Confused!

[shary]

I have been doing a bit of research on the web and I'm starting to get a bit confused. Could I please have some of your opinions?

1. Is it okay to use woodshavings on the floor of the cage?

2. Is it okay to use hay as bedding or should I be using a fleece nest?

3. If you designate a place for them to toilet ie put some of their soiled shavings in a corner, would they then go to that place to do their business?

Your answers would be very much appreciated I want to get it right!

Thanks

Shary
x

 

[CaseyTiggerPie]

Hi, welcome to the forum!
You shouldn't use wood shavings because the dust from them can cause respiratory problems. Most often even brands that say 'No Dust' still have dust, it's inevitable.
Hay is fine to use, though I used to put cloths on top so that they can have some different surfaces. Now I use fleece which I think is a lot better and cheaper for me because I am still looking for someone who sells bales. I think the pigs like it too because long term it's a bit softer on their paws.
I have a hay box in the corner of the cage (it's a drawer from a paper storage unit) they generally go in there but it's not 100% all the time. Give it a try, it may work for you as it did for me but it's not a certain thing, depends on the pig

 

[Wiebke]

Woodshavings are not recommended as bedding. There are alternatives like megazorb or aubiose that are similar to them which don't emit fumes.

If you are planning on an indoors cage, I would consider trialling fleece - it is much easier to change and clean. Fleece that has no softeners in wicks away any fluids, so piggies live on a dry surface, and certainly longhaired piggies have much less tangles or boars bits stuck in their penises! You can use any plastic box with a rim of about 4 inches as a hay box to keep the worst of the mess off the fleece.

In the toilet/hay corners of my Tribe, I must admit still use a thin layer woodshavings on top of some newspaper as I didn't like the dust and smell of megazorb in the living room, but covered with some cheaper hay and found that just newpaper under hay didn't work for me - the hay turns into a soggy, smelly mess very quickly; especially with having a group of piggies! The woodshavings act as fluid as well as smell absorbant.

However, piggies can never be completely toilet trained and you may find that any sleeping area usually gets a nice collection of poos and pees, too! Some piggies can be very tidy, while others (often boys) can be rather scatty.

 

[shary]

Thank you for the advice. I do house them indoors in a wooden two tier hutch. Please could you show or tell me where I could get the fleece from please? sorry not very knowledgeable at the moment.

Shary
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[CaseyTiggerPie]

I got cheap fleece blankets from my local hypermarket. When you put it down you should put a layer of newspaper then a layer of towel and then the fleece (the fleece wicks urine through and then the towels can absorb it). You also need to wash the fleece before you put it in.
No need to apologise, we all learnt it sometime!

 

[Bailey]

You can get cheap fleece from Primark, Asda, Tesco, Dunelm or ebay x

 

[shary]

Brilliant thank you for all your help, will pop out and get some before I start work.

Shary
x

 

[lolatheguineapig]

I know its a bit late in the conversation to write this, but...

1. Yeah, I have been using woodshavings for nearly a year now and my piggies are fine

2. It's okay to use hay, however fleece with it would be nice and soft on their feet - perhaps warmer

3. My piggilys have a toilet area, but they don't always use that certain area

I hope this helps you, and its not too boring.|)​

 

[Wiebke]

Tips for fleece:
- prewash the fleece at leat three times to get rid of any remaining softener. Never wash it using softener - it seals the surfaces and your piggies will sit in their pee.

- do not overfill the washing machine, or your fleece will come out STINKING! If the fabrics soak up too much water at the beginning of the washing cycle, there is not enough left for the cleaning and rinsing.

- Pick off the worst bits of hay and shake your fleece and any underlay well before putting them in the washing machine. If wished, you can wash them in a duvet cover to prevent hair and hay getting into the filter.

- if the fleece is very soiled, you can wash it at a higher temperature without problems.

- If you piggies dsicover burrowing under the fleece as a way of life, you may want to think about clipping it to the edge of the cage.

For an absorbent underlay you can use:
- Newspaper and cheap bathroom or beach towels on top (available from supermarkets, Primark or Ikea)
- shredded paper between two layers of newspaper if you have got regular access to lots of it; not as absorbent, but a very cheap alternative
- (a bit more expensive, but very easy to use) incontinence pads or a watertight thick mattress cover cut to size and seamed - you should be able to get two sets out of one king size mattress cover; they tend to hold in any pees best and neutralise the odours somewhat, and the cage is quicker to do up.

I chance my cage about every 2-3 days. Fleece has been an instant hit with mine when I changed over two years ago. I could never have that big a group without it in my living room, frankly!