fleeces?

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hayls<3

hayls<3

Teenage Guinea Pig
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So - i've noticed alot of you use fleeces in your cages and hutches instead of your usual woodshavings and hay.

My two gilrs live in a ferplast and I currently fill my piggies cage with:
- Lots and lots of newspaper (usually the whole weeks worth thats been saved)
- Layer of woodshavings
- Layer of Meadow Hay

I was wondering don't you find cleaning difficult with a fleece? I've always found that piggies pee on the fleece and it generally causes the fleece to smell quickly and takes a while to dry? do you wash the fleece every few days or just the once a week? Does it absorb the pee easily? What are your experiences with them?

Looking forward to responses. :) xx
 
Previous piggies of mine were kept on newspaper & hay. Many years ago I used wood shavings but they are no longer recommended as they can affect piggies' respiratory systems, so I don't like to use them, they also used to get stuck in my piggies "bits" :red

So now I have a C & C cage I use from the bottom up :

First a layer of newspapers
Second a layer of old towels
Third bed liners for kids, like Drynites or the Poundland ones, they are designed to stop "accidents" in children wetting their beds & going through to the mattress
Fourth a mattress topper, 100 % cotton which wicks away the liquid from the fleece
The top layer is a fleece cage liner I have cut & sewn to fit over the correx which I use as a base or tray inside the cage :

DSCF0884.jpg


That's my cage. I will say I am a complete convert to fleece. Every 5-6 days I change the fleece & the mattress topper & wash them & do a full clean out the next time, wash towels, replace the papers etc.

I poop sweep twice a day. I also have litter trays, I line those with papers & hang their hay above so they mostly wee in there. Daisy is almost totally litter trained, she never wees on fleece rolleyes

To clean the fleece I poop sweep, then hoover the hay & fur off & machine wash it on 60 degrees or above, they've never shrunk yet.

They dry in a day easily but I have spares anyway. The piggies love fleece, they popcorn & flop out in the middle. I also like the way their tummies never get wet form any wee etc. :)
 
Wow! What a great response! I've been curious about fleece for awhile now too.

I think I'm going to give it a try :))

Is your cage one that you order in pieces and assemble yourself? I've been looking for one that is open like that, and not so high...

Thanks

Siobhan
 
Siobhan_Roisin said:
Wow! What a great response! I've been curious about fleece for awhile now too.

I think I'm going to give it a try :))

Is your cage one that you order in pieces and assemble yourself? I've been looking for one that is open like that, and not so high...

Thanks

Siobhan
Click to expand...

I sat mine on two coffee tables lol rolleyes

It does have grids as a base, to make it stable as well. I used cable ties from Screwfix to join them together as they are more secure than the plastic fasteners.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGqMxzkSWaM&feature=related"]Why Your C&C Guinea Pig Cage May Need a Bottom - YouTube[/ame]

Shows why bottoms are safer, they also give more rigidity to the cage.

Brill site regarding making C & C cages :

http://www.guineapigcages.com/

Grids:

http://www.wayfair.co.uk/Safco-Wire-Cubes-in-Black-5279BL-SAF1061.html

There are loads of different places to get the grids. B & Q used to do them, but don't now, lots of sellers on ebay & Amazon.

I also used some from JTF Warehouses rolleyes
 
Thanks for your reply Poppy! Your piggies have a mansion. :)

Do you still get your wet patches or does the matteress cover soak the pee up straight away?

Being a fleece lover myself, i have plently of fleeces on my bed and cant sleep without at least 2! I know that primark and places like wilkos, b&m and the range stock cheap fleeces and i think that would like a trial this method. xx
 
I love this site :(|)

I've only been a piggie owner for a few weeks and was using Carefresh and newspaper but you don't realise how much cleaning out of poop and damp bits you have to do for piggies. After reading loads of posts on here I decided to try fleece and swapped over on Friday. Lily pig has been constantly popcorning so I'm guessing she likes it and Millie pig seems to be settling in just fine.

It is so much easier to clean up poop every day, so much so that my 7 year old is now doing it herself :))

I have a layer of towels, then dry nites and then fleece on the top and so far no smell and the fleece has stayed dry!
 
It is so much easier to clean up poop every day, so much so that my 7 year old is now doing it herself
Click to expand...

I can imagine that poop cleaning is easier, as with hay and woodshavings the poop gets burried but my piggies have lived in this way for 6 years but it seems like a really good idea. I recon itd be an easier way to help the piggies to walk around though and some good insulation. And can't imagine that it would cost alot either, the only things that need rebuying are the drynites and things?

I'm just worried about wet patches and the smell? x
 
hayls<3 said:
Thanks for your reply Poppy! Your piggies have a mansion. :)

Do you still get your wet patches or does the matteress cover soak the pee up straight away?

Being a fleece lover myself, i have plently of fleeces on my bed and cant sleep without at least 2! I know that primark and places like wilkos, b&m and the range stock cheap fleeces and i think that would like a trial this method. xx
Click to expand...

Any of those places do great fleeces :) The one in my pic was from either Dunelm mill or Asda, their fleeces are very thick.

To prepare the fleece you need to wash it at least 3 times before use, using a non-bio detergent & no conditioner. (The conditioner stops the fleece from soaking up the wee).

I don't get wet patches really, as the mattress topper wicks the wee down underneath the fleece, I also have little pieces I have cut to shape the end bits & sewn it all around so that I can change them daily if they get wet, that keeps the main fleece really dry so it lasts a good 5 days. I can't really smell them at all, but then I've had piggies for around 11 years indoors so I am probably immune to the smells by now :red
 
It is so much easier. Before I would have to check the carefresh for wet patches and take all these bits out and replace the carefresh. Used to do that every 2 - 3 days and then a big clean once a week. Now I just check the cage for wet patches and pick up the poop. So far we've had no wet patches and the advice I got about the dry nites pads underneath was great! They soak up any wetness and keeps any smells away too.

The carefresh was nearly £5 a pack and as I've got two separate cages at the moment it was costing me a fortune. The fleece was £3 (that's with 2 spare) and the dry nites were £2.50 for a pack of 7 although asda's own are cheaper again. It wouldn't cost much to buy and try so it might be worth it just to see what you think.
 
Thanks Poppy for the link, 4piggiepigs liner looks gorgeous. :)

I've recently given my two girlies a fleece in there cage to just sit on as there cosie was due for washin and my youngest Baby has been sat on it like lady muck so think i am going to try the fleece. :)

Which would be the best to use under the fleece? x
 
Hi I love fleece and can't imagine using anything else! I used a good layer of newspaper then a towel then a fleece (double layer) It does last days and is so much easier to do poop scoops during the day! I also have a liner from Lorraine and it's brilliant! But when that's in the wash I use the above!

Sarah xx
 
4piggiepigs made my liners and my pigs love them so much better than shavings, mine last 6-7 days with 2 pigs on each in a 120 cage
will have to post pics asap
 
I've just made myself a fleece liner also, mine is a nice thick bit of fleece then that's stitched to a mattress protector, underneath that is a layer of newspaper and then on the bottom of the run is a piece of tarpaulin cut to size, that stays on there permanently and i disinfect it when i change the run.

i also made extra mats with the left over fleece and mattress protector which go under the places they sit the most (as they're still scared and shy right now) so that the popular places (near hay rack and under their house) has double the protection, also means i can whip them off change them for a clean one extending the length of the clean out cycle.


i opted for fleece because i was worried about the whole eye poking potential with hay, so i have the hay in a rack and in cardboard tubes for them to play with and i have their cosy cup and snuggle sack in their cardboard house.
 
How do you manage to wash the fleeces without it wrecking your machine?
I tried fleece for a little while but my washing machine really didn't like it, I haven't a garden to shake off the hay and poop, nor space in the flat to do so either, (I did try to shake it out the window once into the bushes below but the poop rained down on my neighbours windowsill! :red )
The hay I kept in litter trays but it still got dragged around the fleece and although my piggies are not long haired there seemed to be a lot of fur which clogged the machine. Currently my piggys are in 2 cages, all girls :) and I am using megazorb. Is fleece really any better?
 
chocdonuty said:
How do you manage to wash the fleeces without it wrecking your machine?
I tried fleece for a little while but my washing machine really didn't like it, I haven't a garden to shake off the hay and poop, nor space in the flat to do so either, (I did try to shake it out the window once into the bushes below but the poop rained down on my neighbours windowsill! :red )
The hay I kept in litter trays but it still got dragged around the fleece and although my piggies are not long haired there seemed to be a lot of fur which clogged the machine. Currently my piggys are in 2 cages, all girls :) and I am using megazorb. Is fleece really any better?
Click to expand...

I take mine into the bathroom and shake it then brush it down onto the floor and then its all free of hay - just a bit of fur left

I think megazorb is better but I now have 3 big cages and a small wheelie bin so I have had to use fleece for two cages and only use bedding on my stinky boar duo otherwise I have no room in the bin for food waste after one week1 never mind the two its meant to last
 
i hoover all the piggie hair off mine before putting in the wash
 
Your cages look lovely Sarah, they are all polka dot matching! :)

From your replies, i am going to trial the fleeces next time my piggies are due a clean out (Saturday).

I am going to see if I can find a cheap fleece, I work within the town center so getting bits wouldn't really be a problem. I've seen some fleeces at the Range at £3.99, towels from Wilkos are £1-£2 for a own brand hand towel and my local Poundland stocks Puppy training pads and we always have newspapers in my house.

Does anyone else use puppy pads? or would it be better for me to pick up some drynites?
xx
 
I use washable bed pads underneath my fleece and vetbed. The initial outlay can be pricey (but depends where you buy them from), but they can be re-used over and over again, just like fleece i pop them in my washer (because they sit underneath the fleece they do not attract hay/poops/hair)

[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Washable-Absorbent-Bed-Pad-90cms/dp/B000MES1W8"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Washable-Absorbent-Bed-Pad-90cms/dp/B000MES1W8[/ame]
 
Sodapops said:
I use washable bed pads underneath my fleece and vetbed. The initial outlay can be pricey (but depends where you buy them from), but they can be re-used over and over again, just like fleece i pop them in my washer (because they sit underneath the fleece they do not attract hay/poops/hair)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Washable-Absorbent-Bed-Pad-90cms/dp/B000MES1W8
Click to expand...

That's interesting, do you wash them every time you change their fleece or do they stay dry for a long time before they need washing?
 
hayls<3 said:
Your cages look lovely Sarah, they are all polka dot matching! :)

From your replies, i am going to trial the fleeces next time my piggies are due a clean out (Saturday).

I am going to see if I can find a cheap fleece, I work within the town center so getting bits wouldn't really be a problem. I've seen some fleeces at the Range at £3.99, towels from Wilkos are £1-£2 for a own brand hand towel and my local Poundland stocks Puppy training pads and we always have newspapers in my house.

Does anyone else use puppy pads? or would it be better for me to pick up some drynites?
xx
Click to expand...

I don't use puppy pads but I do get the bed protection sheets for babies/children in Poundland, in the baby section, there are 3 in a pack & they are very absorbent :)
 
Just got back from being on a big piggie supplies shop today!

Managed to get two fleeces, and the puppy pads (couldn't find the protection sheets you told me about poppy :( ).

I also picked up a snuggly pet mat for the pigs and a Micro Fibre pet towel which claims to have super absorbent power due to the hollow woven microfibres which draw out and absorb excess water. I was wondering whether this would be suitable instead of the towels maybe? and if not maybe it could be a good towel for bathing the girls.

All for a 5er! :)

Tomorrow is the girlies clean out day so will use the fleeces then. x
 
I'm just checking, I know that you should wash the fleeces 3 times but was wondering, do you wash then allow to dry and then wash again etc, until the process is done? x
 
Loads of people say 3 times but personally I think twice is enough although the last couple I've bought I've only washed once (although they do get better with more washes)
 
So :)
Done a big clean out and have introduced to the fleeces!
Unfortunately for my girls, they have had mites and today was there second lot of the xeno so are looking all wet or I would have taken a photo for you all. I washed the fleeces twice today ready for use. I used a thick layer of newspaper, a hand towel, three puppy pads, a bath towel and then the two fleeces. I've also placed the snuggley mat that I picked up yesterday where the pigs hay rack and bowl is so I can just take this out and shake it when they have finished. Its making me want to poop scoop every 5 mins! :)
Its lovely to see my girls just laid around they seem so relaxed. So hopefully if the method works out (fingers crossed) piggy fleeces will stay. Xx
 
I use fleece with inco pads underneath. It works brilliantly - no damp or smell at all. Got mine from Amazon - pricey initially, but reusable. I have a Rabbit 150 cage - 2 pads covers the cage. [ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Washable-Absorbent-Bed-Pad-90cms/dp/B000MES1W8/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1330189449&sr=1-2"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Washable-Absorbent-Bed-Pad-90cms/dp/B000MES1W8/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1330189449&sr=1-2[/ame]

I used fleece from Dunhelm Mill - £2.99 each in the sale!

To wash it all without getting hair and hay stuck in the machine, my friend (AlisonT) recommended a pet hair washing bag which really helps http://www.washingnet.org.uk/washing_bags.html

I've only had outdoor pigs before - I've been surprised how easy it was to convert to fleece. :)
 
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