How to Get Started Composting Your Guinea Pigs' Used Cage Bedding and Waste
As most of you are well-aware, guinea pigs are little poop factories! Instead of sending that waste and spent hay and bedding to the landfill every week, consider composting it. It’s a wonderful way to reduce your pets’ environmental impact – and yours too. The nitrogen-rich “black gold” compost makes a fantastic natural fertilizer and will take your garden to the next level. Fall is a great time to get started!
I started my compost pile two years ago and I’ve been amazed at the reduction in trash we send to the curb each week. I’ve also been surprised at how dramatically my DIY compost has boosted my garden and lawn. In addition to used guinea pig hay and bedding (we use dried Aspen shavings in our "kitchen area"), we also compost our plant-based kitchen scraps, fall leaves and dead garden plants, some grass clippings (but not too much) and some cardboard.
It only takes about a 3-foot square to get started. And if done correctly, there won’t be any unpleasant smell at all. See below for some helpful links on getting started with composting.
I mostly mix my compost with garden soil in the spring to use in containers to grow flowers and vegetables. I have even used it to grow veggies for my guinea pigs! We also use it to fill in bare spots in the lawn. I started with one GEOBIN® Composter set up behind my garage. Now I have two bins!
Guinea pigs are vegans (they eat only plants), so their waste is a natural for composting. Their waste is high in nitrogen, which will kickstart your compost pile and get things heating up faster and decomposing. My pile regularly heats up to 140 degrees F.
IMPORTANT NOTE: DO NOT compost dog and cat waste, as they are meat-eaters and you could spread dangerous bacteria!
The most important thing to know about composting is that a successful pile has four elements:
- Browns – Brown leaves, Carefresh bedding, Aspen bedding, torn up brown cardboard
- Greens – Plant material, such as fruit and veggie scraps, hay, coffee grounds (No meat, dairy or oils)
- Air – Use a pitchfork or compost tool to turn your pile once a week or so to make sure air gets to the bottom
- Water – Add water every couple of days; you want your pile to feel just a little bit moist like a wrung-out sponge
Use this simple formula to get started:
3 Browns: 1 Green
Add water and stir once a week
So, if you are putting in one bucket of veggie and fruit scraps (greens), make sure you have three times as many leaves and cardboard (browns). But don’t overthink it – this is not rocket science. It takes about three months for the plant material to break down to be ready for use, but I typically wait longer to make sure everything is decomposed. If done correctly, there won’t be any unpleasant smell, and the material starts breaking down very quickly. You know you are doing things right when you start to see roly polies, earthworms and other critters when you stir the pile.
Our Nutmeg loves to eat homegrown, fresh, garden basil!
Here are some helpful links on composting to get started:
· Home Composting 101, Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Recommended Composting Products:
Composting is a terrific way to reduce your household waste and protect the environment, while providing free fertilizer for your garden. Guinea pigs truly are a gardener’s best friend.