Fleece In Hutches?

Chloe.123

Chloe.123

Junior Guinea Pig
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I'm considering changing from wood shavings to fleece. One of my boys keeps getting wood shavings stuck in his... bits, and I'm worried it could cause a problem/infection? I'm not enjoying pulling it out everyday and I can tell he isn't either! :td:
Does anyone use fleece in their piggies outdoor hutch? Also is it cheaper long term? I've never used fleece before so all advice on cleaning it etc welcome!
 
I don't think you could put fleece in a hutch, if it's a cold or rainy day It's going to get damp & that's not good
 
I read when I was looking at my rabbits and whether they would be warm enough outside, that woodshavings are used partly because they help insulate the hutch?
As well as hay and straw for the rabbits,

So I think that's one of the reasons people use woodshavings in hutches :)

I don't know if its true or not but judt an interesting thing I remembered.

I use wood shavings and hay in my outdoor guinea pig hutch, but my boar Bear doesn't really have any issues :/
Would using more hay on the bedding area help your boar not get shaving stuck?
 
Oh I didn't know it was used to insulate, I just assumed it was a popular choice for hutches. (Good to know though!)

I may try adding more hay but I'm not sure if it will make a difference as I often have to pull hay out as well.

I might put a post about it on 'health and illness' or 'daily care' to ask if anyone has the same issues.
 
That looks good. I think I'll try it next time I clean the hutch.

I have a house cat so it's not really possible, He likes to get involved with everything and I can imagine he will put his paws through the bars.
 
Could you use lino on the hutch floor with hay in a couple of large boxes (i use under bed storage boxes) as litter trays with a soft hemp based bedding and hay? I use hemparade from zooplus for my guinea oigs (sows) but I know aubiose is similar and cheaper although not quite as soft.
 
I will definitely look at changing what I use for bedding. I posted about his 'issue' on the daily care section and someone mentioned he could've been having a hormonal day and I had changed his bedding the day before.... it hasn't ever happened before so I'm hoping that's the reason behind there being so much stuck.

@flowerfairy i don't suppose you would mind posting a picture so I have an idea of what I could do?
 
Mine are indoors so not quite the same situation. Just thought that hay trays may work in a hutch as a cosy places and litter trays. I have four rabbits in a shed with a lino floor and trays and it works well.

If I was considering fleece in a hutch I would check it each day for dampness (due to being outside) also in wet weather it would need changing a lot but I guess its the same with any bedding.

Hay area with a grow tray and some other trays each with hemparade and hay in

xc135k.jpg


A view of their fleece end

rj38.jpg
 
I used fleece in my hutch for a while and didn't find any problems with it being damp or cold. I didn't particularly get on with it though and now use aubiose instead
 
I use fleece in the bedroom area of the hutch for my rabbits who are outside.
Their hutch is in a shelter, so not directly exposed to the elements, and so far it seems to work well.
Having said that in cold weather they also have a large wooden box stuffed with straw and hay, which is on top of the fleece. They seem quite content, and rarely use the box, but they also haven't been outside through a full Winter yet, so it is a bit early for me to say if this is a year round solution for us.
 
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