Struggling at the moment :-(

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catherine

catherine

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I haven't been around for a while - had some family problems and started a new job so not had much time to come on :-(

I'm really asking for advice. I've always had my four piggies inside in a large c and c cage, lined with a fleece liner and with a 'toilet/eating' tray where they used to do a lot of their toilet. I used to change it every 3-4 days, and the toilet daily.

Over the summer the pigs were move outside to live temporarily at my parents house whilst I moved house. Since we got settled and the pigs have moved into my study it has been a complete nightmare. No longer than a couple of hours after they are changed you can notice a definite slight smell, the morning after it is worse and 2 days after change it really smells, if my office door is open you can smell it from the hallway downstairs. I really don't understand what I can possibly do to help this, aside cleaning them out daily which I just don't have time to :-(

I have been considering moving them outside, we have a large (20ft by 15ft) powered shed with natural light where the bunnies have their setup, I could buy a 6 or 7ft hutch and they could live in there....but I'd feel so mean moving them as it might be cold and they won't get as much attention.

Does anyone else have a problem with smell? How do you avoid it? I have 4 pigs in a cage measuring 6ft by 3.5ft, so space isn't an issue. It's lined with a proper liner (2 layers fleece, wadding, cotton mattress protector) then newspaper underneath.

Pleas help :-( I really don't want to move them out but I'm running out of options right now...:/
 
My set up is from top to bottom: fleece, towel, fleece, towel. I scoop the poop and old hay every night and do a full cleaning once a week and don't have any smell. The bottom fleece and towel become the top layer and a fresh set is put on the bottom each week, while the used set is washed. It works well for me and the boys seem happy with it.
 
I've had some issues with fleece becoming too smelly too quickly. I now use puppy training pads under the fleece as they lock in the wee and the smell much more effectively. I also add a small amount of virkon powder (disinfectant) to the final rinse when washing the bedding. It seems to deal with the lingering smell that can build up with using fleece for a while.

I am also trialling using the puppy pads with hay as a bedding layer, so far so good! (but it's only week one of the trial so too soon to know it's going to be a good move).

A drip tray under the water bottle that is big enough for the pigs to sit in helps too as so many like to pee while they drink.

Suzy x
 
I don't like fleece-I tried it and wouldn't use it again.

My girls have the best of both worlds-their c&c is half fleece, half newspaper and I have no problems with smell. I don't think fleece is a natural environment for guinea pigs because they love to forage amongst their hay and I love to watch them do it:)
They have newspaper under their fleece and their snuggle sacks are on the fleece-I find that thy don't wee on it either because they use the hay end for that, i can simply roll up the newspaper end and change it as often as I want to.

My only problem is that I have to keep begging for newspapers from familyrolleyes
 
I notice the boys when they are in day 3 of 4 but generally the herd (4 piggies) smell more at day 7. But then I use a whole newspaper opened up next to another whole paper etc till I cover the area - 8 papers in the boys 5 x 2 c&c, more for the girls (think its 10 at the bottom, 2 up the top), with towels and then fleece. However I do put litter trays under the hay racks and around water bottles which are changed every 2 days where they would spend a lot of time eating and drinking which has helped reduce the smell considerably.

Either that or I just dont notice the smell :))
 
Today I'm going to replace their tray with a Underbed storage box, cutting two holes in the front and ventilation in the top. I think if they had an enclosed box of hay to burrow and forage and eat they will probably spend quite a lot of time in there, hence keeping their fleece cleaner.

Fingers crossed it will work!
 
Sounds like a good plan. My boys are on fleece but have hay trays and the trays have megazorb in the bottom - this has helped with the smell but being boys they still find other ways to be smellyrolleyes. Hope the new set up improves the situation
 
I don't understand how you can have fleece towel fleece towel & the bottom 2 layers remain dry enough to become the top.

I use 2 fleeces & 2 towels & the towels are always soaked, I clean my 2 boys every 3 days!

Maybe mine wee more than everyone else's! Haha
 
PAMELAKT said:
I don't understand how you can have fleece towel fleece towel & the bottom 2 layers remain dry enough to become the top.

I use 2 fleeces & 2 towels & the towels are always soaked, I clean my 2 boys every 3 days!

Maybe mine wee more than everyone else's! Haha
Click to expand...

The towels I use are pretty thick, maybe that's why. Each week the bottom two are perfectly dry so whatever it is it's working for me. Maybe my boys just don't wee that much.
 
I tried towels and couldn't believe how quickly they were conpletely soaked through - definitely within 2-3 days. But, I now use cotton mattress toppers under the fleece (2 layers topper and 1 layer fleece) and they're fantastic - only need changing once a week and, even then, feel pretty dry, so are definitely less smelly. They're also easier to wash and dry. Having said that, I do think that piggies do always have a slight aroma (not unpleasant, but noticeable). Maybe I've just got a sensitive nose, but I can definitely smell them on me/in the room after I've bought them in for a cuddle.
 
I've just realised that you're already using mattress toppers, so scrap that thought ;)
My only other thing I have noticed is that newspaper underneath seems to smell slightly more. I used to notice it when I put newspaper under shavings - to me, it's as if the newspaper soaks up every big of moisture and smell and just sort of holds it there. I fill my litter trays with newspaper and hay and change them every day - these definitely still smell even though they're being changed every day. Maybe you're just noticing a smell that was always there, because you've had a slight break from it?
 
I used fleec for a few months and scraped it- because of the constant upkeep and the smell.
I changed to megazorb, it is the most smell and absorbant bedding but i feel it dried the skin. I have no gone back to a bedding i used for years called bed excel- its recycled carboard. It is better than flEec smell wise but not as good as megazorb. But zero dust. Its not as comfy but i have a section i put in tea bag paper that they can snuggle on and it takes two minutes to change. The good thing about bed excel is its soaking ability the top layer stays dry and the damp bits are underneath. Note this is square carboard not finacard, i tried that stuff, very smelly and wets easily.
Fleece is yeah the comfiest but it limits natural behaviur and in my opinion-with my pee-ing lot stinks. I only use it as hospital cage bedding x
 
Where do you get bed excel from please. I like to try different products?
 
I've tried a lot bedding-wise, and I have to agree with Suzy (who told me to try it!) - try scrapping the newspaper, and use puppy pads as a base layer. Newspaper seems to make it smell....a lot... in my household. Not had any problem with puppy pads - I have 2 pigs in a ferplast 140 at the moment, I bed them on puppy pads with hay on top, and can easily get 5, even 7 days out of it.
 
I am using the pampers bed mats (for children's night time training!) under a fleece blanket. The bed mat seems to draw all the urine through as the fleece seems to stay really dry and not smell at all. The bed mat can stay down 2 or 3 weeks at least, it totally absorbs everything into it but I only have 2 pigs in a 6 x2 ft cage - they do seem to focus their wees in a few main areas though!

I don't know how pricey the bed mats are (maybe quite dear!) We had a load left over from my son's night time training and that's how I came to try them - maybe when I need some more, it might not be such a good option price wise - they do a great job though. I find the fleece stays really dry as the urine goes straight through it
 
Just wondering - for those of you that use hay on top of newspaper or puppy pads.

Do you change the hay every day or just put a fresh layer on top daily then clean it all out 1 -2 times a week?
 
Because mine are in a shed, I put down newspaper, then I have several litter trays (7 trays between 4 of them) which I line with newspaper and hay. I then just change the litter trays every day and the newspaper on the floor about twice a week (although, that never really gets wet or dirty). In their hutch, I use fleece and another litter tray. The whole system works really well. I do definitely think that the newspaper encourages smell, but, because mine are outside, it doesn't matter.
 
I'm very sad to say that after trialling a couple of methods with the piggies, I'm going to have to move them outside :(

I can't have a substrate all over the floor really as the sides are very low, and also the council are so very strict on waste disposal here (we have such a tiny bin) so I have to be careful the amount of waste I produce as we can't dispose of it easily. I tried a couple of different methods with the fleece and each one really didn't work very well.....

Anyway, it's not all bad! I have a 6ft double hutch that is inside our workshop/garage (windows + clear roof so lots of natural light) which I am going to make-over and insulate fully next weekend. I've ordered two Snuggle-OO Ultras with extra padding, warm fleece and a snugglesafe pocket and a ramp tunnel (nearly 3ft long!) for them to go on the ramp safely.

Also planning to make a 'bannister' so that there isn't an open gap which goes downstairs, and in the bed part (which is half of the top level) I'm going to have it filled with hay, and then a ramp going up to a second level with the two Snuggle thingies on.

Downstairs will be their fleece 'play area' where tunnels and cosies will be, and I'm getting some made to measure perspex to try and keep a bit of heat in, and a couple of big blankets to go over the whole hutch at night to keep heat in.

I actually think they may be happier outside, I have a couple of rescues that are still very skittish and when I walk into the room/turn the light on they desperately run and hide. Their C&C is on the floor which I doubt helps. I'm looking forward to being able to interact with them on a higher level.

Anyway - will keep you updated on the hutch renovation and I will be selling my C&C soon and all liners that fit for anyone around Hampshire that's interested
 
Pepperdog said:
I notice the boys when they are in day 3 of 4 but generally the herd (4 piggies) smell more at day 7. But then I use a whole newspaper opened up next to another whole paper etc till I cover the area - 8 papers in the boys 5 x 2 c&c, more for the girls (think its 10 at the bottom, 2 up the top), with towels and then fleece. However I do put litter trays under the hay racks and around water bottles which are changed every 2 days where they would spend a lot of time eating and drinking which has helped reduce the smell considerably.

Either that or I just dont notice the smell :))
Click to expand...

I do this too! My piggies tend to pee in the litter trays (the newspaper under the fleece is always bone dry) so it's just a daily poop scoop, every few days litter tray clean and there is no smell at all :)
 
catherine said:
I'm very sad to say that after trialling a couple of methods with the piggies, I'm going to have to move them outside :(

I can't have a substrate all over the floor really as the sides are very low, and also the council are so very strict on waste disposal here (we have such a tiny bin) so I have to be careful the amount of waste I produce as we can't dispose of it easily. I tried a couple of different methods with the fleece and each one really didn't work very well.....

Anyway, it's not all bad! I have a 6ft double hutch that is inside our workshop/garage (windows + clear roof so lots of natural light) which I am going to make-over and insulate fully next weekend. I've ordered two Snuggle-OO Ultras with extra padding, warm fleece and a snugglesafe pocket and a ramp tunnel (nearly 3ft long!) for them to go on the ramp safely.

Also planning to make a 'bannister' so that there isn't an open gap which goes downstairs, and in the bed part (which is half of the top level) I'm going to have it filled with hay, and then a ramp going up to a second level with the two Snuggle thingies on.

Downstairs will be their fleece 'play area' where tunnels and cosies will be, and I'm getting some made to measure perspex to try and keep a bit of heat in, and a couple of big blankets to go over the whole hutch at night to keep heat in.

I actually think they may be happier outside, I have a couple of rescues that are still very skittish and when I walk into the room/turn the light on they desperately run and hide. Their C&C is on the floor which I doubt helps. I'm looking forward to being able to interact with them on a higher level.

Anyway - will keep you updated on the hutch renovation and I will be selling my C&C soon and all liners that fit for anyone around Hampshire that's interested
Click to expand...

I'm sure they'll love their new home out there, sounds like it will be a little palace for them :)
 
The shed idea sounds lovely - lots of members have piggy sheds as you'll see on here so don't feel bad :)
Sure they will still get lots of attention and think as long as they are snug at night, they'll be fine.
Snugglepads you pop into the microwave are a great heat source for the colder nights so maybe think about getting a couple if you haven't already.

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/cat-accessor...-626_325/snugglesafe-heat-pad-and-cover-p-250
 
Guinea pig slave said:
The shed idea sounds lovely - lots of members have piggy sheds as you'll see on here so don't feel bad :)
Sure they will still get lots of attention and think as long as they are snug at night, they'll be fine.
Snugglepads you pop into the microwave are a great heat source for the colder nights so maybe think about getting a couple if you haven't already.

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/cat-accessor...-626_325/snugglesafe-heat-pad-and-cover-p-250
Click to expand...

Yes - got them for bunnies and am planning on ordering 3 more for piggies! Two for their new Snuggle-OO Ultras with snugglesafe pocket and one for their big hay box in the bedroom. They will be toasty :))
 
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