Cage Liners

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lovehammys263

lovehammys263

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Hello, I want to make some cage liners but I have a few questions about them which I would love if you some of you could.

1) What do you use as the absorbant layer in your fleece and how well does it work?

2) Do you have fleece on both sides? If so do you turn it over before washing?

3) How often do you change the liner? ( please also say your cage size and how many pigs are kept in it- because I may have a different size cage and a different amount of piggies as you)

4) Any extra info about your liners ?

Thank you!
 
I make my own. I use two layers of fleece on top of two layers od towel. I don't use anything underneath the towel or in between the towel and fleece. I find the towel is very absorbant. On high used area's I change every other day, on everything else I change every 3 days. I make sure they are well sewn and that the fleece and towel is washed a few times in hot water before hand so that is has done all the shrinking it needs to first :D
 
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Hi there, you can use towels, terry towel, or zorb for the absorbent layer. You can have it as a absorbent layer sandwich, or have the absorbent layer on the bottom. It'll need to be changed no later than 3-4 days, even if it doesn't smell or looked soiled! Many people assume if there is no smell or visible soiling that it doesn't need changing. If I were you, wash your fleece so it is able to wick, at least three times, then begin to sew your liner, and make sure you allow a few inches for shrinkage :)
 
I use a mattress protector as my absorbent layer, works well. Fleece on both sides (one print, one plain) so I know which is the top as there's a couple of different layers to the mattress protector. My pigs use the litter tray a lot so I can go 3/4 days before changing. I use little fleece liners in corners where they may wee.
 
I make my own, use fleece on both sides with just a towel in the middle, I then make small pads to go where they wee a lot which has 2 layers of towel in the middle. I have 2 boars houses in a 150cm by75cm. I change the smaller pads every other day and the main liner every 4 days. Sometimes I flip if after a few days but they don't really wee much on the main liner, just where they sleep and eat where the smaller pads are :)
 
Flutterby said:
I make my own. I use two layers of fleece on top of two layers od towel. I don't use anything underneath the towel or in between the towel and fleece. I find the towel is very absorbant. On high used area's I change every other day, on everything else I change every 3 days. I make sure they are well sewn and that the fleece and towel is washed a few times in hot water before hand so that is has done all the shrinking it needs to first :D
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Thanks for the info. Do you see it with a machine? Because I would be worried about breaking a needle ( I am terrible with sewing machine needles- almost every time I use the machine I break a needle!). Also how long does it take for the towels to dry?

Chief Guinea Pig said:
Hi there, you can use towels, terry towel, or zorb for the absorbent layer. You can have it as a absorbent layer sandwich, or have the absorbent layer on the bottom. It'll need to be changed no later than 3-4 days, even if it doesn't smell or looked soiled! Many people assume if there is no smell or visible soiling that it doesn't need changing. If I were you, wash your fleece so it is able to wick, at least three times, then begin to sew your liner, and make sure you allow a few inches for shrinkage :)
Click to expand...

Thank you for the information! I would love to use zorb but its really expensive and the cheapest I can find is £16 which would mean it would cost me over £45 because the width of the roll is only 115cm long :( which is a real shame. I will do that with the shrinkage- thanks. I didn't know that about the changing of it- I will do!

Pinguxxx said:
I use a mattress protector as my absorbent layer, works well. Fleece on both sides (one print, one plain) so I know which is the top as there's a couple of different layers to the mattress protector. My pigs use the litter tray a lot so I can go 3/4 days before changing. I use little fleece liners in corners where they may wee.
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Thank you.I was thinking of using a matress protector. Do you ever use the liner on the plain fleece or does it not absorb on that side? Also what type of protector do you use? ( eg. Cotton, polyester, polycotton etc.)

Flutterby said:
Litter trays play a big and helpful part in my setups too :)
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Yeah, I use litter trays and my pigs tend to wee in them more so that helps.
 
Chief Guinea Pig said:
You may find it easier to just use towels as the absorbent, it'll work perfectly well :)
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At the moment I have liners which are just 2 fleeces and I keep puppy pads and newspaper under neath but I find it annoying to keep changing the newspaper and pads so I would rather have liners because it would be quicker. I would use towels but I think I don't think I will because they take a long time to dry- its a good idea though and perhaps I will!
 
HansPiggies said:
I make my own, use fleece on both sides with just a towel in the middle, I then make small pads to go where they wee a lot which has 2 layers of towel in the middle. I have 2 boars houses in a 150cm by75cm. I change the smaller pads every other day and the main liner every 4 days. Sometimes I flip if after a few days but they don't really wee much on the main liner, just where they sleep and eat where the smaller pads are :)
Click to expand...

Thank you for the info about your cage liners! How long does your liners with towels in take to dry after being washed because thats my only worry about using towels?Because I don't want to have them hanging to dry for a long time. That's a good idea about using smaller pads with extra absorbant layers in- I will have to do that! Your piggies sound very well trained! My 4 does just wee everywhere which is a pain!
 
lovehammys263 said:
Thank you for the info about your cage liners! How long does your liners with towels in take to dry after being washed because thats my only worry about using towels?Because I don't want to have them hanging to dry for a long time. That's a good idea about using smaller pads with extra absorbant layers in- I will have to do that! Your piggies sound very well trained! My 4 does just wee everywhere which is a pain!
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Lol oh dear, I also have a litter tray in the corner under a shelf with shavings in that they use a lot! The liners only take 1-2 days to try. Well I washed some this morning, put them outside on the clothes horse and already nearly dry. 2 days when just in the house so not too bad :)
 
Yes I did use the machine, but I got different needles that are designed for sewing through layers and materials like denim, so they are stronger and more suited :D
 
Buy needles suitable for denim or leather, this is from experience of breaking about 6 needles in one day ! I have 2 piggies in a 2 x 4 C&C cage. Only just put them in there with new fleece liners made by myself. I use fleece and towels, sewed together with fleece, towel and fleece. I made all my others with incontinence pads and fleece, which have been fine and dry very well, however these pads are costly but worth it in the long run i guess. Not washed the new ones with towels yet, due to change later.
 
HansPiggies said:
Lol oh dear, I also have a litter tray in the corner under a shelf with shavings in that they use a lot! The liners only take 1-2 days to try. Well I washed some this morning, put them outside on the clothes horse and already nearly dry. 2 days when just in the house so not too bad :)
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Yeah that's not a too bad time to dry!

HansPiggies said:
View attachment 33698 Here's a pic so you can see :)
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I love that cage set up! I have that palm tree and purple fleece from primark too! I also want the flamingo one but I can't find it in the store :( I love that shelf- and is that a little skinny pig I spot on it?

Flutterby said:
Yes I did use the machine, but I got different needles that are designed for sewing through layers and materials like denim, so they are stronger and more suited :D
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Oh right good idea!

artcasper said:
Buy needles suitable for denim or leather, this is from experience of breaking about 6 needles in one day ! I have 2 piggies in a 2 x 4 C&C cage. Only just put them in there with new fleece liners made by myself. I use fleece and towels, sewed together with fleece, towel and fleece. I made all my others with incontinence pads and fleece, which have been fine and dry very well, however these pads are costly but worth it in the long run i guess. Not washed the new ones with towels yet, due to change later.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info! I will look into the pads.Yeah I am terrible with not breaking needles! I think I might use a mattress protector but not sure... Please let me know about the washing time of the towels!
 
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