Newspaper as bedding?

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MummyMaynard

MummyMaynard

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Me again lol! Trying to work out what the best bedding would be for my 2 girls, they live outside in a hutch/run (the hutch part is upstairs with a ramp down to the run). Not that they like using the ramp - going to buy a special tunnel when orders are being taken again, hoping they'll use it then.

Anyway - trying to work out the best bedding for the hutch part, at the moment I'm using wood shavings with hay on top. It's pretty easy to clean and isn't smelling or anything, but wondering about using newspaper instead of wood shavings with hay on top - would that be better for them? We don't actually get newspapers but I'm sure family can keep us well stocked, especially my dad as he has a broadsheet everyday lol.
 
Hi I haven't had piggies for long but I find if they can get at the newspaper they will eat it I think shavings would be better in terms of keeping them dry :)
 
I used to use just newspaper with hay on the top, but found that it got very soggy very quickly and was pretty disgusting to clean out, even after 3 days! I started putting back 2 nature litter between the hay and the newspaper which helps with the absorption of wee, but have just bought some vetbed from ebay, which I've heard is really good for pigs and they love it! I had never considered it for my boys before, but knew it was really good for dogs and cats as any liquid that goes onto it is pulled away from the surface straight away. It is washable and can therefore be re-used lots of times (I have heard it lasts 2 years plus), so works out a lot cheaper that any regular bedding x
 
You will find that newspaper gets sodden after a day or two no matter how thick it is, you have to put a thick layer of wood shavings on top or just use a really thick layer of wood shavings without newspaper underneath. I assume you have the metal inlay on the floor of your hutch?:)p
 
Half of the hutch is wood, but we've put a plastic tray on that part, and the other half is metal. Not too bothered about changing the paper regularly, I take out any wet shavings every day anyway when I do the rabbits (they need freshening everyday!) just wondering if something different would be better for them health wise.
 
Fleece would be a lot better health wise. It is nice and cosy. Shavings cause animals to sneeze and it is not healthy for them to breath them in.
 
I used to use fleece and Vet Bed, but have found a lot of my piggies where getting UTI's in fact one has chronic bladder problems now. People advise washing at 30 degree's now it's more environmental but what you have to understand a lot of bacteria can with stand 30 degree wash and to really have a sterile wash you would have to wash at 90 which our electric bill, washing machine, fleeces and Vet Bed may not be up to this challenge.

I have since moved on to just Newspaper but they are cleaned everyday so in terms of getting soggy it isn't really a problem. I think this is possibly more hygienic than most bedding's. They do however still get fleece beds which I sterilize in Trigene and then wash at 60 in order to kill any bacteria that maybe lurking.

I think it's trial and error but it has been previous experience which has lead me to this conclusion, however I do not know if my thinking is correct or not but it stands to reason not all bacteria is killed in a 30 degree wash.
 
Yeah I wouldn't want to wash at 30. Hubby isn't keen on fleece so wouldn't be able to talk him into that in any case, but will be getting them a little fleeced bed in time. Think Ill give newspaper a try for them, it'll be better than the wood shavings and I'll put plenty of hay on top to make it cosier.
 
As Flintstones said it's pretty much a matter of trial and error. As long as your happy to change the newspaper/ hay daily then I can't see why it wouldn't work. I have hay and newspaper in my litter trays and they work quite well but I don't think I personally could do that for a whole cage. Dust extracted wood shavings generally aren't too bad for outside pigs so they aren't necessarily a bad option if they are working alright for you.
 
i use fleece and i handwash it as my mum nearly freaked when i asked could i wash them in the mashine :)) i use a bit of disinfectant but rinse it really well i hope it keeps things clean i dont want my piggies getting sick
 
Even 90 degrees doesnt kill that much! Boiling doesnt even kill of much! I a nerdy scientist and got to play loads with bacteria!

Have you thought of using newspaper with megazorb on top, thats what I use and even after 3 days its still smelling totally fresh ... fleece stank after a day so I dont use that anymore!
 
He he I'm at my mums for christmas and I'm nto allowed to use the washine either. The dog towels get washed in it so why not piggy fleece ?:p
I do respect her wishes particularly as I wash at 80 degrees so that would be quite expensive in lecky I think.
I would never wash at 30.....I do for my own clothes but only clothes, my bed linen goes in at 50. I know its but for the environment but what about germs?
 
Even our clothes never get washed below 40. Our towels and sheets are always at 60, 90 if any of us have been ill. I tend to wash th piggies at 40, then occasionally at 90.
 
Washing at 90 will kill much bacteria. Rather do this than do a cool wash. Yes i agree, the bacterial spores and many bacteria are not killed. Pop some Trigene or other high level disinfectant in your wash if you are worried by this.

Back to the original question i do also find its trial and error. I'm currently using fleece with the herd and hay with the boys/saffy. I going to try some vet bed next year and maybe test out some megazorb, supposed to be god stuff. I dont personally like woodshavings much. Can cause respiratory probs aparently.

x.
 
I have megazorb but I just use it for the litter trays. I think I would probably go through about a bale a week which is so much more expensive than fleece. Plus fleece is easier to clean, you just take it out shake and brush. Although maybe megazorb would be good for a trial. I used to use bed excel but for the massive cages its just a little too expensive.
I may buy the stuff you add, would disinfectant work the same?
 
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