Ready to move away from wood shavings but what to use?

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piggie-power

piggie-power

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Hey everyone,

I want to get my boys away from wood shavings, as its messy, smelly and just unpleasent.

In the past i've used fleece (they still have fleece cosies, hammocks ect that are washed by hand) but found it a struggle during washing time as getting all the hay off it was a nightmare and it ended up clogging my washing machine!

Anyway - i was thinking of using towels as i'm sure i could get more hay off them due to the texture - but i have no idea how to fix it down in the hutches!

If anyone has any suggestions on bedding or any other ideas i'd be very happy to hear them.
 
There are a number of things you can use to bed your piggies down on. Its all about personal opinion. Heres my opinions, I'm sure others will come along and say I'm wrong lol. But is a start.

Fleece: This is fab on your piggies feet and really comfy and cosy. Its a bit high maintainance ive found. You need to make sure you clean poops up daily, and change every few days. Hay can easily get stuck on it and it can be a pain. But personally i like my herd on it.

Vetbed: I only have experience with this at work and its fab. Not sure about getting the hay out of it though. Its great for ebbing the wee away. But probably needs changing very often too.

Towels: I dont think alone would be the best idea as once saturated with wee it does not ebb away like the other two. I didnt have much success with it when i had some boars on it temporarly. It isnt any easier to get hay off in experience.

Hay: My lone boar is on this in his hutch. I find it works well for him. He can munch it all day and wee just soaks to the bottom. Doesnt need cleaning as much as the towels/fleece/vetbed.

Straw: (I'm going to get moaned at for saying it) but i dont have a problem putting piggies on it. I think its softer than hay and no more likely to cause hay poke injuries in experience and doesnt cause respiratory issues of sore feet like woodshavings can. You will need to give hay on top too so they can munch on this. Its similiar to hay in the way you dont need to clean as often and the wee soaks away to the bottom.

I dont know if ive been much help. Other members have written much better reviews on bedding options.

Little tip: I use a small brush to brush off all poo's and hay from the fleece, works well for me.

x
 
Have you tried using a wash bag or old pillow case to wash your fleece in? I found this stopped the hay getting out into the main wash :)

Heres my opinions:

Fleece: I'm actually a huge fan of fleece and mattress protector over vetbed its not as heavy as vetbed and so i can fit more into my wash bag. Very easy to brush down before going in the wash. Soft and easy to use. Does require washing every 2-3 days (2 pigs) oh and dries quickly. 8/10


Vetbed: I have used vetbed the longest. Its expensive to set up, but don't let this put you off in the long run it saves you so much money. It lasts longer than fleece I can go 8-9 days (poop picking every day and changing the newspaper underneath) with two boys. Very soft and comfy. However is quite thick and heavy espically when washing. 9/10

Towels: I sometimes use towels in areas of the hutch. They're a pain in the butt to be honest, lasted me a day before becoming soaked. Cheap to buy and okay as a temp. alternative. 3/10

Hay: Expensive! I used to keep my boys on hay and newspaper but it become too expensive. The hay needed changing daily as it would become wet, and dirty with use. I was going through two Pets at home large bales a month. It is soft though, edible and they can make a nest from it. I now just use a hay tray for my boys. 7/10

Woodshavings: Can cause respiration infections. Its not cheap either needs changing once a day as it becomes wet quickly. Not good for long haired piggies.

:)
 
Straw: (I'm going to get moaned at for saying it) but i dont have a problem putting piggies on it. I think its softer than hay and no more likely to cause hay poke injuries in experience and doesnt cause respiratory issues of sore feet like woodshavings can. You will need to give hay on top too so they can munch on this. Its similiar to hay in the way you dont need to clean as often and the wee soaks away to the bottom.


x[/QUOTE]

I agree. I mix the two together. mainly jsut so they they wont eat al there bedding! Never had a poke injury!
 
If you construct a hayloft you won't have a problem with hay on fleece, I just get a few strands on the fleece that's worked it's way down the ramp ( which has a speed bump at the top to stop all the hay and Megazorb rolling down ) and they're very easy to pick/brush off. Then I just shake the fleece off before it goes in the wash and I can honestly say there isn't a single bit of hay on it.
 
I find that newspaper, megazorb and then hay on top is brilliant for my five piggies but with my four rabbits as well I go through so much of it.

I now use newspaper, auboise and hay on top which works just as well but I find aboise just takes that bit longer to sweep up.

If you've only got a few piggies though megazorb is the best bet IMO!
 
Wow thanks everyone! To be honest i enjoyed having the fleece in the cages last time - it was only my washer that made me change back to shavings i honestly never thought of popping it in a pillow case DOH!

I tidy up the hutches every day so having to clean up piggie poo off the fleece daily is no different to what i do now.

All i have to work out now is how to get the fleece to lay in the hutch properly without moving round?

Any suggestions on that one? lol
 
piggie-power said:
Hey everyone,

I want to get my boys away from wood shavings, as its messy, smelly and just unpleasent.

In the past i've used fleece (they still have fleece cosies, hammocks ect that are washed by hand) but found it a struggle during washing time as getting all the hay off it was a nightmare and it ended up clogging my washing machine!

Anyway - i was thinking of using towels as i'm sure i could get more hay off them due to the texture - but i have no idea how to fix it down in the hutches!

If anyone has any suggestions on bedding or any other ideas i'd be very happy to hear them.
Click to expand...

To prevent hay and bits clogging up washing machine...............get a cheap single duvet cover........put all piggy fleece bits inside...............use a hair scrunchie to tie the duvet cover closed...............wash.

When washing machine finished you can shake all the bits onto floor or in garden and sweep up..............no more clogging up machine :)):)):))
 
I'm using fleece and tea towels combined.

I put fleece down and where food is I place tea towels down and change the tea towels daily (i can then boil them in washing machine)

The bed section is fleece and a fleece cosy

The hay section is where they toilet the most so I have newspaper, woodshavings then hay - its easy to fold up and remove then replace

if hay or woodshavings get into fleece - I have a clothes brush to brush the bits off - works fine for now

I sweep up poops daily too as they can get trodden on and get caught in feet rolleyes

I am going to try vetbed when I can afford it.

:))
 
Hi

I think you have to find something that is best for you but here is what I use :)

I use a layer of newspaper and then a layer of eco pet bed which is little squares of cardboard. I really like this and its only £6.00 for a huge bale in my local pet store.

Its absorbant, doesn't smell and is easy to clean up (My guinea pigs are outside so I like something that doesn't blow across the whole garden when cleaning them out)

I have tried megazorb which I hated, so messy and dusty - I gave it away in the end as it was just horrible!

I know a lot of people get on fine with fleece etc but I really couldn't be doing with the washing etc. I have two fleece beds for my piggies and even with regular washing they get really stinky :(

As for cleaning out I just place the used eco pet bed in my recycling bin/compost bin and it gets taken away by the bin men once a week - EASY!
 
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