Think I might switch bedding.

[jmacka93]

I work 12-hour shift and the days I'm in varies from week to week, so I'm having to fit changing the pigs out in between. With them being on fleece, I feel really bad if I don't get a chance to spot clean one day. Then I have to wash the fleece and towels whereas I could just throw the bedding away.
The only problem is, I've got a c&c 2x5 and its lined with Linoleum. I can't seem to find correx anywhere that is big enough and not stupid expensive, and the lino that I'm using has ripped a bit in 3 of the corners, but with me using towels, puppy pads and newspaper it doesn't seem to be a problem.
I would be willing to buy a cage but I like the c&c and I don't think there will be a 'shop bought' cage big enough for the three of them.
Also what is a cheap(ish) bedding that I can buy in bulk and use?
Any suggestions?

 

[Hermes]

You can get 150cm cages or multi-level cages that are big enough for 3 but a 150 would still be a downsize from the C&C and unless you can find a second hand one you're looking at about £130. I know it's possible to get sheets of correx for making a 2x5 base but I don't know where because I haven't used it. You can always use 2 sheets of correx if needs be though and just duct tape them together on the join, hopefully someone will come along soon with a place to buy it from!

Do you use litter trays/hay trays currently? They can be useful for keeping the fleece cleaner because the pigs tend to do their business in the tray as they eat. A hand vacuum can also be useful for speeding up spot cleaning the fleece. Of course you do still have to wash the fleece but with other beddings you might spend a lot of time hoovering your house because they do get everywhere!

As for other beddings I use finacard for my rats and in the pigs litter trays which is a shredded cardboard bedding, you can buy large bales of it delivered to your door for £13.99 but if you have a local equestrian supplier (and a car!) you could probably get bales of similar stuff (ecobed, green mile) for half the price. There are also things like megazorb (more expensive, supposedly dusty and messy), aubiose, hemcore (drying for the feet), paper pellets (good for litter trays), Carefresh (expensive and not that good)... the list goes on. I've not included (pine) woodshavings because for rats they are a respiratory tract irritant due to the phenols so I'm dubious about using them for the pigs either.

 

[Bekki]

Protection.co.uk sell proplex and its £12 a sheet + £10 postage and a 8ft x 4ft sheet is big enough for a 5x2 easily. I folded a sheet up to make a 6ft x 2ft tray with 1ft walls (about the same size as a 5.5x2 c&c) no problem!

Finacard works out really cheap especially compared to fleece when you take into account electricity and washing liquid, then tumble drying all winter!

 

[Humfred]

That's exactly why I switched from fleece. It's quite time consuming isn't it? If you can't find sheets big enough you can always attach them. I've done this with mine and it doesn't even show. Try b&q in the roofing section. I got my coro from there. It's 4mm called corotherm (roofing material) They also do massive sheets of 6mm which is big enough for a 2x5 by the looks of it. Farm and pet place sell different beddings cheap in bulk. Megasorb, medibed, easibed and a good quality woodshavings. Up to you to see what you prefer. Hope this helps

 

[VandaK]

I cant offer any advice on the corex as I have a 150 cage for my boys. Bedding wise I recommend hay on top of puppy training pads. My boys love this, its quick and easy to clean and not too expensive x

 

[Pepperdog]

I love my fleece for both groups and having litter trays really does make a difference I find to the amount of poops anywhere else but if its not working for you then its not working.

Correx, I brought a pack of 5 4ftx3ft sheets, two together fitted nicely in a 5x2 c&c, used the 4ft length as the width, lovely big sides on it and a large over lap which I slide one side over as I clean them out completely so I can reach in the far corner, but if you wanted to tape it down then it would work just as well, the herds one isnt (they have two in their base) but I dont need to slide theirs as I can just about reach, the option is still there for me though.

this is 8ftx4ft http://www.theplasticpeople.co.uk/correx-sheet-white-4mm-x-2440mm-x-1220mm-p-130.html which should fit as a single

this is 4ftx4ft and can buy singles you would need two http://www.theonestopplasticsshop.co.uk/polypropylene-correx-c-68_696.html

and this is the 5 packs I brought, 4ftx3ft sheets http://www.mdpsupplies.co.uk/colour...name=Coloured Corrugated Plastic&parentcat=75

If that is of any help to you