Fleece ruined with weewee?

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Rachel WD

Rachel WD

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We've just ordered the material to build a new cage for the piggies (going down the NIC cube route :) ) and I've noticed a lot of people here have that set up with fleeces inside. Do your piggies not wee all over them? My piggies wee wherever they like and I feel that they would ruin a fleece within minutes of putting it in.

I am hoping to litter train them as much as possible when they move into their bigger cage - although I believe they will continue to poo all over the place.

What are the benefits of using fleece instead of other bedding?

Thanks.
 
No, the wee doesn't ruin it. Fleece is washable!

For me the benefits of fleece are
1. I can have a much larger cage. Disposable bedding for my cage would cost a fortune!
2. I don't get bits of bedding everywhere
3. It's more environmentally friendly to reuse
4. I don't have a car and would forever be hauling bales of bedding. Now I just wash.
5. My pigs love it! It's soft on their little starfish feet and doesn't get in their eyes or bottoms
 
You can litter train piggies only so much... and that is not very! Some are more fastidious than others, but they often leak in their sleeping areas. As guinea pigs in the wild are regularly moving around a certain territory, they have not been obliged to develop the elaborate litter etiquette that a set building species would have to! Any self respecting guinea pig will also immediately set about marking a freshly made up cage! rolleyes

However, fleece wicks away the pee and provides a constantly dry surface, so the piggies are never sitting in the wet (less problems with bumblefoot and other infections) and any long haired piggies are not getting as badly tangled up. But you have to spot clean (i.e. pick up the poop) once or twice daily.

I have changed to fleece on top of on underlay of newspaper and cheap towels. I find that the pee washes out very well in the washing machine, and fleece can last for a long time! You have to change according to the number of piggies and the thickness/absorption capacity of the underlay.
 
True, I hadn't thought about that, but i haven't has to pull anything out of my boys' bottoms for a while now...:)>>>

Fleece is extra absorbant but doesn't retain moisture, therefore it is drier on the piggies's feet (provided you have towels'newspaper underneath). You can also have more than one colour/pattern so their home is more fun to look at.

I used to use woodchips and
1. it smelled bad
2. it would get really soggy
3. it would get anywhere including inside my slippers when I did the litter change :)>>>(yes, the before bits)
4. my husband is allergic to it
5. it worked out more expensive
6. it was difficult to store as space is a premium

I guess that covers it
 
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The idea of fleece is that it 'wicks' the wee to the layer underneath. I use two layers of towels and then one layer of fleece. The towels absorb the wee and the fleece stays dry. Do not use fabric conditioner or anything as it stops the wicking process.

I find a capful of white vinegar in the wash removes any smells that may linger. I too do not have a car so this is the easiest way for me. I completely change the fleece and towels twice a week and 'spot' clean daily.

Hope this helps :)
 
Thanks for the advice guys. I didn't realise it actually sucks the wee away, how clever :) Hmmm, I think I might give it a try. I've tried shavings and now megazorb but I'm aware of how much I go through (and how much Benny stashes up his stinky butt!)
 
It will only wick away wee if you wash it in only powder / liquid (NO softner ever) a few times before you use it. Also you do need to make sure you have enough absorbant material underneath to absorb the wee.

Fleece is really clever with the wicking thing, I used to use cloth nappies and you would line the nappy with fleece to keep your baby's bottom dryer. Same thing!

Also it's really good fun buying pattered ones and making the cage pretty (not that it stays pretty!). I have to say though stay away from really light colours as the poo shows up so bad. I have brown and brown with blue spots. I'm considering a red too. :)
 
i just brought some fleece today from primark £2 each plus got my fav colour dark purple will be washing it this weekend just need to get some towels ben knows i'm up to something as pop corning i think he'll love it as he doesn't poo or wee in his bedroom very house trained or ocd over load lol :p
 
Awww I bet he will love it. £2 is a great price! Wish we had a primark nearby - but hate shopping. If Tesco don't deliver it then I pretty much don't get it :)) I'm so looking forward to building the new cage for them, I can't wait to see their reaction.
 
i really hope he'll like he's had a hard start in his life came from a market was sold with 2 girls i feel in love the moment i saw him one of those piggies that snuggle in & steel your heart x) his teeth were a gery colour when i brought him from the rescue but now he's a happy boy full of energy & spoiled rotton
 
Rachel WD said:
Do the guineas not chew the fleece?
Click to expand...

Nope I've found they don't chew it at all (even the littlest one :)) ) although they did take a bit of a liking to the labels before they were cut off!

Good luck on your fleece hunt

p.s. I got one of mine from Tesco. It's pink with dark pink hearts, they also had blue with dark blue stars ;) It was about £4 but is the softest fleece ever - even without softener!
 
Ollie - sounds like he has a fab life with you.

Thanks Little Piggles I'll check Tesco :)
 
Asda and Poundland both had £1 fleeces this week but brown/black nothing exciting!

I'm considering seeing about Monty moving to it eventually, at the mo we are on the newspaper/carefresh theme as trying different things out.

Parents not keen on the washing machine being used for fleece - our machine use to struggle with the dog bed covers as it gets blocked easily and you do end up with pet hairs on the next few washes!

Dryer is very slow too.

I think Monty would suit fleece as he does get impacted and seems to of lost any 'elastics' in that area! So he can get bits stuck to him.

Might move to fleece in the warmer months then I can dry them on the line. Will need plenty of changes with Montys toilet routine!

Am not prepared to pay for Carefresh seems very overpriced, sawdust is a no and megazorb makes such a mess outside I dread what it would do inside! Dont drive either but still need megazorb and hay for the outside hutches.

Il see how we go in the summer - I get hayfever and anything dusty sets me off so with Monty living in my room fleece might be the best option:)

I cant see me being able to ever move Monty back outside (in summer I might put him in a hutch outside on nice days but dont think I could move him back out now hes so happy inside!)
 
Alison fleece just needs to go over a chair indoors for a few hours to dry. Doesn't need heat.
 
I love fleece the benefits for me are

1.I agree it is enviromentally friendly
2. its soft on there little feet
3.it doesnt get stuck in there bits
4.I can spot clean really easy with a handhelp vacuum or dustpan and brush
5.With 13 pigs its much cheaper than any other bedding
6.its much neater to use inside than most other beddings
7 Its good for some of my pigs that have hayfever
8. Good for my partner and daughter whjo have hay and dust allergys(they still get hay just using it as bedding makes oH and daughters allergys worse)
9.My car is now clean when before i was carting hay for bedding in it reguarly
10. Its bright and colourful and most people comment on how lovely it is
11.Good to spot any bleeding/changes in urine which is hard on other beddings

Basically i cannot praise fleece enough!

Half of my pigs are toilet trained but it was hard work and i was so lucky to get that many trained although they still have some accidents particuarly while sleeping like wiebke says.
 
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I think I've persuaded Hubby this morning to try the fleece, yay :)

Thanks so much everyone you've been really helpful :)p
 
Hi All,

Just a quick question about using fleece instead of other bedding, i would consider using it but am concerned about a comment someone else made on this post- would it clog the washing machine up with pet hairs and would the hairs get on clothes washed after it?
 
JackyB said:
Hi All,

Just a quick question about using fleece instead of other bedding, i would consider using it but am concerned about a comment someone else made on this post- would it clog the washing machine up with pet hairs and would the hairs get on clothes washed after it?
Click to expand...

It can if you dont take precautions;)
After each fleece load i wipe out the inside of the maching with a cloth to catch majority of the hairs,occasionally i find some on the clothes but i just shake them outside before i dry them(its the same as us cuddling our pigs and having a few stray hairs lol)
If the washing machine is extra dirty then i run a load with no clothes in it and on maximum water so it cleans it out but its rare i do that.
Also cleaning the parts in the centre(if its top loader) will help keep it running well xx
 
Some people recommend washing your fleece in an old pillow or duvet case to avoid clogging up the filter and then shaking out the fleece thoroughly before and after.

I don't know whether I repeat what has already been said, but you'd best wash the fleece twice before use and wash it always without softener (my hubby washed it once with the wrong soap and the piggies ended all up with wet, smelly bellies!)
 
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Great tips thanks everyone :)

I don't yet have any piggies as i am just moving into my new home and want to read up as much info on them as possible and make sure i am fully prepared before taking on any piggies- which is why all your answers are much appreciate by me! :)
 
Rachel WD said:
Ollie - sounds like he has a fab life with you.

Thanks Little Piggles I'll check Tesco :)
Click to expand...

he does bless him (he's the one in the picture BEN!)

just ordered some argos vouchers so hopefully get my towels this weekend

good news on your hubby coming round :p
 
I have found charity shops, and just asking at work, a great source of old towels. Helps to keep costs down rather than buying. xx
 
Ooh that's a good idea, my BF wouldn't appreciate me using our towels for Guinea pigs but he won't mind from the charity shop! :)
 
Reading through this thread has been really useful - I've got a fleece that I use to keep me clean when I have cuddles so I'm going to put that in the boys' cage tonight - currently using shavings and they stick to everything!

Two questions ... Do you still put hay in the bedding area on top of the fleece or are they comfortable enough with just fleece?

Also, do you have to provide a litter tray for them? My boys seem to just pee wherever they're standing so not sure they'd make use of a litter tray! Dirty monkeys! :red

Thanks
 
What kind of fleece are you guys talking about? I am guessing if you are shopping at Primark it's not some special type for animals...?! Sounds like a great idea - and cleaner than wood shavings which I have been sweeping up CONSTANTLY!
 
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