Fleece AND Woodshavings??

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iluvguineapigs

iluvguineapigs

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Hi
We're building a new hutch and are thinking about bedding. I want fleece but my dad wants woodshavings as he says its something new he doesnt know though i have told him bout a 100 times!

So maybe we could try woodshaving on the top floor and fleeces/towels on the bottom. [Its this way round cause there is a ramp so the fleece would have to be cut to size]

thanks:)
 
Shavings as you probably know aren't good for a pigs respiratory system so ideally you'd go for alternative bedding throughout. Also the pigs would drag the shavings down with moving about and in their coats to the bottom floor, and then you've got the task of removing all the shavings from the fleece before washing it. Would your dad let you use something like megazorb or similar instead of shavings?
 
I agree with All0about - perhaps you can make a compromise with trialling megazorb first?
 
I'm not sure what megagsorb is but my dad wants shavings cause he can get them 4 free off someone
 
Woodshavings stick to fleece like noone's business, you would have to pick them all off before putting it in the washing machine or you'd clog it up.

You could always try finely shredded newspaper if your dad can't quite get his head around fleece, it's cheap, non dusty and very absorbant.
 
iluvguineapigs said:
I'm not sure what megagsorb is but my dad wants shavings cause he can get them 4 free off someone
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Really? Free?! As they are currently £7 ish a bale and are getting more expensive as the carpentry industry is suffering

Please make sure if you do go for them it's shavings not sawdust as sawdust is a huge no no, you will end up with very sick piggies.
 
If you go for shavings in the end, then get dust extracted shavings, and if they are pine (they usually are) then they have to be ones that are kiln dried or oven dried, not air dried. The air dried ones smell strongly of pine and have harmful oils in them that are bad to breathe in, but kiln/oven dried ones don't really smell strong. The bales I get that are meant for horses are fine. But I got ones recently in a pet shop, just a small bag, and they smelt really strong so I'm sure they were just air dried pine, so look out for ones that say kiln or oven dried.

You could also try other beddings but they can be very expensive so I dunno if your dad would agree. If you have newspapers around though then that'd be a good idea. :)

Fleece works for some people but might not for everyone. You really have to try a few beddings until you get one that you like. :)
 
I'd say to try megazorb - to me it works out the same price as shavings - you can order online or if you have a horse supply shop nearby you might be able to get your Dd to pick some up.

I know I have been offered free shavings from the carpentry team at College in the past - but they are not safe for piggies as they are not dust extracted and had the harmful oils in so I turned down the offer.

I use newspaper/megazorb and hay for my outdoors rabbit and guineas and have just moved my indoors guinea to fleece.

I live with my parents and know they think the fleece idea is strange - I was not popular for clogging the washing machine up with stray guinea hairs but have since brought a pet filter washing bag - advertised for horse blankets so that has helped with the washing machine issue - if you have fleece and shavings it will possibly upset your washing machine.

Maybe see if your Dad will let you try a bag of megazorb see how you get on?
 
Ohh I wouldn't fancy picking stray shavings out of the fleece, nightmare!
Would the free shavings be dust extracted? Piggies are so vulnerable to respiratory problems and the dust can irritate and carry bacteria into the respiratory system xox
 
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