bedding

Question
I have my piggy is a piggy house outside.  I have been using hay for his bedding the past year but I am concerned about the dust it creates.  Can I use pine shavings for him to bed down in?  Is there something better that you would reccomend?

Answer
Straw is the best choice for most climates, but in some places other kinds of bedding will work.

Straw is different from hay. Hay is grass blades that are cut, left to dry in the sun, then bundled. Hay is used as feed for horses, cattle, goats, etc. Hay can be very dusty.

Straw is the hollow stems left behind from oats, wheat or other grains. The stem is already dry when the grain is harvested. The stems are separated from the grain and bundled. Straw has little or no nutritional value and is used as bedding. The hollow stems hold air for insulation and stay fluffier than the flat blades of hay.

Both hay and straw are useless once they get wet, but straw can tolerate more dampness than hay. Good quality straw is not as dusty as hay.

If your climate is not too cold or your pig has a well insulated or heated outdoor house, old blankets can work as bedding. But when temperatures drop very low for long periods of time, a big, deep pile of straw is much warmer than blankets. Blankets also must be VERY dry to be effective as bedding, so the piggy house will need a wood or concrete floor, a dirt floor will get too damp.

Pine shavings are not as comfy or warm as straw, but are ok in very warm climates where the aim is a comfy spot to sleep rather than warmth and protection.