Please help

[Katlin10]

I'm planning on getting a hamster and i want to use homemade bedding. How long can homemade bedding last before i actually use it. I would like to stock up on it, before i get my hamster

[velma]

I've not used homemade bedding. I've watched a couple of videos on YouTube and to be honest it looks very time consuming to make enough and I think could work out expensive. It takes quite a bit of substrate to fill a decent sized cage. And some of the homemade ones look a bit soft. You don't want anything hard or scratchy obviously but it's better if it can hold a shape when burrowed into. But nesting material is something you don't need to buy. Just rip up white, unscented toilet paper. I get the really cheap value one as it shreds nicely and I don't rio it too small as my hams have a nice time tearing it to the right size. And that is something you want lovely and soft for their nest
I'd be intrigued to hear if anyone else has made their substrate and what they thought of it?

[Scarlett Empress]

I did have a go at making bedding from the Erins Animals video - never again! It took ages to make, ages to dry out - only made a small amount from one loo roll - and Smokey didn't want anything to do with it!

If you did make some, I can't see why it wouldn't keep for ages, as long as it was kept nice and dry.

[Erestor]

I have also tried the Erins animals one, it took days to dry, and it came out very crispy and I threw it away! But maybe it depends on what you use, my friend makers hers and it worked fine

Fitch bedding is really soft like home made, is super cost effective and lasts ages!

[freyashamsters]

To everyone saying that ErinsAnimals video is too time-consuming, she had actually uploaded a new one describing how to make paper-based bedding, taking 2-3hours at maximum. It's a really easy DIY and only requires paper, a pillowcase (which you don't plan to use in he future), a washing machine, and an oven/tumble dryer. Hope this helped