Litter

[DarkViking Stud]

A few months ago I read about an interesting study of domestic rabbits, experimenting with types of litter preferred in hutches. The conclusion was that sawdust/wood shavings is hated by rabbits (an irritant on their feet), to the point where rabbits would clear the sawdust away and prefer to lie on surfaces as uncomfortable as wire mesh. Certainly none of my rabbits like the shavings and all of them clear the areas they lie on and, after research, we're swapping to sand in the New Year.

What d'you lot use as litter in hutches?

[fiona]

never heard of that mmm

[RudleyBunnies]

Now that is interesting and to be honest I changed my old lad Chalky's bedding this week as he moves his shavings in favour of lying on the bare wood of his hutch.
I will bear that in mind although no others are on Shavings at present. I use Medi-Bed which is a medicated and anti-bacterial horse bedding. Only using woodflakes in the litter trays.

Sara x

[Goldiestud]

An interesting topic.

Well, mine are all bedded on high-quality shavings. Nothing but the best for my 'family'

Only during hot summer days do I notice that some, but not all, rabbits would push the shavings to one side, in order to sleep/lie on the bare wood. That though would only be because of the wood being much cooler than the shavings. I heard of some fanciers who would then put ceramic floor tiles into the hutches in order to keep their rabbits cool.

For rex rabbits though the best bedding will have to be soft wood shavings, as any other materials, incl. sand, would be too abrasive on their hocks.

Petra

This post has been edited by Goldiestud on Jan 16 2008, 09:41 PM

[DarkViking Stud]

Not something I'd thought about Petra - perhaps sand would be too abrasive for all rabbits? I do know that some that have come to me (particularly those previously kept in smaller hutches) have had bare, sometimes sore, patches on their hocks. It doesn't take too long to get them right but obviously infections are a concern.

I'll have to take some photos of mine in their hutches as almost all of them clear spaces to lie on. Even though most of ours are litter trained, we seem to go through a massive bale of shavings every few weeks. There must be a cheaper (and better!) option....