A couple of questions before the girls arrive

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redfrock

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Hi all

two of the new girls arrive tomorrow and the third next weekend - am so excited! Its been over a year since I lost Roman and it has been weird without him.

Two things - I used to keep the boys on megazorb but having read so many things about fleece I am seriously thinking about giving it a go. So, if I use fleece, am I better off using disposable heavy duty puppy pads or washable incontinence bed pads underneath (lovely!) - not keen on using towels.

Secondly, it will be sometime during the week that I can get the fleece and the absorbent underlayer, so shall I line the cage with megazorb or medibed in the interim? I have both. I seem to remember megazorb being brilliantly absorbent but somewhat dusty, and medibed being less dusty but not so absorbent. I still have both because of the rest of the menagerie.

Oh and one other thing - would fleece keep them warm enough in the conservatory? they are coming from an unheated shed, although our conservatory has the chill kept off it by the small rad in the morning and evening for a few hours. They will have a house stuffed with some form of bedding as well - probably hay, although I remember poor old Roman getting a hay seed in his eye and so I shall worry no end about that. they have a hay rack etc.

Thanks for all your help :)
 
I think you can use whatever you prefer - it works all, and each way has its peculiar advances and disadvances.

If you use fleece, please be aware that you need to wash the fleece before use and NEVER with softener, as it seals the fleece and makes the piggies sit in the wet.

Best luck with introductions. Here are some tips:
IMG_4681_edited-1.jpg


I'm looking forward to pics! Please don't hesitate to ask any questions.
 
thank you! I have loads of intro experience due to the rabbits / chickens etc, but it is always good to read an update - it can be very nerve wracking no matter how many times you do it.

I'm actually going to keep the first 2 in the spare cage so that the main cage is neutral to all of them. They are all babies - just a week apart in age. Photos will follow, I promise!
 
redfrock said:
thank you! I have loads of intro experience due to the rabbits / chickens etc, but it is always good to read an update - it can be very nerve wracking no matter how many times you do it.

I'm actually going to keep the first 2 in the spare cage so that the main cage is neutral to all of them. They are all babies - just a week apart in age. Photos will follow, I promise!
Click to expand...

Good idea! Start with lots of food and hay, and make sure that all hides have two exits, and you should be fine, especially with youngsters!

I agree however that every introduction is a bit nerve wracking, even more so after one went haywire on me, despite using all the tricks in the book.
 
Ok well i can say i have never bought puppy pads as i have been conditioned to reuse reuse hence why i have gone down the inco pad route. I find they work great for me but cottonbud is very toilet trained and furby is good apart from where she sleeps. I find it adds an extra wash to my laundry cycle, but then their cage is huge and i "deep" clean it every 5 days, littertray every 2/3 and pick up the odd stray poop daily.

You can't use softner with the inco pads either or they will stop working!
 
thanks for the replies - I was also happier about using washable pads than disposable ones L-G due to the lack of waste.

Anyway the good news is that 2 of the girls are here and they are gorgeous, although obviously very timid so photos will be a while. They are approximately 6 and 8 weeks old. I collect my other girl first thing Saturday morning. I have the opportunity to bring home another baby with her - something quite special - and I am umming and aahing about it. Their cage will be 8ft long by 3ft wide (I am connecting 2 together) for the winter months which I believe to be a good amount of space and it can always be extended again if as they grow. Their summer home has a 3 metre (!) run attached to it.

I know that a lot of people on here are pro-rescue, so I thought I had best add that my last crowd were all rescue, the cats, degus, rabbits and even one of the chooks are rescue, it is just that this time I had reasons for getting from breeders (and it wasn't to do with the breeds)
 
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