Layering Fleece and Towels
- Sef
- I dissent.
I have been using fleece and towels on-and-off for many years, and the cages have always stayed nice and dry---until this past year or so, when we adopted Aaron and Barnaby. Their cage is almost constantly damp, no matter how many layers of towels I use under the fleece. Granted, it's a smaller cage (Midwest Habitat, which is all that I have room for here) but I'm not having that issue with either of the other two identical cages.
Has anyone here ever used alternating layers of fleece-towel-fleece-towel? I'm wondering if that might be a better solution, so that the urine is wicking down deeper vs. creating soggy towels beneath the top layer of fleece. I might experiment next week with it, just to see, but was curious to know if anyone else has tried it and what their experience was.
Has anyone here ever used alternating layers of fleece-towel-fleece-towel? I'm wondering if that might be a better solution, so that the urine is wicking down deeper vs. creating soggy towels beneath the top layer of fleece. I might experiment next week with it, just to see, but was curious to know if anyone else has tried it and what their experience was.
I use horse bedding pellets. They do a good job of keeping the fleece dry and there's much less to wash. My fleece blankets stay dry for about 3 days. I don't let them go that long normally, but every once in awhile I forget or something comes up and I have to let them go beyond the third day. The only thing with using pellets under the fleece is that you have to come up with a way to secure the fleece so that the guinea pigs don't get under it and come into contact with the pellets. You can scoop out the wet stuff and replace with dry. They are available at most farm supply stores. They go for $8-$10 for a bag and it lasts me for 3-4 months using them on 6 cages. You can also use heating pellets, but those don't have the odor neutralizer like the bedding pellets do.
- Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
Sorry you're having this problem! I can say that when I used cotton towels, they were pretty odorous when wet/damp. Hoping someone has a suggestion for a material that will help you (only thing that comes to mind is microfiber, which is very absorbent and maybe could be put underneath and swapped out when wet).
I know bpatters really loves the horse bedding pellets too but understand how they might not work for you.
I know bpatters really loves the horse bedding pellets too but understand how they might not work for you.
I use only fleece. I found towels just got too wet and then the fleece stayed wet. I put two layers of fleece on the floor in the pen, and then an extra layer of small pieces under their houses and in front of the hay feeder. I pick up the small pieces and put new ones down late in the afternoon. It seems to keep everything and everyone cleaner.
I hate the pelleted bedding. But I use OKOKAT litter for my rabbit. I LOVE that stuff. And it just gets thrown out in the woods because it is wood. It absorbs amazingly and keep the odor down better than anything I ever used for my rabbits. I have a grated litter box for him and cover the grate with hay. It might be too expensive for a GP pen, but FWIW, it is a super good product if anyone is interested. Absolutely NO dust at all.
I hate the pelleted bedding. But I use OKOKAT litter for my rabbit. I LOVE that stuff. And it just gets thrown out in the woods because it is wood. It absorbs amazingly and keep the odor down better than anything I ever used for my rabbits. I have a grated litter box for him and cover the grate with hay. It might be too expensive for a GP pen, but FWIW, it is a super good product if anyone is interested. Absolutely NO dust at all.
- Waddles
- Party Poop-er
How about UHaul? I have UHaul between 2 layers of fleece or you could simply put the fleece over the UHaul.
https://www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplies/Pa ... d/?id=2670
Some people like Guineadad's liners, pricey but an investment.
https://guineadad.com/products/guineada ... 0400960600
https://www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplies/Pa ... d/?id=2670
Some people like Guineadad's liners, pricey but an investment.
https://guineadad.com/products/guineada ... 0400960600
- ItsaZoo
- Supporter in 2023
Another option might be the chenille bath mats they sell at Target. They are inexpensive and absorbent but the chenille keeps the surface dry. I use the small chenille mitts from the Dollar Tree for little pads. I sew up the wrist part. Gidget likes to burrow and I don’t need to find her in a panic with a mitt on her head.
- Sef
- I dissent.
"I don’t need to find her in a panic with a mitt on her head."
Indeed not! :o
One thing I am noticing, is that a lot of the piggy towels are starting to look threadbare. It's not too noticeable unless I hold them up to the light, but they are looking pretty thin in places. That could be why I'm noticing more wetness, since the fleece has less of an absorbent surface to wick down into. Might look into getting a few more of the thicker ones from Big Lots to swap the worst ones out with, and see if that helps.
Indeed not! :o
One thing I am noticing, is that a lot of the piggy towels are starting to look threadbare. It's not too noticeable unless I hold them up to the light, but they are looking pretty thin in places. That could be why I'm noticing more wetness, since the fleece has less of an absorbent surface to wick down into. Might look into getting a few more of the thicker ones from Big Lots to swap the worst ones out with, and see if that helps.