issue and I have boys. They have since been on liners, pine, super shavings and carefresh. They are now on carefresh. Liners did not work for them because they decided to sleep under them and potty under them. Was not a good thing. The carefresh is easier to clean out of the carpet of their room than the shavings were and it is nice and soft for their feet. I do have to clean the cages really well every 5-6 days or it does have an odor. The least odor seemed to be with the pine. I agree, it is a matter of personal preference. I liked super shavings a lot but had trouble getting a continuous supply of those here.Cyn and Hedgie Boys
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Helva
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Re:Liners vs bed shavings - 2007/02/16 05:37I always use liners, I have four by hedgie, and I change it every two days. I am very happy to use them, and I think hedgies too.Helva & Vicky & Nono & Thais & the Others (3dogs 4cats)
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clutterbuster
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Re:Liners vs bed shavings - 2007/02/16 08:00I found carefresh to be a mess throughout my house. Shavings a little better but had to stop when I treated Pippi for stress mites and the vet said no wood. I switched to fleece liners and would never go back. Buy the heavier fleece, costs a buck more a yard but has better consistency and minimize the 'thread' concerns. I have eight strips cut so I only have to do laundry once a week and sometimes I don't change it every night for its winter (but I will come summer). I do put a little carefresh in the corner, hoping she'll toilet there but its where she goes to pout. It depends on how much of a mess your hedgie makes, Pippi mostly poops and pees on her wheel. She does crawl under the liners, but I don't notice any toileting. She doesn't chew carefresh, but will pounce and start tearing at paper towels that many have success with. FLEECE IS GREAT FOR PEOPLE WITH ALLERGIES and ASTHMA, I have been intubated and ventilated several times in my life so I have relevant experience.
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rachael0911
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Re:Liners vs bed shavings...fight - 2007/03/07 06:19LoriL wrote: I have not tried shavings because my family has allergies and asthma (with the exception of myself), and I was afraid that shavings may kick up some dust that would trigger asthma attacks.
I use liners and I love it! I find it very easy to remove a liner and wash it. Lucy is training herself to use her litter box, but every couple of days I have to remove the liner and put in a new one. I just wash it, along with the hedgiebags, and fleece strips I use for her digging box in an unscented detergent.
I made several liners and I just exchange them out of the cage when I need to. It was more expensive to start with, but I think in the long run it will pay off.
/quote]
This is exactly why I'm going with liners--allergies.
Post edited by: HamorHollow, at: 2007/03/07 11:04
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I was a user of bedding for many years, but on a whim decided to make some fleece liners to see if my hedgies liked them better...I had found some cute fleece with a hedgehog pattern and I just had to try it . After placing the wheel in a large litter box and adding the liners and hedge bag my hh went nuts! He quickly made a liner cave and actually started to use his litter box more. So I will never go back to bedding. I save money with liners, my hh is happier, and I get to hunt for cute fabric!!! Its win win.
Thanks!
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starnightstarsky2000
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Re:Liners vs bed shavings...fight - 2007/04/10 16:48I love the idea of placing the wheel in a litter box as I am wanting to go with liners myself but was trying to figure out about how to keep the mess from the wheel from being all over the liner. Thanks for the great suggestion.Dani Marshall Kansas Lots Of Love Exotic Small Animal Kennel "From Our Heart To Yours" http://www.exotic-mammals.4t.com
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Hedgehog Forums 
Hope this helps at least a little!
Shavings a little better but had to stop when I treated Pippi for stress mites and the vet said no wood. I switched to fleece liners and would never go back. Buy the heavier fleece, costs a buck more a yard but has better consistency and minimize the 'thread' concerns. I have eight strips cut so I only have to do laundry once a week and sometimes I don't change it every night for its winter (but I will come summer). I do put a little carefresh in the corner, hoping she'll toilet there but its where she goes to pout. It depends on how much of a mess your hedgie makes, Pippi mostly poops and pees on her wheel. She does crawl under the liners, but I don't notice any toileting. She doesn't chew carefresh, but will pounce and start tearing at paper towels that many have success with. FLEECE IS GREAT FOR PEOPLE WITH ALLERGIES and ASTHMA, I have been intubated and ventilated several times in my life so I have relevant experience. 
. After placing the wheel in a large litter box and adding the liners and hedge bag my hh went nuts! He quickly made a liner cave and actually started to use his litter box more. So I will never go back to bedding. I save money with liners, my hh is happier, and I get to hunt for cute fabric!!! Its win win.