Has anyone used this bedding before?

[Jenibelle]

Hi!
I'm wondering if anyone has used this specific bedding before, is it safe?
Grreat Choice

If not this bedding, does anyone have another kiln dried pine suggestion? I am in the US.

[Tyrion Hammister]

I have not used this, mostly because I tend to stay away from pine. It can raise some issues. While I'm not certain if it is kiln dried or not, I would simply shoot for Aspen bedding, as it is the safer wood chip option!

[Jenibelle]

It is definitely kiln dried, it says so right on the bag. I'm just wondering if anyone knows if it is kiln dried "enough". I enjoy the pine smell, which is why I go pine... I've used brands before that are kiln dried for my guinea pigs with no problems. Those brands were kiln dried too, but they also had the nice woodsy smell. I think I've read that for hamsters the pine isn't kiln dried enough if it has any smell though? Is that true?

[Tyrion Hammister]

Hi again,

I realize this is on another hamster forum, but check out what this person has to say about kiln dried pine chips, and also take advice from anyone else who comments on this forum. Good luck!

Unsafe Hamster Bedding - Supplies & Accessories - Hamster Hideout Forum

[Jenibelle]

Thank you for the read, I appreciate it!

[Scargirl]

Yes. I used to have pine but hamster started scratching and now changed her to aspen. Stopped scratching after that. Probably just from the dust.

[Pebbles82]

I remember reading somewhere that the Grreat choice aspen was very dusty, not sure about the pine. I used to like the smell of the pine shavings as well - but when I realised that the smell I liked was actually bad for the hamster I gradually switched. Kiln dried shavings are supposed to have most of the phenols removed, via kiln drying, but as you say, how well has it been kiln dried and is there a standard. I gave up trying to work out if kiln dried was ok or not and used something else.

This is a popular one in the US - it's compressed and goes quite a long way. Costs less than the shavings you linked. And if you spot clean and do full cage cleans once a month or less, it will last quite well I should think.

KAYTEE

This one is paper based - I think Virtual Keith got it recently. Again it's compressed so there will be more than it looks from the size of the packet.

Oxbow Pure Comfort Small Animal Bedding | Bedding | PetSmart

When I switched over to paper bedding, I just added the odd handful when I was spot cleaning and mixed it in. The next time I did a cage clean I saved the bottom half of the bedding and added half of the new and mixed it all in. It was a good four months before it had switched over completely, so it doesn't have to work out expensive. Especially if your hamster uses a potty as then there's not even much spot cleaning to do

As Tyrion says, if you prefer wood, then there is a good choice of Aspen in the US. On this Amazon link there are some aspen shavings and some shredded aspen. I have heard some people complaining about Aspen being dusty so it could be a good idea to seive it first!

Amazon.com: aspen bedding

Whatever you go for, make sure it is not a scented version. I find if you use a potty with Chinchilla sand in the cage doesn't get whiffy and the potty is easy to clean out every 4 or 5 days. But then sand can work out expensive doing that every four or five days. It probably balances out if it saves on substrate!