bedding question

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lucysmommy1

lucysmommy1

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hi

new to the boards:)p

i want to know what the best bedding is?

i used hay and then thought it should be wood shavings?

any help would be fab - only had them 2 hrs and feel like a failure already :-(
 
Aww don't feel like that, I felt a bit out of my depth at first but about a week in I relaxed a bit, it's just like being a new mummy :(|) The best bedding for them is a fleece blanket lay on the bottom of their cage with towels underneath to absorb any wee. Plus it's sooo much easier to clean, and cheaper too as you don't need to keep buying more as you can just wash it.
 
but remember to put hay in their cage at all times as this makes up 80-90% of their diet, timothy hay is best for them I get it from Pets at Home. whats your new piggies name?x
 
thanks they are called cherry and tink - they are sisters - bought them for my daughter and niece - they love them so much already x
 
Aww there cute names! Well they'll fall in love with them more and more I still do everyday I don't know how it's possible lol. If you ever need to know anything there's so many people on here to help it's where I learnt half of my piggy knowledge lol. Have fun with your new additions xx
 
what do you use straw for? i have realised that the lady at pets at home sold me that also - so i have the wood shavings and then hundreds of hay but i have no idea what to do with the straw?
any help?

we are using the burgess excel hay with dandelion in it - will shop about though and see what else there is out there x
 
Don't feel like that, part of owning pets is trial and error to see what suits you and the piggies - as long as they get food and cuddles i'm sure they don't mind :)

A lot of people use fleece for bedding (literally fleece blankets) but the obviously causes a lot of washing, shavings is a good choice but horse bedding (just make sure the bits aren't sharp!) such as megazorb are very popular as they're much more absorbent, local equine shops usually sell big bags for about £7 which is much cheaper than shavings generally. I think i may end up on shavings soon as i can get 20kg for £6

A few people on here put a layer of shavings on the bottom to catch the urine as hay isn't absorbent and then put a layer of hay on it so piggies can hide.

I was a little nervy like you when i first got mine (4 weeks ago) and now i'm fine with them, they will take a while to settle though :)
 
You should never use straw for Guinea pigs its sore on there feet and can poke in there eye and what nit. I have no idea why the lady sold you straw?
 
guineapigs<3 said:
You should never use straw for Guinea pigs its sore on there feet and can poke in there eye and what nit. I have no idea why the lady sold you straw?
Click to expand...

i am so glad i did not use any:(|)

i am digging out my receipt and taking it back - i know its only £5 but she should never had sold me the stuff
x
 
really good thick layer of soft shavings(lots of differant types out there some are soo soft like cotton wool) then a good thick layer of hay on top, keeps them really dry and no washing machine use.
 
Congratulations on your new additions :) Don't feel bad! You have joined a really good forum and are doing research and asking questions which is great.

There are a number of bedding options and it really depends on what you find best and what suits the housing you have for your guinea pigs.

If you are using something disposable then try a layer of newspaper first, then your bedding so wood shavings, megazorb or eco pet bed http://www.ecopet.co.uk/ or similar and then hay on top of this for warmth and them to burrow in. Remember they need hay to eat as well so try putting this in a rack off off the floor (stops them treading and peeing on it!).

As others have said, straw is a definite no no :)

As for fleece, I have never used this outside but I use it for my indoor piggies and love it - they have a C&C cage which has a liner in it. There are lots of posts on using fleece and liners (some members on here make liners if you aren't handy with a sewing machine).

HTH and enjoy your new piggies. Our children adore ours

x
 
I thought I'd add that some people do use straw. If you get good straw its as soft as hay and can be softer. I use straw for my rabbits litter tray and she eats it too, the piggiest have had some in their litter trays and they sleep on it. My stray is softer than Burns oat hay by loads though.

Using straw is equally as debated as using shavings. I don't use shavings for my pigs as they scratch more and they love their vet bed but I use shavings for my whammies as they don't seem to have any problems. Any straw injury could be caused by hay equally and it's probably more likely too, I'm not going to stop feeding Burns hay as my pigs love it!
 
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Hi Lucysmommy!

Welcome to the forum, there are LOADS of informative members on here always someone around to advise you on anything to do with piggies.

I too think a lot about bedding, should i or shouldnt i go on to fleece? At the moment I use shavings and hay. There are a few threads around giving the pros and cons of the different types of bedding available. Have a nosey round the forum, that's what i did.

Enjoy your piggies but beware..... they're very addictive x) . Lol this time 2 years ago I didn't have any. Now I have 8! :(|)
 
Hey welcome!

What cute names...

I use newspaper as a base, makes it easier to clean.
Then shavings absorbant and soft.
Then hay to chew and hide.

My Bertie is a pickle so he has shreddings but only in his beds otherwise his eyes stream!
 
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