Fleece set up !?!?

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twiams

twiams

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Hello i recently posted something about wanting to convert to fleece :)

Today i bought 2 fleeces, one from primark and one from dunelm mill. I've just put them in for a wash as recommended for new fleece, some people have said wash once, most have said 3 times, would washing once be okay ? as i wanna get it down as fast a possible to see if it helps my piggie Chester.

How should i layer my cage? I Have a towel i can use and could probably fold in half for a double layer or would that be too much ? both the fleeces are very large and fold at least into 4 layers to cover it so is that okay too ?
I'm planning on putting an extra flannel at the bottom of there ramp as they seem to pee there the most ! will this help with smell ?

Should i expect alot of scent marking (basically lots more poo and wee) as they are being moved to a new bedding ? Could this bring up any problems between my two boars ?

If anyone has any advice or tips i'd be very grateful as for some reason i feel kinda nervous about this whole new bedding thing...

Thanks in advance :)
 
The Dunelm fleece, if it's the large one (200cm x 150cm I think) if you double it up, will cover the whole of the bottom of your cage & you can actually hang the edges over the bottom bit & put the lid back on & clip it down, so that the fleece doesn't move.

When I used fleece with my cage I did wash it 3 times, any less than that & it really doesn't work as you will end up with pools of wee! If you wash it 3 times then hang it to dry overnight over the stairs then if you tumble dry it tomorrow it will dry very quickly. Don't dry it on a hot cycle in the drier though in case it shrinks! Wash in a non-bio powder, no fabric softener at all. Don't use any tumble dry sheets either.

I put newspapers at the bottom, then put 2 layers of towels, then a mattress topper (don't worry if you haven't got one though) then the fleece goes on last.

Hope that helps :)
 
We have plenty of layers of newspaper under the fleece which is four layers when folded and find it works great.

I had a fleece from Primark and a gorgeous really soft red one from Tesco-I only washed then once and find they are fine.
I change it every 3 days and poop pick in between.
 
Thanks for the suggestions i think I'm gonna try a mix of layer combos and see what works best, the plan is,
Newspaper (1 or 2 layers overlapped)
Towel (Folded to make double layer)
Fleece (folded to make about 4 layers)
then obviously flannel at end of ramp !
thanks for the help :)
 
I change mine every 2 days.
I have tried it every 3 but find the newspaper can get too wet if i do that.
 
Amysmom said:
I change mine every 2 days.
I have tried it every 3 but find the newspaper can get too wet if i do that.
Click to expand...

I was wondering if you just had newspaper under the fleece? If so it won't last as long as you need a layer of towels or another fleece in between to wick the wee away, hope that helps. :)
 
I honestly dont feel that i need a towel also. When folded the fleece is 4 thick layers & i put loads of layers of newspaper underneath. There is hardly any wetness when i change every 2 days.
 
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FLEECE GOES IN TOMORROW !
i don't know why I'm so excited about this, fleece has had it's three washes, all ready and waiting, I'm hoping i can get some cute piggy pics !
I'm hoping to change the fleece every 3 days but i can do it every two if i have too, we're already to poop scoop, got the sweeping pan and brush all ready :)
Even gonna give the piggies an extra teddy (they already have one) now they'll have one each as i notice the teddies get dragged around the cage alot and i don't want anyone to go without!
Can anyone recommend anybody who can make a fairly cheap little fleece house, like the cosy cups or something else ?
My pigs have a little plastic house but they don't really use it, and they had a willow hiding ball and well basically it practically doesn't exist as it's been eaten.
For they have a hiddey bridge thing ? it's rainbow coloured and made out of wood, but thats gotta wait till crimbo !
Any other hidey suggestions would be great :)
 
theres a woman who makes really nice snooze cubes made from fleece her website is fuzzbutt cage comforts, she does hammocks etc more for rats but some things like the snooze cubes and things can be used for chins or piggies :)

Can i ask - when you wash the fleece 3 times before using it is that wash it and leave it to dry x3 then use it? Am quite eager to move my boys onto fleece as it would probably be a bit more economical and cosier for them in the winter but I worry that they'd just saturate it even if it was changed every 2/3 days.
 
Ahh thanks i'll check her page out :)

Well i think I'm gonna post on here how everything goes if your interested ? , and no we didn't dry it in between but was washed 3 times, then is being left to dry now :)
I'm hoping i can save a bit of money by using fleece now too !
I'm gonna see how my boys go with 3 days first but if it gets to smelly will have to be every other day, hopefully won't be too bad, obviously gonna poop scoop twice daily probably morning + afternoon/evening :)
 
home bargains do packs of puppy pads for £1.99 for 14. i use a layer of newspaper ,puppy pads then fleece and it works a treat. i poop pick everyday and change the whole lot every 3rd day . i got 3 piggies all boys living together in a large dog cage.

LILYANN:)
 
piginmuck said:
theres a woman who makes really nice snooze cubes made from fleece her website is fuzzbutt cage comforts, she does hammocks etc more for rats but some things like the snooze cubes and things can be used for chins or piggies :)

Can i ask - when you wash the fleece 3 times before using it is that wash it and leave it to dry x3 then use it? Am quite eager to move my boys onto fleece as it would probably be a bit more economical and cosier for them in the winter but I worry that they'd just saturate it even if it was changed every 2/3 days.
Click to expand...

I literally just washed it three times, it didn't come out of the machine until after the 3rd go lol :))
 
angel1 said:
home bargains do packs of puppy pads for £1.99 for 14. i use a layer of newspaper ,puppy pads then fleece and it works a treat. i poop pick everyday and change the whole lot every 3rd day . i got 3 piggies all boys living together in a large dog cage.

LILYANN:)
Click to expand...

How big approx are these puppy pads? I was wondering whether it would be more expensive than just washing the towels I use under the mattress topper.
 
I did everything wrong but to be honest it all worked out perfectly OK :)

I washed the new fleece twice but only dried it once. However I did buy fleece by the metre from the material shop and it's really thick and dense.

I use a double layer with a towel underneath and newspaper under that. It works brilliantly and when my washing machine broke down (that is something you have to consider :... ) and the new washing machine didn't work either mallethead and we were over a week before I could get to the laundrette (very embarrassing with all the hair left in the machine :red:x:red ) they weren't changed for 6 days. They whiffed a bit but no wet bottoms or feets!

We have our 2nd new machine now but drying is a problem in this horrible weather. I don't know how you lot cope with the 2 towels, double fleeces AND mattress protectors in each set up - my machine is on twice per day - yours must be on continually!
 
Poppy'sMum said:
How big approx are these puppy pads? I was wondering whether it would be more expensive than just washing the towels I use under the mattress topper.
Click to expand...

not sure but 2 cover the bottom of a large dog cage. they last me almost 3 weeks if i change on day 3.
 
This thread is good for me as I'm also a Fleece newb. Pigs are currently still outside, insulated, protected and snuggle-padded, but am hoping to move them inside this weekend for the winter, before the frost comes.

I am worried about the amount of washing and the residue left potentially in the machine. I'm planning on the fleece/towels/newspaper option with a hay/megazorb corner so the fleece and towels will need washing every few days presumably. I hope my pigs will like it, in their indoor run I had mainly newspaper but with a bit of it fleece and tehy used to chill out on that, so I'm hoping they'll love the new setup.

I've told my OH they'll be in for the winter, but I think we both know deep down that they might end up being indoor pigs - shhh! He'll love them when he's sharing the living room with them!
 
someone recomneded to me that you use Linto rollers after a quick poop scoop and hay pick up to get hair etc. as it removes any extra hair, so that might help with the whole washing machine thing :)
Here's some i found quickly, you can find them cheaper i think not sure :) [ame]http://www.amazon.co.uk/3M-SCOTCHBRITE-LINT-ROLLERS-REMOVAL/dp/B00388DBV6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320776749&sr=8-2[/ame]
 
I thought of using the puppy pads - they are relatively cheap, but at the end of the day it's the fleece that smells of wee so that still needs changing every 2 - 3 days. Also some of my piggies seemed to smell the pads and dig them up and chew (and eat inbreeding ) the plastic edges - then again they eat the correx too - obviously lacking in plastic my lot mallethead

The towels and paper absorb the wee just as well as the puppy pads, but you wouldn't need the towel or mattress liner under the fleece I assume :^- so less washing. Believe me, drying towels in this weather is a no no - I hate November - it should be banned :))
 
Quick question! Using fleece I have some in the cupboard that haven't been used but have been washed in bold. Would these work if I was them in non bio 3 times?
Sarah x
 
All the advice I've seen about says that it doesn't matter what you wash them in, as long as you don't use fabric softner. Bio or non-bio makes no difference, as long as you get the initial 2/3 washes in before you use it :)
 
All the advice I've seen about says that it doesn't matter what you wash them in, as long as you don't use fabric softner. Bio or non-bio makes no difference, as long as you get the initial 2/3 washes in before you use it :)
 
I think the only reason why non-bio is recommended is because it is less likely to cause a sensitivity to piggie's skins, bit like humans with eczema :)
 
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