Shredded paper

[Sam_Spice]

I've seen a lot of aviaries with shredded paper bedding, is this popular? After tipping Tiny's nest out for the first time a couple of days ago I seem to have gone blank on what he used last time. All that came out of his last nest seemed to be a solid mass of mud and seeds he'd somehow constructed?? which was a pain to shift out of the tunnel he's currently nesting in (no notice goes to the two nest boxes  ). I think last time he liked newspaper, toilet roll and scraps of my teatowels. I have also caught him on several occasions trying to take a carrier bag into his house but I drew the line there 

p.s. how a chipmunk gets soil up 6ft into a tunnel baffles me but there was a fair amount 

[candyfloss]

I use shredded paper kitchen towels, straw/hay, washing up cloths (the j-cloth type). Any old socks cut up they also like. I put so much in their boxes when i clean them out & let them do the rest. I just leave it poked through the wire on the aviary & they just help themselves.

I once gave them a whole toilet roll & they had great fun with it although it was a bit messy with bits of paper everywhere! Very entertaining though.   

[hollysmithy]

hi sam we use shredded paper n i recently used cotton wool as well mine use alot of it lol

[hollysmithy]

lol i used toilet paper once lol left it on the roll minx loved it

[jennyb]

I buy paper-based pet bedding, shread up sheets of paper. My Chipmunk's will chew up cardboard tubes and add that to the nest. They also have socks and hay.

He might have carried it up there in his pouches

[pinkpill]

i use the contents of my shredder too, plus old clothes shredded, never used cotton wool tho, mite try em with some, and of course toilet roll always goes down well  

[DayleC]

I give mine paper from the shredder but they also use the hay and oak leaves that I put in their containers to play in.  I'll have to try them with a toilet roll though.....Can just imagine the mess...good job they live outside !

[Chiptastic]

I recently posted my list of nestbox bedding (Shredded newspaper, computer paper shredded, tissue paper, paper-based bedding, Carefresh bedding and bits of cut up old clothes) on a different pet site. Two things I was using were reported to me to be dangerous. Since then I took those two things out of use. Some people have also posted them here so I feel like I should pass on the info since someone was kind enough to pass it on to me.

Computer paper, shredded - The edges can be sharp. Papercuts. This means that chippies COULD cut themselves on their own beds. Or, when carrying it in their mouth, cut the inside of their cheek pouches.

Toilet/Tissue Paper - When wet it sticks to animal's eyes. One user reported having that happen to her squirrel, and it did not sound like a good time trying to handle a scared animal long enough to get it off.

I personally before that point hadn't had any problems using these materials. I like playing it on the safe side and removed them. There is actually a paper-bedding that is like scrunched up bits of paper but is made for small pets. My new favorite is old socks cut up, though. As long as you clean them first!

[Sam_Spice]

Wow thanks guys! 

I have defiantly used hay before, not sure how I forgot that this time when I go through bales of it for the rabbits/g.pigs. He also has megazorb in his litter bowl which is a bit smaller than carefresh but never seen him interesting in moving this, only being a good chip and using it as his toilet or occasionally hiding a few nets in there  .

I was told/read somewhere that the hamster type fluffy bedding was bad (possible in case they get stuck/trapped in it?) so haven't tried this but would cotton wool have a similar affect? Might pop a couple in today and see what he likes, wish I could tell him he has a gf coming soon so he needs to transform is bachelor pad into a boudoir! 
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I have some kitchen j-clothes so he's more than welcome to try that today, and he's had toilet rolls before but never even nibbled on them but will give them a go too 

I find the wet toilet paper hard to believe.... I've never seen him get wet inside his cage (outside I've seen him land in a pan of water or three  ) and I reckon (hope) he would be clever enough to get the toilet paper off himself. As for the paper my friends two year old gerbils seem to enjoy shredded paper with no noticeable damage to their cheek pouches, no previous chip experience here so hopefully everyone here can judge that one 

Hope Tiny enjoys today's 'animal testing' - thanks everyone