Adding woodshavings to a compost bin

[iwatkins]

We cleared our shed out yesterday in preparation for having it re-roofed and came across a large bale of woodshavings left over from when we had guinea pigs. They have now passed on dandelion pastures in the sky so rather than consign the woodshavings to landfill I wondered whether I could put a small amount in our compost bin - perhaps a couple of handfuls a month or something - I'm prepared to take some time getting rid of the bale :-)

Or is there anything else I could more profitably use it for?

I have a samll garden plot, so don't have a lot of spare space to take up with any long term methods.

Cheers,

Ian Watkins

[Flummery]

You could compost it. It composts well when used as an animal bedding but then, it has built in 'activators' at that stage! (Or pee on it yourself!) You could burn it and use the ash - wood ash is good for fruit bushes.

[rustylady]

You can certainly add them to compost in small amounts, but they do take ages to rot down completely. My guineapigs are still alive and well, so the shavings (well laced with guineapig poo and wee go into my compost. Have you not thought about getting some more ginnywiggles (I love mine - even though I "inherited" them when daughter moved in with her partner)

[iwatkins]

Adding woodshavings to a compost bin

I love Guinea Pigs too, but I'm running out of burial space!

Thanks, putting a bit in the compost looks like a possibility, but I'll give weeing on it a miss as it might offend the neighbours :-)

Thanks.

Ian Watkins

[zazen999]

I was given 2 huge industrial sized bags and we've used it for mulch all summer; it really is great.

[Two_Sheds]

Woodshavings aren't "meant" to be used for guinea pigs... the dust irritates their eyes, and some (such as cedar) are poisonous

Well, that doesn't matter now. I'd compost it, a bit at a time, mixed in with greens

[bluemoon]

We use the woodshavings from out rabbit's bedding. We don't compost the whole lot though, just put in the bits with the worst soiling and throw the rest away as a small amout will compost well, but too much overdoes it and it does take forever to rot down. I've been putting the cleaner bits in the wheelie bin, but I think I'll try the burn and sprinkle around fruit bushes tip from now on.

[Capsid]

I can't buy woodshavings from our pet store anymore due to the decline of the building trade. It supplies eucalyptus shreddings instead which leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Not sure of the effect on our gp, but she seems happy enough.

[iwatkins]

Mulching with woodshavings

I was given 2 huge industrial sized bags and we've used it for mulch all summer; it really is great.

I thought there was a risk with it pulling nitrogen out of the soil as it decomposes but perhaps I was wrong!

I could put a layer under some compost when I spread that at the end of the growing season.

I do have *lots* of woodshavings :-)

Ian Watkins

[Glutton4...]

I can't buy woodshavings from our pet store anymore ... It supplies eucalyptus shreddings instead which leaves a bitter taste in my mouth...

Not sure you should be eating them

[Capsid]

Not sure you should be eating them

Don't worry, I'm not. It must be the dust that gets in my mouth