Megazorb ....quality gone downhill?

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Guinea Slave

Guinea Slave

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Hi
I have tried many bedding types and found megazorb the best with hay on top. I have a very large c&c set up and it works great. However, the last 6 weeks or so I have really noticed the quality going downhill. One bag I took back as it was full of black dust and looked like they had just swept the remains off the floor!

It's not meant to be dust free i know, but the amount of dust now is crazy, it covers everything and has made the guineas sneeze and me itch. Today, last bag thank gooodness, I found the plastic top of an aerosol can!

I will not be using it anymore and have emailed a complaint, just wondering if anyone else had noticed the same? Happy to pass on others comments to try to get them to listen! Its a great shame.
 
Also in Megazorb review area buthaving complained to the manufacturers of Megazorb and exchanged a few emails this is their final response: I have to say I do appreciate their honesty, makes a refreshing change. Off to review other bedding now...

'The problems you describe are the main reason why we do not recommend Megazorb for small pet use. The product currently, while being a little dustier than you are used to, would be perfectly acceptable in a stable environment. In order to produce a product that would be suitable for small pets the bedding would need to be subjected to much tighter screening controls to remove additional dust and any larger pieces of bedding/wood.



We appreciate that many small pet owners do choose to use Megazorb as it represents such excellent value for money in the 85 litre bags, but we must stress that we cannot guarantee the product’s suitability for such small animals and we always advise caution in use.



I can confirm that we do produce a version of Megazorb called Ultra Absorbent Bedding for Burgess Pet Care. This particular product has undergone the necessary screening for small pets and is available for purchase from a number of retailers on line. This might be an alternative worth pursuing?'
 
I tried megazorb for the first time a few weeks ago as members raved about it being good value for money and not dusty, i was very disappointed, The bag cost me just short of £10 and it only did 2 C&C cages, and it was very dusty, when cleaning the cage and tipping megazorb into it, the whole room filled with dust and it made me cough and sneeze! so £5 per week for a cage is ridiculous for me, i am used to spending £1.61 a week to clean the cage.

The ultra absorbent bedding, this is slightly better and slightly less dusty, i am currently using it for my dwarf hamster, (i requested a free sample from burgess) and i do like it, but it retails between £5.99 - £7.49 in pet shops for 4.5L yes 4.5L, most of us get 85L for between £8-£10 so i cannot see how it is value for money?

Here it is on animed which is known for being a cheap site:

http://www.animeddirect.co.uk/burgess-excel-ultra-absorbent-small-animal-bedding-45l.html

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we've also noticed a decrease in quality with the last two bags we got. it's very dusty and makes both me and o/h cough. i use it for the bunnies litter trays and it has always been fine up until now, but with them both having long term respiratory problems, i am trying to find an alternative. i think i will be trying fitch for them, and if it's good i might use some in the piggies cage if i haven't had time to wash and dry their fleece. maybe try the fitch? i've heard it's really good. :)
 
I've been using Megazorb for about 6 months & haven't noticed an increase in dust but it does often contain larger pieces of soft wood. My local Farmway store sells it at just £7 a bag & 2 bags last 7 weeks in a 2.5m x 1m run where my 4 girls live. I just put an approx 10 to 15mm layer down then cover it with hay from our local farm (much better & fresher than the shop bought stuff). I clean out the run every Thursday. Usually midway through the week I'll lift their houses & replace some of the damp Megazorb. At the end of the week all the hay is removed & then the unsoiled Megazorb is moved to one end while the soiled Megazorb is removed. I usually end up with enough to cover 25% of the area.

Of all the stuff I've used over last 2 years since first keeping piggies, this is definitely the best, easiest & most smell-free. I'll keep using it until I'm recommended something better. I'd rather spend my money on good fresh food for the girls.
 
biscandmatt said:
we've also noticed a decrease in quality with the last two bags we got. it's very dusty and makes both me and o/h cough. i use it for the bunnies litter trays and it has always been fine up until now, but with them both having long term respiratory problems, i am trying to find an alternative. i think i will be trying fitch for them, and if it's good i might use some in the piggies cage if i haven't had time to wash and dry their fleece. maybe try the fitch? i've heard it's really good. :)
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If you can pick it up/store it, I'd recommend going to collect it as you can get two bales for the price of one delivered. I've been using Fitch for the past month and I love the stuff, the pigs popcorn like mad every cage clean. It's the best bedding I've have tried so far and has been the most efficient are keeping piggy odour at bay!
 
i copied and pasted this on the rabbit forum, hope you don't mind. let me know if you do and i'll remove it. just wanted to see if other people have noticed anything with it. :)
 
funnehmare said:
If you can pick it up/store it, I'd recommend going to collect it as you can get two bales for the price of one delivered. I've been using Fitch for the past month and I love the stuff, the pigs popcorn like mad every cage clean. It's the best bedding I've have tried so far and has been the most efficient are keeping piggy odour at bay!
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ooh, thanks for this. it does sound worth trying. i need something for the buns and also that the piggies can use aswell from time to time. i tried them on megazorb in the past and they were both sneezing and didn't seem to like it. excited to try fitch now :)
 
Does anyone know where you can get fitch from other than online? Is it a horse bedding (just thinking if i knew what animals it was designed for, might help me source some locally)

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biscandmatt said:
ooh, thanks for this. it does sound worth trying. i need something for the buns and also that the piggies can use aswell from time to time. i tried them on megazorb in the past and they were both sneezing and didn't seem to like it. excited to try fitch now :)
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I have a pig with respiratory issues (unchecked URI from previous home has left him with a sensitive epithelial in his nose) was recommended Fitch so I thought I'd give it a go. Since swapping his episodes of sneezing and wheezing have decreased dramatically. He still sneezes more frequently than the others but the wheezing has stopped altogether. So might be worth a go especially as you mentioned you've got buns with respiratory problems :)

I see you're in Manchester too, the Fitch place is based in Stalybridge (Ashton-under-Lyne way) so shouldn't be too far!
 
Toffeewoffee said:
Does anyone know where you can get fitch from other than online? Is it a horse bedding (just thinking if i knew what animals it was designed for, might help me source some locally)

x
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It's pretty much a horse bedding targeted specifically at horses with respiratory/allergen issues. Though speaking to the lady there, they do recommend it for small animals as there is no dust at all, and mentioned that several local dog kennels use it as bedding too.

I've not seen many stockists, but might be worth giving them a call to see if there is anyone near you that might?
 
funnehmare said:
I have a pig with respiratory issues (unchecked URI from previous home has left him with a sensitive epithelial in his nose) was recommended Fitch so I thought I'd give it a go. Since swapping his episodes of sneezing and wheezing have decreased dramatically. He still sneezes more frequently than the others but the wheezing has stopped altogether. So might be worth a go especially as you mentioned you've got buns with respiratory problems :)

I see you're in Manchester too, the Fitch place is based in Stalybridge (Ashton-under-Lyne way) so shouldn't be too far!
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we don't have a car but should be getting one this year so i know where i'll be sending o/h! :))
 
biscandmatt said:
i copied and pasted this on the rabbit forum, hope you don't mind. let me know if you do and i'll remove it. just wanted to see if other people have noticed anything with it. :)
Click to expand...

Thats fine, at least people can then make an informed decision :-)
 
I'm off to try some Fitch then. So annoyng as been using Megazorb for years and loved it until now.
 
Am trialing fitch at the moment,it is very good pretty well dust free soft and absorbent just wish it came in a different colour as the white tends to show up the wees and poos very quickly. So using duobed means a full cleanout every 4th day but every third day with fitch. Also the recycling centre not so keen to put it in the green waste skip though they will accept duobed.
 
I use Megazorb and have found it ok so far, but this has really put me off. I'd hate for my piggies to get sick because of some foreign object I didn't notice. I was going to try Fitch but it worked out more expensive for me due to having to pay two lots of postage. I may have to look into it again now. I tried Carefresh at first but that's way too expensive to use regularly.
 
I'm also having megazorb dust issues, i've used it for the last 3 or so years and the last batch (5 bags) have been rubbish, serious amounts of dust and large lumps, my piggies have been sneezing lots (i use it in the kitchen area under hay and change daily) i'm looking to change but i'm looking for something that will be available in france, what does everyone else use?
 
Hi, it's got really bad, I have just stopped using it now and we have all stopped sneezing. I think you can get aubiose is France, that's quite good. I am now using medibed for the guineas and Fitch for the hamster. Both are excellent but medibed is a bit more messy and not as absorbent.
 
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