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Old 01-06-2019, 10:56 AM   #1
sophiedoe
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Default Looking for alternative to Fitch?

Hi everyone!

Haven’t been on here for a while what with being busy at work and our ham being nicely settled on the whole, but hoping all the great knowledge of this community might be able to help me...

Does anyone know what is going on with Fitch at the moment? I always got 20kg bales, they have been out of stock for a while, so I finally gave up and was going to order a 10kg one, but now they are out of stock! I’ve read various things online about them now only selling very small amounts as people were buying the large bales and selling smaller amounts for profit.

Can anyone suggest an alternative? I don’t really want to change as Fitch has been great, but I can’t be paying £30 for a few kg! I’m running dangerously low at the moment. I like paper based, and something soft that moulds well into a bed. Any thoughts?

Thanks so much in advance!
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Old 01-06-2019, 12:53 PM   #2
cypher
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Default Re: Looking for alternative to Fitch?

I haven't heard anything about changes to the size of Fitch bags available but if you want a close alternative then Kaytee clean & cosy is good, you can get quite large bags from amazon, not as economical as fitch but it's still a really good substrate, a bit finer & softer.
If you only spot clean & do partial cleans when needed the bags are big enough to last one ham quite some time.
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Old 01-06-2019, 12:54 PM   #3
buttercuplols
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Default Re: Looking for alternative to Fitch?

I've heard Kaytee clean and cosy is good but haven't tried it personally. I'm in exactly the same boat as you at the moment!
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Old 01-06-2019, 12:54 PM   #4
buttercuplols
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Default Re: Looking for alternative to Fitch?

You just beat me to it, cypher!
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Old 01-06-2019, 01:17 PM   #5
Fluffagrams
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Default Re: Looking for alternative to Fitch?

I stopped using Fitch about a year ago due to a number of issues, price increases and availability was one of them and I find Kaytee Clean and Cozy to be a pretty good alternative. I usually use Megazorb or Shavings in my cages but always keep a bag of paper based substrate for use in hospital and maternity cages and I find that it does the job very well.

Another paper based alternative has recentely been launched by the Finacard people. It’s made of egg boxes (unused so will be free of contaminants) and is called Softacard. It’s a new product so I’ve not read any reviews yet but it might be worth looking into.
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Old 01-06-2019, 01:26 PM   #6
cypher
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Default Re: Looking for alternative to Fitch?

Quote:
Originally Posted by buttercuplols View Post
You just beat me to it, cypher!
That often happens to me too

I came across softcard today when I was having a browse around & thought it looked like it might be worth a try too, I probably wouldn't use it as a main substrate as I'm happy with what I have at the moment but might be nice for a bit of variety or if there are problems with fitch & or keytee.
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Old 01-06-2019, 03:35 PM   #7
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Looking for alternative to Fitch?

I noticed 10 and 20kg bags were out of stock when I linked the site recently - also that they now seem to sell 4kg bags as well. I bought a 10kg bag in the summer so it must be a fairly recent change. Maybe email them and ask when the larger bags are due back in stock? I can’t see that they would stop buying 20kg bags because it was originally sold as horse bedding so large amounts needed. 4kg wouldn’t be a bad size to get but would work out more expensive.

I don’t know what I would get if Fitch wasn’t available. I’m not keen on aspen, don’t like care fresh. Have had some finacard but wouldn’t want to use it exclusively (I mix it with Fit h when I’m low on Fitch sometimes. I have tried the Oxbow paper bedding in the past - quality varies - sometimes it’s been fine, other times a bit dusty.
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Old 01-06-2019, 11:47 PM   #8
cypher
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Default Re: Looking for alternative to Fitch?

I wouldn't worry about Fitch Serendipity, the 20kg bags were out of stock for quite a long time last year but did come back, it's probably just a stock issue & the rumour mill getting busy!
If you do need an alternative though I've found the Kaytee to be very close & reasonably economical too.
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Old 01-07-2019, 12:25 AM   #9
sophiedoe
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Default Re: Looking for alternative to Fitch?

Thanks everyone. I will give Kaytee a go! I did contact the Fitch people about a month ago, but haven’t heard anything back. I think they still sell the really large amounts, like 10 bales or something, for horses.

Fingers crossed the 20kg coming back one day!
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Old 01-07-2019, 08:18 AM   #10
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Looking for alternative to Fitch?

This has happened before where they have been out of stock for a while, but as Cypher says, it’s usually temporary. Probably the Christmas holidays affecting it as lots of things go out of stock late Dec early Jan!
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