Bedding experiment

Tracis
Let Sleeping Pigs Lie

Post   » Fri Jan 25, 2008 2:07 am


"I would worry that they would chew the puppy pads."

This happened in my girls' cage. I was happily using the disposable incontinence pads for many months, when, one day, Sakura decided they looked tasty and started munching.

Fortunately, she only nibbled small pieces from the border and no damage was done.

I haven't used the disposables since. A paper-based version does sound intriguing!

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Sef
I dissent.

Post   » Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:27 pm


Here is the one I'm thinking of. It's by Simple Solutions. There is another brand out there, too, but I'm still hunting for it. I think it is OUT! brand.

Well...still so far so good on the cardboard liners. No odor, no wetness. The test will be how much of a pain they are when cleaning time rolls around. And also how long I can go between cleanings (with the double towels and crib pad, I could go a week).

The only problem I've run into so far, is that it is harder to use a rubber brush to sweep up poos and hay because the fleece tends to bunch up. I used some double-sided tape to help secure it; binder clips would probably work, but I would worry about them getting their feet caught on it (I'm a chronic worrier).

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Piggiecavyguinea

Post   » Sun Jan 27, 2008 7:50 pm


Quick fleece question: Would they chew on fleece and eat the fibers?

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rshevin

Post   » Sun Jan 27, 2008 7:55 pm


Some do, most don't. My pigs very rarely chew on any of their fleece but recently decided a particular batch of new baby blankets was tasty.

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Piggiecavyguinea

Post   » Sun Jan 27, 2008 7:58 pm


This guinea pig breeder [don't kill me just because she's a breeder] said fleece was bad bedding because they'd chew on the fibers and they weren't good for them. She reccomended pine bedding. Quote: "Your guinea pigs will thank you for it."

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rshevin

Post   » Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:02 pm


Since when to breeders have best interest at heart? They have only the interest of their pocketbooks. Pine is the cheapest thing out there usually.

Tracis
Let Sleeping Pigs Lie

Post   » Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:38 pm


"said fleece was bad bedding because they'd chew on the fibers and they weren't good for them."

It is true that a guinea pig should not be allowed to chew on polyester fleece. If you have a guinea pig that likes to chew blankets or towels, fleece may not be the best bedding option.

There are also a few members here that do not use Carefresh for the same reason; their guinea pigs enjoy eating it.

As I mentioned before, I do not use the disposable pads in my cage, since one of my girls now thinks that plastic is dinner.

If you have anything in your cage that your pet thinks is tasty and is in danger of being ingested, you should remove it. Always err on the side of caution. This is common sense.

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Sef
I dissent.

Post   » Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:31 am


None of mine have ever really chewed the fleece. Maybe briefly, just in the beginning, but not since then.

Well, moment of truth. Tonight I will be changing out Toby & Otis' cage (the first one "fitted" with the cardboard liners), and will see how well the cardboard held up.

I can say that the fleece has been dry all week with no odor. I also like that I used double-sided tape to secure the fleece to the cardboard, and it has stayed relatively nice and neat for a change.

quiltluvr

Post   » Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:36 am


Mine would pay no attention to chewing the fleece but the but would eat the disposable pads if they could!

I had one pig that loved to burrow under towels and fleece but others don't try it. I guess it depends on your pig.

Mine love the fleece though and really stretch out and relax on it. It's really cute.

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Lovemypig

Post   » Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:36 am


Please post your findings as soon as you can, sef. I would love to know if the cardboard layer worked well.

I have given up on the fleece. I would put a piece of it on top of the carefresh in the sleeping section of their cage. Quilt still doesn't like it and goes to sleep in the hay. Shaking it out takes so much time as the carefresh and aspen get stuck to it.

So, bowing to Quilt's odd preference (has never seemed to like fleece) and in the interest of time, I'm sticking to Carefresh in the sleeping area and aspen in the rest of the cage. I just periodically pick out and refresh the carefresh throughout the day. The aspen gets messy around the cage, but it's too expensive to use Carefresh throughout.

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Sef
I dissent.

Post   » Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:57 pm


Well, I pulled up Toby's & Otis' cage, and found that the cardboard underneath was actually in good shape. I had used two layers, and it was intact and most of the urine had dried--leaving only a little white residue. There were really only a couple of wet spots (where someone had recently peed), and they didn't make the fleece damp as far as I could tell.

Dumb question, but can I recycle the dirty cardboard or will it need to be trashed? I assume it should go in the garbage.

The only real negative (so far) is that it takes quite a while to cut down new cardboard to fit. There is probably a better way to do it, but I cut several big pieces and overlapped them where necessary.

I'm fairly satisifed that this will work. Just need to weigh if the hassle of bringing cardboard home and cutting it is worth not having to take fleece and towels outside to shake, and then laundering. It was nice just tossing a single piece of fleece in the pigs' laundry bag this time.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:34 pm


Give it a try. You might find it easier than you expected. I suspect the winter is drier and you will have less moisture held. You'll also get a better eye for good cardboard sizes.

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