Advice On Cleaning Regime.

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Nursemarston

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Hi, all
I am new to caring for guinea pigs and I am getting a bit confused with the information I am reading on the internet.
I have two young piggies living in a large hutch, I have read that you should spot clean daily, but my piggies currently poop and pee all over so I end up doing a full clean daily. I am thinking this is a bit too often, as I am cleaning away their sent.
I currently line the hutch with news paper then wood shavings as I am cleaning so often I am using loads. Could some one suggest a regime that works for them?
I have found the pet shop I got them from unable to answer my questions ?
 
I think a daily full hutch clean is a lot of work for you and must produce a lot of waste too. If you use bedding, you 'll not clean up all the poos in one spot clean. What you need to be be aiming for is removing all wet patches and soiled hay.
 
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I agree as above.
Really spot cleaning is for those who use bedding such as fleece or vet bed because the poo's don't go anywhere ile. they stay on top of the bedding, whereas wood shavings they will tend to drop to the bottom. Even with my wood substrate I will do a check and remove portions of hay they haven't eaten but used as a toilet, normally it's in the corners of their environment.

You don't want to knacker yourself out and think it's all hard work, there has to be some fun times too. You'll spend plenty of hours going forward sweeping out, disinfecting, bowls and bottles etc., no need to give yourself more work.
 
Thank you for your help, I have another question in fact I have loads but will do one at a time.
The shop I got my piggies from said to do daily checks however most of the stuff I have read says to just sit, talk and feed them, so they don't associate opening the cage door with me picking them up. So I have been checking them every couple days.
I should explain that these were adopted piggies, I don't know why they were brought back to the shop but they are very nervous.
So I am sat chatting to them a lot and picking them up every other day to do checks is this OK?
 
I don't think it's necessary to do check every day, yes it's important. I personally do mine once a week on clean out day with any xeno treatment and nail clipping, however as you get to know your piggy personalities you can quickly understand their characteristics and understand if something is wrong.

It will take time to build their confidence and them with you. I think changing some of the routine is good, give them different experiences from cuddle time in small sessions and building up and giving them their favourite veggies during cuddle time too will help. It's only by observing you find out what they like and dislike. Some piggies just aren't into being stroked, whilst some are good with chin tickles.
 
when I had my hutch I found spotchecking every day for around 15 mins suited me and my pigs. I would simply take a bucket and clean dirty corners around hay baskets and move toys back to there original position. Then do a full clean out once a week. Wasting bedding is not a good idea and cleaning out there smell will make the piggies increasingly stressed. You seem to know what your doing though its hard to recognise whether your doing your pigs harm or good sometimes. but remember every pig is different some poop more than others. But there are several really good videos on youtube teaching you how to spot check or litter train your piggies x hope this helped
 
Thank you for your advice, I am thinking about litter training them as they are starting to use two areas for their toilet which I think will make it easier.
It does mean it's easy for me to clean these areas in between full cleans.
 
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