Thinking of switching to fleece.

[Gojira]

I've recently rescued 2 guineas and I've put them in my spare cage. My other guineas have just enough space for two, so I don't want to over crowd them.

I've used woodchips since forever and I don't really know anything else. I had a good read of the fleece threads but I'm wondering what I'll be in for in terms of how often and what not. How often will I be washing the fleece and will two be enough? What materials in certain fleeces should be avoided etc. I have a Patagonia fleece blanket that I never use and have no problem using it, but I'd prefer to make sure it's totally safe first. I guess I'm mainly worried they are going to chew the corners and eat the fabric.

If it goes well I'll switch both cages to fleece. I can imagine my older guineas being a bit grumpy with such a big change after all this time?

 

[piggyfan]

I use fleece. The fleece has to be 100% polyester. You have to wash and dry it three times using washing powder only, no fabric softner. I place a layer of towels and then two layers of fleece down. Three times a day I pick up the poops and every three days I wash everything in the washing machine. I really think fleece is great. Piggies seem to find it so cosy. They may chew it a bit but once they are used to it I am sure they will stop. My Amelia Jane chews it if I give her fruit to eat!

 

[RattyGirl11]

I've recently converted to fleece after seeing a friend's set up and have not looked back |)

The piggies look far more comfortable and it makes the cage far easier to keep clean. I used an old fleece throw from Ikea that has seen better days, and some ancient towels.

I use a thick layer of newspaper covered with a layer of towel topped with fleece, and tuck it under. I clean the poo out 2-3 times daily and wash it all every 3 days or so, brushing the fleece out first and washing it in a bag to protect the washing machine.

Hope it goes well for you!

 

[Gojira]

Thanks for the tips. My local pet shop had a huge roll of vetbed just arrived, so I took some of that. €30 a meter seems ok to me.

Washing it 3 times each time means I'll need a substitute. If I have a polyester fleece, I can use that right? It's patagonia, so technically, it's a good make, but if there is any cotton I should avoid using it? Is 3 times washing the min? Does anyone else just wash it once and put it back when it's fully dry?

Thanks.

 

[piggyfan]

You cannot get away with washing it just once as it will not be water proof.

 

[Connie]

You only need to wash it 3 times before the first time you use it

After that, you just wash it once and pop it back.

I use fleece, it definatly needs to be 100% polyester because what happens is the fleece wicks away the pee from the top (meaning piggies are always walking on dry fleece)

I have a slightly different set up involving fleece, i have a fleece "cage liner" this consists of a 100% polyester fleece, then a cotton topped matress protector, Then i place dry nights bed pads (for children who wet the bed - another alternative is puppy training pads) underneath the cage liner. This lasts my two boys 5 days easily, and i love it

HTH

 

[Bekki]

Fabric conditioners in the manufacturing process leave a water resistant coating on fabrics you want remove this so the liquid goes straight through the fleece rather than sitting on top for a while. I washed my fleeces once on a 60 min wash and they were no better at wicking liquid than one that's been washed 10 + times.

I wash using cheopo non bio

 

[Gojira]

Fabric conditioners in the manufacturing process leave a water resistant coating on fabrics you want remove this so the liquid goes straight through the fleece rather than sitting on top for a while. I washed my fleeces once on a 60 min wash and they were no better at wicking liquid than one that's been washed 10 + times.

I wash using cheopo non bio

Ok, so just basic non bio powder, no silly conditioners or 2 in 1 powder. Gotcha!

I hope they like it. Is €30 per metre good? If it is I'll get more as I'll need more than one sheet.

Edit: It's VetBed: Original.

 

[Bekki]

Ok, so just basic non bio powder, no silly conditioners or 2 in 1 powder. Gotcha!

I hope they like it. Is €30 per metre good? If it is I'll get more as I'll need more than one sheet.

Personally I use liquid but I see no reason not to use a powder instead. Just a basic one will do , no fabric conditioner no 2 in1 etc etc as you said :-) I use non bio because the bio ones give me a rash so the same could happen to my piggies so id rather be safe than sorry there.

I dont know the going rates for vetbed I use polyester fleeces from my local bargains store.

 

[Gojira]

I just checked my Patagonia blue fleece. It's 100% polyester. I hope the pigs feel fancy when they are pooping on it. ^_^

That should sort me out for at least one cage. I can set up a rotation with the vetbed and the fleece. Still haven't figured out how I'm going to get the vetbed into the washing machine though!