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Post by Shooting Star on Jun 14, 2006 17:46:25 GMT -8
What I'm using right now is part-aspen, and part-corncob. The aspen is softer, and makes the corncob 'diggable'. The corncob is less dusty, and doesn't aggravate my brother's allergies. Corncob's actually the less expensive of the two, for me, since I buy it in huge bags!
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Post by sepia on Jun 14, 2006 18:13:41 GMT -8
Trees are considered a renewable resources because they will grow back within our life time... Ah.. bugger. Really? I thought renewable resource meant that they were planting as many trees as they were cutting down or whatever.. *naive* edit: But a tree can't just grow back on it's own, a seed needs to come from somewhere... so are they planting as well as chopping down or just chopping down and assuming that the trees will sort themselves out?
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caz
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Posts: 6,237
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Post by caz on Jun 15, 2006 11:05:26 GMT -8
Good point sepia! Caroline
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Post by Shooting Star on Jun 15, 2006 14:12:53 GMT -8
*blink* Well, Iguess if you want to go around asking logging companies... Lots of people plant trees, even ones who don't cut them down, but you'd probably be hard-pressed to find the statistics for every tree that's cut down and every tree that's planted... Even so, wood shavings are probably the most biodegradable substrate out there- it's wood! ;D (I don't have anything to back this up, that's just what I think)
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Jun 15, 2006 14:26:46 GMT -8
It depends on a number of factors. In the UK all wood produced for paper is from renewable sources. I assuem that would also apply to woodshavings. But many hardwoods like Oak take centuries to mature and obviously the profits are therefore not seen for centuries, makign them a very long-term investment!!! Im many countries the damage done by the logging industry is huge , especially third world countries where the forests are removed and cause major environmental damage through landslides and erosion. the Amazon forest, surprisingly, grows in extremely impoverished soil, useless as farmland for instance. Deforestation leads to big problems.
But yes I would suspect that as we use softwood shavings in well off countries (most of us) then we are getting them from sustainable sources and doing little environmental damage, If we then compost them (make sure your heap gets very hot to kill any pathogens) we recyle them back into the environment and make our hobby reasonably green!!!
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Post by sepia on Jun 15, 2006 14:50:49 GMT -8
It depends on a number of factors. In the UK all wood produced for paper is from renewable sources. I assuem that would also apply to woodshavings. But many hardwoods like Oak take centuries to mature and obviously the profits are therefore not seen for centuries, makign them a very long-term investment!!! Im many countries the damage done by the logging industry is huge , especially third world countries where the forests are removed and cause major environmental damage through landslides and erosion. the Amazon forest, surprisingly, grows in extremely impoverished soil, useless as farmland for instance. Deforestation leads to big problems. But yes I would suspect that as we use softwood shavings in well off countries (most of us) then we are getting them from sustainable sources and doing little environmental damage, If we then compost them (make sure your heap gets very hot to kill any pathogens) we recyle them back into the environment and make our hobby reasonably green!!! Thanks for clearing that up a bit Doom! I hate not knowing where products come from.. sometimes I really wish I could be totally self sufficient.. Like the Good Life ;D
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Post by kelsi on Jul 8, 2006 12:19:49 GMT -8
I used baked soil, works really well and keeps the smell down 99%. Not to mention I only have to remove the top layer about once every month.
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caz
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Posts: 6,237
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Post by caz on Jul 8, 2006 13:55:37 GMT -8
Really? What like real soil? What's it look like and where do you get it from? Got any piccies you can show us? Caroline
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Post by kelsi on Jul 8, 2006 14:54:07 GMT -8
I just use organic potting soil with no pesticides, feed, perlite or fertilizer in it. I got a 10 gallon tub of it from a place called Shar-Kare for $3. I just spred it out on a cooking pan and cook it, freeze it, let it thaw and throw it in. My gerbs love it, I've actually filled their whole tank nearly full and made a whole underground system with pvc pipes.
Edit: It just looks like potting dirt and is soft to the touch but doesn't stick to my gerbs fur so it's good and easy to burrow in.
Don't have any pics at the moment though sorry.
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Post by sepia on Jul 13, 2006 5:24:49 GMT -8
I've just been to Wilkinsons to get some more woodshavings (can't afford Aspen this month ) and I noticed something called "Russel bedding" which is made of straw. It looks quite soft, and looks kind of similar to Aspen in the way that it's shredded. Would it need mixing with another substrate like you would for hay? It looks much nicer than hay - not so 'sharp' looking. Has anyone used this or anything similar?
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caz
Member
Posts: 6,237
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Post by caz on Jul 13, 2006 6:29:34 GMT -8
Ooooo! Not seen that stuff before Sepia - can you post a piccie of it? I've got a Wilko's near me too! might just check it out in the next few days. Caroline
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Post by sepia on Jul 13, 2006 8:38:55 GMT -8
I didn't buy it as I wanted to get some feedback from people on here first The only pics I can find on the net are of the packaging rather than the actual bedding I have just realised that it's made by the same people that make Gerri Gerbil food..! www.russelrabbit.com/bedding_and_hygiene.phpI'll continue my quest to find a pic of the actual stuff though
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Post by kimsgerbils on Jul 13, 2006 22:26:13 GMT -8
I've heard of degu owners using the chopped up straw, but I've never seen it in the US...
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Post by sepia on Jul 14, 2006 1:28:49 GMT -8
Still haven't managed to find a pic of the stuff! I've decided to go and buy some later on today so I'll take some photos when I've got it. It looked like it would be fun to nibble on, so hopefully my girls will like it!
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caz
Member
Posts: 6,237
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Post by caz on Jul 14, 2006 3:49:11 GMT -8
Let us know what they think! Caroline
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