Aspen Shavings – One of the finest beddings for your pet and why?

Aspen shavings are one of the most common bedding materials that people use as beddings for their loving pets. It is a bulk of natural hardwood scraps shaved from the Aspen tree. Are you looking for information regarding Aspen shavings or beddings? Are you a pet owner who is researching to give the best for your pet? Then you are on the right page! Keep reading, and we will provide all the information you need about Aspen shavings and their uses. 

What is Aspen bedding made of?

Aspen trees are native to cold territories with mild summers in the northern hemisphere, extending at a high elevation such as mountains and high plains. They are usually medium-size, deciduous trees with a height of 15–30 m. Manufacturers make Aspen shavings by crafting this natural Aspen wood. Most manufacturers also specially process this shaving further. Kiln-drying to eliminate excess dust and wood debris found in other bedding is one example.

Bedding is often an organic material animals use to support their bodies to rest on or when stationary. Beddings reduce heat loss, pressure on the skin, and contamination by waste animal produce. When we use above mentioned Aspen shavings for bedding, we call them “Aspen beddings.” For beddings, we can use wood chips too.

However, research shows that shavings have better effects on animals than bedding, especially when breeding. Have a look at the research paper by E Jackson and team, with four strains of mice. The title of the article is “Aspen shaving versus chip bedding: effects on breeding and behavior.” It shows that the number of mice weaned per litter was significantly greater with shaving bedding than chip bedding. This was the same with all four standard strains bred during the research. 

What can you do with aspen shavings?

Aspen is a poplar tree that has a wide range of uses. Although we do not consider it good lumber wood, Aspens have characteristics that put them in great demand for certain goods and use.

Some Native Americans use the bark of aspens for medicinal purposes. They turn its bark into a bitter tea that helps swollen joints and urinary tract infections purge the body. 

Due to their strength and resistance to flame, Aspens are commonly using for matchsticks.

We can also use Aspens for cheap furniture, as replaceable fences, etc. But its most prominent importance is the usage of aspen wood shavings as animal bedding. We often use Aspen wood chips, AKA Aspen Shavings, as animal bedding because this tree lacks chemicals that most other wood woods have. These chemicals can cause respiratory problems in animals. 

As mentioned above, Aspen shavings have several applications, but the most prominent one is its usage as animal bedding. 

Now let us see how to use Aspen shavings for different animal beddings.

For guinea pigs: –

Guinea Pigs are delicate creatures. Therefore, guinea pig parents must pay extra attention to the bedding used for them. The most crucial function of beddings is the ability to absorb harmful moisture from urine and feces. As a result of this, Beddings provide a principal function in slowing bacterial growth. This result reduced the production of gases like ammonia, carbon dioxide, and harmful bacterial toxins.

Guinea pigs are vulnerable to several diseases, while bacterial infection being one of the most frequent. According to a survey conducted by the Animal Welfare Research Arena, 40% of the owners reported their guinea pigs to have a bacterial infection diagnosis at least once during their lifetime. The slightest amount of dust is harmful to your guinea pig. 

Wirth, Ewaldsson, and Burn’s research show that beddings must be non-toxic and dust-free, to be truly helpful to the animals and their health. Therefore, aspen wood shavings for guinea pigs are safer as they effectively dust and scent-free hardwood. Aspen is also a green choice if you search for recycled wood shavings. Kiln-dried Aspen bedding shavings have limited chemical substance that is hazardous for guinea pigs. 

It is crucial to notice that Aspen shavings for rats are also a very effective option for bedding. 

For rabbits: –

The story is pretty much the same for rabbits too. The phenols in softwood are not available to the same amount in hardwood shavings. Thus, hardwood shavings like Aspen are a much safer litter material, and professionals recommend them for rabbits. Other superior litters, such as recycled paper, are also available for you to pick as safer alternatives. 

For hamsters: –

“Is Aspen shavings good for hamsters?” is one frequent question. And the answer is yes! Aspen is probably the only safe wood-based bedding for hamsters. But, do not confuse Aspen bedding with Pine or Cedar, as Pine and Cedar are both extremely toxic to your hamster. Aspen is a safe bedding choice that provides reasonable odor control. Therefore, your optimum option is to use Aspen wood shavings for hamsters. 

For chickens: –

Not only for chicken but aspen shavings for birds, in general, is a good choice over Pine or cedar. 

When using wood shavings for chickens, they do not cause any respiratory diseases or skin irritation.

For snakes: –

Aspen shavings are a professional bedding material for snakes. Besides being phenol-free, Aspen also Provides a natural substrate that lets snakes make burrows and nests as in the wild.

Is aspen or pine bedding better?

Pine is softwood and contains a lot of phenols and other volatile oils. Pine bedding is popular because they are cheap and available. But Pine has toxins that negatively affect small animals’ respiratory and liver systems. An article in the Allergy and Clinical Immunology Journal states that acid in softwood beddings like Pine can destroy lung cells. They also damage the liver of these small animals. 

It is hardwood and does not have dangerous, volatile oils as softwood does for Aspen. Therefore, compared to Pine, Aspen is a better choice for beddings. 

But we should not forget that Aspen shows less absorbency than Pine. Absorbency is vital, as the primary purpose of beddings is to absorb moisture from urine and feces. Aspen bedding has demonstrated a proven low volumetric absorbency rate. 

Aspen shavings bulk

Aspen shavings are available for you to purchase in bulk on online platforms. Amazon.com and Smallpetselect.com are such popular online platforms to buy bulk aspen shavings. “Bunnings” is another website that you can purchase these beddings too; just type aspen shavings bunnings on your browser, and you’ll get the link to the site. 

Online platforms are not your only choice; these beddings are available in physical stores as well. The best way to search for the stores that sell bulks is to search Aspen shavings near me on Google. 

Just like every commodity in the market, not all Aspen shavings are the same. Some brands do a better job than others in removing the dust, minimizing the scent, and so on. Therefore, please see the specifications and do a little research before buying a bulk of shavings.

After purchasing a bulk, all you have to do is selecting a space and spread the shavings to create a bed for your pet.