Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I usually buy a bale of alfalfa for about $9. Originally, I was using it as a food supplement for my guinea pigs and rabbits. I started using it as a substrate for my cavies, rabbits, mice and occasionally my cornsnake. I also used it as a substrate for my sulcatta tortoises when I had them in their winter quarters. This stuff is great, the mice really love it and it's super cheap.
They chew the longer pieces and create a more uniform grass-like consistency. I tend to use a thick layer (about 2 inches), since the hay is so cheap. The mice construct tunnels in the hay and they really seem to like it. Besides the CHEAP price, the best thing about using it is that there seems to be a dramatic reduction in the urine smell. I don't use vanilla extract in the water, and I clean out the mice colonies once weekly. My wife used to really ride me about the smell, but since I've switched to alfalfa hay, she hasn't said a thing.
I'm wondering if anyone out there is aware of any issues with using alfalfa as a subtrate, or if anyone else is using it.
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Victor Gomez
gomezvi.tripod.com/sdchamkeepers/
gomezvi@yahoo.com

I have before. I haven't noticed anything about the smell as I changes it every few days but noticed exactly what you had said with tunnels. They seem to enjoy it. The main reason I used it was for them to make a nest out of it. I would use the normal pine and then grab a handful of alfalfa or prairie hay and let them pull it appart and do what they do with it. In my cases it seemed to keep the mothers isolated and prevented them from pulling babies all over the place.

The first time I used it as substrate was with my rabbits and cavies. We noticed the reduction in smell right away with them, which prompted our use with the mice. The fact that the mice seem to absolutely LOVE the stuff is an added bonus. Plus the price - $9/bale. A bale lasts me a LONG time, and that's with rabbits, cavies, mice, and occassionally the tortoise using it.
I'm just wondering if this is too good to be true, if there's something wrong with it.
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Victor Gomez
gomezvi.tripod.com/sdchamkeepers/
gomezvi@yahoo.com

I don't think there should be a problem. I used to work at this animal research facility and would go out in the various pastures of grasses, alfalfa included, in this case for feed digestabilty and would see rats and mice running all through those fields. I have yet to see a dead one out there. That's what originally gave me the idea was when Ifound a little nest and figured it would make mine a little more comfortable. I believe it's totally safe and have never had a problem. Oh, about the smell, with the prairie hay it doesn't do a whole lot but the alfalfa actually did do a little something as it has that greeny smell to it.

I don't see why it would be a problem. Rabbit pellets are made mainly from Alfalfa... and a lot of people keep their rats on those... as well as other small animals.

Good job if it works on smell for you. For me that was one of the biggest downfalls....that and just wet absorbancy isn't great. I stick to shavings. $4 a big bale.
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Sonya

I used alfalfa hay for a while last year. My problem here in L. A. is the cost - 12$ a bale, and the dustiness. I use rabbit pellets now. All the benefits of alfalfa but no dust. Not as much fun for them though. They did love scooting around through the hay!

Now, when I clean the tubs, I let it sit for a couple of weeks in the sun and use it as mulch. Use with caution though, the pumpkins and tomatoes have over grown the front garden and are growing down the front walk and onto the porch.

DeMak

what are you using for bedding? Rabbit pellets?

I don't know why I hadn't thought about piling that stuff around the gardens to age and then onto the beds. Good idea!

Marcia

Its fine to use for breeding, underweight, sick, young or old animals. but it is too rich for healthy animals. it is high in fat calcium and acouple other things too. I wouldnt recomend it for every day use for most animals because it can make they obease and lead to other health problems. but for breeding mice it would work fine.

I was asking about using hay merely as a substrate for mice, but this is a valid point. The mice do tend to ingest it. I'm sure alfalfa is much better for them to ingest than wood shavings.
>>Its fine to use for breeding, underweight, sick, young or old animals. but it is too rich for healthy animals. it is high in fat calcium and acouple other things too. I wouldnt recomend it for every day use for most animals because it can make they obease and lead to other health problems. but for breeding mice it would work fine.
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Victor Gomez
gomezvi.tripod.com/sdchamkeepers/
gomezvi@yahoo.com