Could I have some opinions on litter/bedding?

[Bianca]

With two bigger rabbits than I am used to (Ogg was a netherland dwarf, so pretty much anything is bigger than I am used to!) I am finding my litter trays get soiled a lot more quickly, and then understandably Maggie and Terry go just outside instead (to their credit they still do all their urine in the trays so it’s still easy to clean!). I used to have two trays in a corner next to each other. Today I plan to buy an under the bed container or something similar instead – something larger and more convenient for two rabbits who want to share a tray.

My issue is deciding on a bedding as well. In the past I have used a pet training pad topped with hay. Fine with a smaller rabbit. But I am wasting too much hay this way now. The cost of hay isn’t an issue – I own horses and have a huge supply of the stuff. But I have to chuck it everyday because of course it gets soiled. And we don’t have enough bin space. I plan to pay for a second garbage bin when I can afford it, but right now that isn’t an option (can you say horse vet bills?). So I would like to try a different bedding that perhaps I just need to scoop the bits that have been urinated on, and collect the majority of the poops – and then only have to fully change it less than once a day? I have borrowed a trick from the RSPCA – I now stuff my hay in toilet rolls and sit them in the litter tray. They still have 24/7 hay but it is less messy and I don’t have to fill my bin up with soiled hay constantly. 

However, here is my next problem. Maggie is fine. But Terry eats everything. I mean actually swallows, not just chews and spits out like Ogg used to. So having the litter topped with hay would stop him eating the litter. But brings me back to my original problem of the hay being soiled and taking up so much bin space. I find he doesn’t eat other stuff around the litter tray if he has enough hay, so perhaps the litter eating won’t be an issue. He also has 24/7 access to the rest of the study so he is only in his litter tray to poop and eat. And drink water – I have a separate litter tray next to the main ones for water because they like to wee around their water bowl. I think it’s a trick Ogg started, and Terry copied. And now Maggie is doing it too. Which is fine by me. I just put a pet pad in that one and change it when they wee in there.

Anyway, rambling over. What would you do/use in my situation? I’m in Australia so I might not have access to specific brands mentioned, but I have seen a wide variety of (not cheap) litters at the supermarket that say they are safe for rabbits. I plan to go have a look later today when I pick up the new litter tray/container. 

Thanks!

[Azerane]

I see a couple of options for a litter chewer. The first is to get some wire mesh or a grate to use over the top of the litter so that he doesn’t have access to it. Not preferable of course, but it is an option.

In regards to litter itself. I’m in Australia also and use wood pellet litter. There are cat litter brands, horse stall brands and also during winter stove pellets sold at BBQs galore. The cat litter brands are the most expensive and you’ll commonly find Oz-pet, Heaven Scent, Kitter and CatMate. I personally use a horse brand called Proteq, I think I pay around $14-15 for 15kg. There’s also HorseMate (same company as CatMate), and a few others that I can’t remember. It’s worth looking up a few different brands to find one that has a stockist near where you are.

With the litter, I also use a sieve tray like this (http://www.oz-pet.net.au/litter_tray.html). It means I only need to use a very thin layer of the litter on top. Then I just spot clean daily. I have images of how my tray looks and my daily tray cleaning process on the forum at this link here: https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/152834/Default.aspx

My pair are 2.5kg and 3kg and they share just that one tray  Regarding chewing, both of mine did at first sample the litter, they just ate a few pieces, in large quantities I could see it being an issue as it would swell a bit in the stomach, however after the first few tries, they both decided it wasn’t worth eating and haven’t touched it since. Proteq is just kiln dried pine so it is safe if ingested.

[Bianca]

Oh, Proteq is rabbit safe? That’s awesome! I love that stuff, I used to use it for my mare when she was stabled, because apparently the only place one can urinate is inside the stable even when you have 24/7 access to a yard, and a paddock most days. And she loves to drink water because she can, so she would flood that stable so bad until I bought proteq! It’s also the only equine pelleted bedding I can source easily in my state.

Thank you for the tips and the link, I will go have a look now.

[Bianca]

Actually one question though – considering how much proteq swells, wouldn’t it be dangerous if Terry eats any?

If I get proteq should I perhaps pre-soak it like we would in a horse stable to get it to expand?

[Azerane]

Yes, I’ve been using it for about a year now I think, JerseyGirl recommended it to me because I had been using Oz-Pet which is so expensive! I’m glad you have easy access to proteq. That’s funny, but also a little annoying about your horse

[Bianca]

Oh it was so annoying. I have four geldings that don’t feel any need to do that, but she had to wee inside where it doesn’t even have the sun to help dry it! And she has respiratory issues which made the local overpriced sawdust too dangerous to use for her.

I think for today I will go and buy a large container and some safe cat litter, and then organise to get the proteq when I’m not sick. It’s easy enough to get but a 45 minute drive which I don’t feel up to right now. Thanks for the advice, hopefully this will save some mess and bin space!

[Azerane]

Oops, didn’t see your other post before. Yes it does swell. I’ve never used it for the rabbits after having soaked it, I figured it would just get tracked around everywhere. I do use it soaked in the tray of my parrots cage, but that’s a bit different

Yes, the swelling could be a concern. With my previous rabbit, I think he ate about 5 pieces in the first few hours after I put it in and there weren’t any issues. Maybe Terry will be a pain in the butt and just keep eating it, but all of my rabbits have simply sampled it a few times and then never eaten it again. Certainly if he is eating a lot of it I would be concerned and would either use it soaked or not use it at all.

[ThorBunny]

I second the recommendation of compressed wood pellets! Here is my setup now: I have the grate because Thor is a digger, but it would also prevent somebunny from eating litter:

I’m relatively new to bunnies but have used many types of litter and this is my favorite! It neutralizes all smell, you can scoop out soiled areas, and it is very cheap. In the US, we can get this as wood stove pellets or equine bedding pellets for $5-$7 for 40lbs. Not sure if there are other options in Australia, but sounds like cat litter option is fairly affordable. 

[vanessa]

I use wood pellets, either wood stove, or horse bedding wood pellets. I don’t overdo it on the hay topping. I put just enough hay that they eat most of it before it gets soiled, and I don’t have a lot to throw out. If I do, then the next day I put a bit less hay. Mine r 3.5-4kg each. Bunny bunny has nice litter screens for custom order. Mine don’t eat the wood pellets, so I don’t use a screen anymore. Concrete mixing tubs, u,set-the-bed storage, all good options for a large litter box.

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