Petzy 
 Forum Leader
Northern AB Canada
Posts: 5938
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Sarita
Forum Leader
Farmers Branch, Texas (Dallas)
Posts: 12088
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| 09/01/2010 02:12 PM |
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I've not tried it but when I helped out at one rescue they always had a lady order it for her guinea pigs. I think it's quite pricey for the amount you get. |
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Sarita
Forum Leader
Farmers Branch, Texas (Dallas)
Posts: 12088
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| 09/01/2010 02:14 PM |
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It's around $13 for 20 pounds. |
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jerseygirl
Australia
Posts: 11348
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| 09/01/2010 08:04 PM |
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There's another "EcoStraw" made in Ontario. It's market as pelleted bedding for horses but is same thing by the looks.
http://www.angelfire.com/on3/TrueCo...Straw.html
What i like about these type of bedding/litter is it could be eaten will no ill effects. (I hope!) |
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jerseygirl
Australia
Posts: 11348
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| 09/01/2010 11:11 PM |
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I've been reading about Vermiculite. It's a mineral product. Heat treated mica that expands into a different form called vermiculite. It's used in gardening a lot. But I'm seeing it sold as litter and animal bedding. It's main claim is it absorbs 20 times it's weight in water. BUT is also is super light which makes absorbing "20 times it's own weight" sound less impressive.
It is supposed to be safe but I'd be VERY wary about rabbits eating it. Especially if it absorbed water in their gut. If I come across it I might give it a go but only in a grated litter box so they can't get to it.
Some other benefits are it can be out in the garden after. Like a soil conditioner that can hold water. |
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LoveChaCha
Washington
Posts: 5602
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| 09/01/2010 11:25 PM |
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It looks interesting.. may need to try it sometime. |
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mocha200
Posts: 3541
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| 09/02/2010 07:52 AM |
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Posted By jerseygirl on 09/01/2010 11:11 PM
I've been reading about Vermiculite. It's a mineral product. Heat treated mica that expands into a different form called vermiculite. It's used in gardening a lot. But I'm seeing it sold as litter and animal bedding. It's main claim is it absorbs 20 times it's weight in water. BUT is also is super light which makes absorbing "20 times it's own weight" sound less impressive.
It is supposed to be safe but I'd be VERY wary about rabbits eating it. Especially if it absorbed water in their gut. If I come across it I might give it a go but only in a grated litter box so they can't get to it.
Some other benefits are it can be out in the garden after. Like a soil conditioner that can hold water.
Isn't that true for any litter that absorbes water? like wood stove pellets or YN? |
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Petzy
Forum Leader
Northern AB Canada
Posts: 5938
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| 09/02/2010 08:03 AM |
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I am not shopping for litter. I can't justify spending money on something I can make for free, but the eco-straw looked so tempting. I just wanted to see what it's like... I wonder if Oxbow has samples? Well, probably not in Canada... ugh |
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 "what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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Sarita
Forum Leader
Farmers Branch, Texas (Dallas)
Posts: 12088
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| 09/02/2010 08:04 AM |
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It's a pelleted litter. |
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Petzy
Forum Leader
Northern AB Canada
Posts: 5938
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| 09/02/2010 08:06 AM |
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Posted By mocha200 on 09/02/2010 07:52 AM
Posted By jerseygirl on 09/01/2010 11:11 PM
I've been reading about Vermiculite. It's a mineral product. Heat treated mica that expands into a different form called vermiculite. It's used in gardening a lot. But I'm seeing it sold as litter and animal bedding. It's main claim is it absorbs 20 times it's weight in water. BUT is also is super light which makes absorbing "20 times it's own weight" sound less impressive.
It is supposed to be safe but I'd be VERY wary about rabbits eating it. Especially if it absorbed water in their gut. If I come across it I might give it a go but only in a grated litter box so they can't get to it.
Some other benefits are it can be out in the garden after. Like a soil conditioner that can hold water.
Isn't that true for any litter that absorbes water? like wood stove pellets or YN?
Jersey's litter here is a mineral product and those aren't considered safe to ingest. They should only be used under a grate. Wood stove pellets are just wood (unless you buy the wrong ones with chemicals added) and kiln-dried wood is OK for rabbits even to nibble in limited amounts. ~ |
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| "what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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mocha200
Posts: 3541
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| 09/02/2010 08:13 AM |
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but i am saying about the absorb thing. if that litter might absorb the water in there stomach why wouldn't wood stove pellets if they both soak up water? |
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Petzy
Forum Leader
Northern AB Canada
Posts: 5938
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| 09/02/2010 08:33 AM |
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all litter material absorbs liquid. This in itself is not a problem, but the mineral-based litter apparently can get stuck in the GI tract, whereas a wood or paper-based one will move through. |
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| "what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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mocha200
Posts: 3541
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| 09/02/2010 09:27 AM |
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oh i see. thanks! |
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jerseygirl
Australia
Posts: 11348
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| 09/02/2010 07:14 PM |
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Good question though Mocha.
Yep, wood and paper is plant fibre and rabbits are designed to be able to handle plant fibre. For the record, I was just speculating about the vermculite. If a rabbit were to get a taste for it I really don't know if they could pass it or not. Better safe then soryy right?! I've not actually seen this stuff in person but I get the impression it's sort of spongy.
Petzy, could you get a free sample of any pelleted straw or hay product? |
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tobyluv
South Carolina
Posts: 245
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| 09/03/2010 01:46 PM |
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I used Eco Straw for a while, and liked it, but stopped using it for a couple of reasons. It's expensive--it has to be ordered and the cost of the bags coupled with shipping costs made for a very expensive product. The second reason was that one of my rabbits liked to eat it. I know that it is considered a safe litter to ingest, and I wasn't worried so much about it for that reason, but it was because I was afraid he was filling up on it and not eating as much hay as a result. Since I limit food pellets, it seemed he was using the Eco Straw as a substitute. |
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Petzy
Forum Leader
Northern AB Canada
Posts: 5938
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| 09/03/2010 01:52 PM |
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Thank you for your input tobyluv. This is worth considering.
I will look into samples though...I just would like to try it |
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| "what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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LoveChaCha
Washington
Posts: 5602
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| 09/03/2010 02:15 PM |
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Interesting.
I know of a site that just charges a flat fee.. of 5.99 for shipping. |
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