Bedding trouble

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Guineapigs4life

Guineapigs4life

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I switched from shavings to fleece and it turned out to be so much more work! Six guinea pigs do not really go well with fleece, I never knew how much guinea pigs poo and wee. Washing a 6ft by 4ft piece of fleece along with towels, wasn't going well with the washing machine either.
What sorts of bedding do you all use in a shed? I was thinking of switching back to shavings they are just quite messy. Also I bought them lots of cozies when I got the fleece, have they now become useless if I change back to shavings or can I still use them. Sorry for all the questions.x>>
 
I'm currently using newspaper with hay on top and so far, it's working well. It doesn't stink like fleece does and they have oodles of hay to eat whenever they want so I don't have to worry about them not having enough. It's super easy to clean because I just roll up all the dirty hay in the newspaper and throw it away and it's much cheaper, too. Instead of buying a tonne of bedding on top of hay, I just have to buy a lot of hay which I would be doing, anyway, since piggies need a constant, abundant supply of it.
 
Ashleigh825 said:
I'm currently using newspaper with hay on top and so far, it's working well. It doesn't stink like fleece does and they have oodles of hay to eat whenever they want so I don't have to worry about them not having enough. It's super easy to clean because I just roll up all the dirty hay in the newspaper and throw it away and it's much cheaper, too. Instead of buying a tonne of bedding on top of hay, I just have to buy a lot of hay which I would be doing, anyway, since piggies need a constant, abundant supply of it.
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Sounds good but with 6 piggies newspaper would become very wet very quickly so I would have to change everyday. I can't seem to find a cheap good quality hay lately either, £10 for a bag that only seems to last a week or two. If I was to use that for bedding it would be £10 every two days. :(
 
Perhaps towels would be a better option? I haven't used them myself but I've heard good things about them. Towels are generally pretty easy to wash and it'd probably be a lot easier to scoop out any poops to keep it clean longer.
 
Ashleigh825 said:
Perhaps towels would be a better option? I haven't used them myself but I've heard good things about them. Towels are generally pretty easy to wash and it'd probably be a lot easier to scoop out any poops to keep it clean longer.
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Towels again would become wet quickly that is why I put fleece on top, and poo get smooshed onto it. I couldn't put the towels in the washing machine with smooshed poo on it. :))
 
Have you got a "range" near you? They sell BIG bags of meadow hay for £3.99 a bag, perfect for bedding to be changed every 2 - 3 days.
 
Are there any stables near you? You could enquire about ordering some hay through them. I have in the past ordered a bale from my yard where I work for a small charge, but still cheaper than elsewhere. You may have to check their hay first though, in terms of quality and dust level. But you can always soak in a bucket for an hour or so to pull out the dusty bits and drain then dry it again (a process usually done for horses with breathing issues), although long winded it is sometimes worth it.
 
I have four girls on newspaper, wood shavings scattered around the edges and hay. I have 1 litter tray with newspaper, shavings and hay in too and they sometimes wee in that. They have cosy sacks too so they are very happy :)

I've also tried fleece and for me it was too much hard work, especially having a bad back. When I'm in pain hubby is happy to roll it all up for me so I can do the rest so it works out fine :)

I have recently discovered a farm supplies shop about 20mins drive which sells big bags of gorgeous hay for £3 a bag too-the best hay ive ever had. Have a look around and you might find somewhere cheaper for your hay.
 
I use newspaper & megazorb. I tried fleece at first, but it's far too labour intensive. At least with what I now use, I just roll it up & bin it.
 
Toffeewoffee said:
Have you got a "range" near you? They sell BIG bags of meadow hay for £3.99 a bag, perfect for bedding to be changed every 2 - 3 days.
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I love the Range! But the nearest one is quite far from me.8... Next time I go though I will be sure to look out for the hay, thanks!
 
funnehmare said:
Are there any stables near you? You could enquire about ordering some hay through them. I have in the past ordered a bale from my yard where I work for a small charge, but still cheaper than elsewhere. You may have to check their hay first though, in terms of quality and dust level. But you can always soak in a bucket for an hour or so to pull out the dusty bits and drain then dry it again (a process usually done for horses with breathing issues), although long winded it is sometimes worth it.
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I will have a look around and see where the nearest stable is, thanks for the tip on how to reduce dust levels.
 
Amysmom said:
I have four girls on newspaper, wood shavings scattered around the edges and hay. I have 1 litter tray with newspaper, shavings and hay in too and they sometimes wee in that. They have cosy sacks too so they are very happy :)

I've also tried fleece and for me it was too much hard work, especially having a bad back. When I'm in pain hubby is happy to roll it all up for me so I can do the rest so it works out fine :)

I have recently discovered a farm supplies shop about 20mins drive which sells big bags of gorgeous hay for £3 a bag too-the best hay ive ever had. Have a look around and you might find somewhere cheaper for your hay.
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I have access to as much newspaper as I want, looking at everyone's posts I think newspaper is the way forward. Fleece was too much work for me to, it was stressing me out and giving me less time to spend fussing the guinea pigs.
 
We use aubiose, which you can use in the same way as shavings - but it doesn't go EVERYWHERE and stick firmly to absolutely everything the way shavings do! We get it from an equestrian bedding shop as a big bale got £10-11.

Also second the hay point. There are also a lot of farms which sell hay by the bale. We just pop into ours every few months or so for a big bale.
 
Thanking you I shall be going for a trip! With 4 pigs, 3 buns and 3 multimammates I get through a lot of hay! The hams also get a little bit and tend to nibble but compoared to the rest they barely use much :D
 
I just tried to find a link to it on their website but cant find it. but the store near me always has it in, they are big old heavy bags.
 
I'm a big not so old heavy woman :D ill have to walk about 1 mile with it so its not that bad :-P ive done it with a bag of megazorb before bahahahah
 
With Megazorb? God i bought some of that recently and god i struggled, i looked like a right idiot lol, my car was only a few steps away!
 
I chuck it over my shoulder like a builder :D I have walked down my street carrying a 20kg bale of shavings and 2 bags of begazorb at the same time ... now that was a challenge!
 
I kind of had it on the floor infront of me and every step i took i lifted the bag and sort of kicked it with my foot :))

EDIT: somehow i dont think you will find the hay that heavy, i am just a little weakling
 
Once its up on your shoulder, your shoulder takes the weight :D tis easy that way. Its the getting it up there thats the problem!
 
My pigs free range in a shed and I'm another newspaper and hay fan. I have liked using fleece, but I'm finding that now the temp is falling and I'm wanting to give them huge piles of hay, the fleece is in a dreadful state - I don't think I can cope with it! :( I'm also not convinced that they're using their cosies as I hoped they would - they're not all sleeping in them, so I think they'd be better off with their sleeping box filled with hay. On the shed floor I've been using newspaper with several litter trays all round the edge, lined with newspaper and filled with hay - I change the litter trays every day - I change all the newspaper on the floor about once every 5ish days. I've been using fleece in their hutch (which is raised off of the floor), but I think that I'm going to switch to a variant of the same system when I clean them out on Friday. It's due to get really cold on Friday night, so I think I'll feel happier knowing that they can all cuddle together in a hay and soft barley straw filled sleeping box! :)
Maybe I'll just keep fleece for the summer months - I feel slightly sick at the thought of my xl snuggle ultras going to waste... :(
 
primrose said:
My pigs free range in a shed and I'm another newspaper and hay fan. I have liked using fleece, but I'm finding that now the temp is falling and I'm wanting to give them huge piles of hay, the fleece is in a dreadful state - I don't think I can cope with it! :( I'm also not convinced that they're using their cosies as I hoped they would - they're not all sleeping in them, so I think they'd be better off with their sleeping box filled with hay. On the shed floor I've been using newspaper with several litter trays all round the edge, lined with newspaper and filled with hay - I change the litter trays every day - I change all the newspaper on the floor about once every 5ish days. I've been using fleece in their hutch (which is raised off of the floor), but I think that I'm going to switch to a variant of the same system when I clean them out on Friday. It's due to get really cold on Friday night, so I think I'll feel happier knowing that they can all cuddle together in a hay and soft barley straw filled sleeping box! :)
Maybe I'll just keep fleece for the summer months - I feel slightly sick at the thought of my xl snuggle ultras going to waste... :(
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Your piggies sounds like mine, when they do use their snuggle beds their is only ever 1 in them at a time they never cuddle together.I have already switched back to shavings now, but going to test out a few beddings on this thread.
 
Toffeewoffee said:
Buy a few bags each time you go, you cant not at that price! x
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Hopefully going soon! I found a veg shop near me and they sell big bags for £1.75! There all fresh and green, I bought tons of veggies for the piggies there to. They must of thought I eat to much fruit and veg with the amount I bought haha.
 
Thanks for all for your help, I think I'm going to have a look at the different bedding now perhaps finacard.
 
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