Bedding

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Piggylet

Piggylet

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I know there are hundreds of threads about bedding and I've read the reviews, but I can't decide what's for the best. I've always used woodshavings, but since joining this forum I've read that they are not the best for the piggies and can cause respiratory problems.

I'm looking for alternative. My current setup is (a lino floor) newspaper, woodshavings and then hay. I have outdoor piggies, so need something that will absorb their wee and if it's a bit chilly they won't get chilly. I hear fleece isn't good for this purpose? How about towels, how do they rate? Won't the piggies jsut get under them?

Is vet bed really the be-all and end-all that everyone says it is? How do people use it, between newspaper and hay? How often does it need changing/washing? Is it worth the money?

Any other suggestions for outdoor piggies?
 
Try using megazorb underneath your hay - that will absorb a lot more and seems warmer to the touch to me but I'm no expert piggy :)

My own piggies are indoors and on fleece and manage very well, but I wouldn't use it outside, nor would I use vet bed - as warm as it is underfoot, what about over the body :^- and you've no chance of removing a mound of hay from the vet bed :{

My boarders, who are all outside piggies, seem to be happy on shavings and massive amounts of hay. If it's warm they flatten it, if it's cold they bury under it. 99% of my boarders are bedded on shavings with no problems at all.

What about trying insulation outside the hutch - the foil padded stuff looked very good?

Lord Bernie didn't get on at all with shavings, hence the change to suit him.
 
I am very impressed with shredded cardboard ,newspaper and hay.
 
I use fleece in my pig's cage's in the shed. Now I wonder I should probably switch due to the weather. Switch to shavings? I never thought about them burrowing in it for warmth. duh I feel dumb now.

I'm trying out puppy pads with fleece on top right now and then hay on top mostly in corners. They have a cardboard box stuffed with hay and a heat pad inside.

I think I should still switch though due to the fleece getting damp? And then getting chilled?
What do you think?

sorry I just hijacked your thread! :(
 
Hi,

I know this is contentious but the hobbyist breeder I got my guinea's from swears by barley straw covered with meadow hay. She uses this on her outdoor and indoor guinea's.

One of the more experienced members on this forum said not to use this because the straw can poke them in the eye. The breeder said she always uses barley straw because it's softer and doesn't poke them. Conflicting advice always leaves me in a pickle - because I just want to do what's right for the guinea's ?/

I've only had my guinea's for a week, so for the moment I'm giving them what they know. She says straw helps keep them warm.... not sure what other people's verdict is?
 
I'm glad others are just as confused as me. Two things: is vetbed a viable outdoor option? And two, where do you guys get megazorb from? I can only see it for sale in enormous 84 litre bags - I can't store that!
 
kat04kt said:
Hi,

I know this is contentious but the hobbyist breeder I got my guinea's from swears by barley straw covered with meadow hay. She uses this on her outdoor and indoor guinea's.

One of the more experienced members on this forum said not to use this because the straw can poke them in the eye. The breeder said she always uses barley straw because it's softer and doesn't poke them. Conflicting advice always leaves me in a pickle - because I just want to do what's right for the guinea's ?/

I've only had my guinea's for a week, so for the moment I'm giving them what they know. She says straw helps keep them warm.... not sure what other people's verdict is?
Click to expand...

Do you think she means soft chop straw like the Russel bedding one? I used that for my last lot of piggles on top of newspaper, & then the soft chop stuff then loads of hay. I think with hutches the best thing is to have thick layers of paper first as the heat can go out the bottom very quickly.

http://www.pet-supermarket.co.uk/products-Supreme-Russell-Rabbit-Bedding_CN199021.htm
 
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I have 6 guineas in a heated shed. But they are au naturel in that they have copious amounts of hay to burrow in and play with therefore fleece throughout is not an option (although some have it in their hideys).

I have used flax, medibed and megazorb and I have ended up staying with Megazorb. Far less dusty, high absorbent and no smell at all. I also find it easy to sweep up and clean generally so I must say, after many years of keeping piggies and trialling loads of options, Megazorb is definitely my favourite.

I get it from a local farm supplier but you can order it on the internet too ? Usually around £7.99 a bag then postage on top.

Hope that helps?
 
Piggylet said:
I'm glad others are just as confused as me. Two things: is vetbed a viable outdoor option? And two, where do you guys get megazorb from? I can only see it for sale in enormous 84 litre bags - I can't store that!
Click to expand...

I am not totally sure about vet bed outside - I think that there may be the same problem as with fleece ie wet fleece will freeze in very cold weather. Hopefully someone else will confirm this? BTW you can get off cuts of vet bed which are cheaper if you look around.

Megazorb is usually from horsey shops/ farm shops - I pay £6.50 for a bag from a fairly local farmshop. If you look at Northern Crop Driers website I think it shows some different stockists but you might have to do a bit of internet trawling to find it nearby. My piggies seem to do well on Megazorb but some people don't like it. Wood shavings set off my asthma but I don't find the same with Megazorb. You will always get different views but worth a try?:) HTH
 
mine are indoors for the winter on fleece as they were outside in their hutch, I used fleece in the upstairs part but shreaded paper in the bottom section which was quite warm and I would put plenty in for them. It looks like toilet paper torn up and I like it a lot, but I only tried it as it was the biggest and best priced product my friend could buy from wholesalers. I wouldnt be relying on it outside for the winter as dont think it would be warm enough for them.
 
Good old newspaper and hay for mine, works everytime and is inexpensive. Really puzzled why so many piggy owners are still using wood shavings:{!

Jenny xx
 
Thanks everyone, going to try some Megazorb I think and see how we get on :)
 
jenny-m said:
Really puzzled why so many piggy owners are still using wood shavings:{!

Jenny xx
Click to expand...

Why? It's pretty much dust free these days, is a better absorber and a better insulator from cold floors.

I use shavings over the entire hutch. Inside the sleep area, it is floor to ceiling hay aswell, so they never actually touch the shavings in the bed as usually a good layer or trampled hay. They get 2 heat pads in the hay at night.

Over the hutch I have made my own Hutch Snuggle (for a fraction of the ridiculous price S&N want) using thermal foil bubble wrap. Ontop of that I have a load of old corduroy curtains, and finally a Hutch Hugger for waterproofing.
 
Is Megazorb the same as Carefresh bedding? We don't have megazorb in Canada. At least I can't find it. I didn't realize the fleece could freeze but yes that does make sense.

Also, if you use newspaper and hay don't you have to clean it out almost everyday?

Thanks!
 
I'm trying a new bedding right now called Boxo. It's made of paper. Underneath I have newspaper and puppy pads. I mixed the boxo with aspen as well. We'll see how long this lasts.

The puppy pads only lasted about 2 days for my 4 pigs. :( That was with fleece on top.
 
Poppy'sMum said:
Do you think she means soft chop straw like the Russel bedding one? I used that for my last lot of piggles on top of newspaper, & then the soft chop stuff then loads of hay. I think with hutches the best thing is to have thick layers of paper first as the heat can go out the bottom very quickly.

http://www.pet-supermarket.co.uk/products-Supreme-Russell-Rabbit-Bedding_CN199021.htm
Click to expand...

Hi, no it was typical barley straw, I helped her clean out a couple of times. But I like the sound of this Russell Rabbit stuff! I will be getting some of that! :)

I only bought one bag of barley straw. I do squash it down and layer it with hay. It's in a cat litter tray and it's not deep enough for them to bury in it. It's a good quality one and does feel quite soft.

I'm thinking when that bag of straw runs out, I will either try something like this Russell Rabbit or use carefresh. The tray is where I'm trying to encourage them to use the toilet, I have hanging hay above it too.

They're indoors and the rest of the c&c is newspaper, fleece and good old central heating :))
 
My megazorb arrived yesterday, and the Pigs are due a clean out tomorrow so I'll let you know how I get on with it!
 
I keep my piggies indoors i use finacard its great no dust & doesnt smell & not messy like shavings..
 
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