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Boar Worries

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Melly Moon

Melly Moon

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Hi, I have four gorgeous boars (and they are gorgeous), and have been using news paper and hay to bed them on. Thing is - my two long haired guys keep getting hay caught in their willys and bottoms - like every day. Today I have not used hay in their beds as I am concerned in case they get a sore or an infection (although they still have a great pile of hay to chomp). They seemed to love nesting into the hay in their beds but I don't want them to suffer any adverse affects. Anyone have similar experiences and advice?
 
Boys are notorious for getting bits stuck in their bits! Most common things are hay, grass, fibres from towels/fleece, bits of loo roll. Housing your lads on fleece may help a bit, but the hay will still find it's way up there, just probably not as much/often. It doesn't often cause problems, but worthwhile keeping an eye on their bits to make sure. Welcome to the world of boys! x
 
Welcome to the forum Melly Moon. :)

Have you tried a fabric bedding instead of a traditional one? Fleece and Vetbed may be suited to your boys if you are able to switch to either one, it will usually reduce the chances of bedding getting tangled around their "delicates",although as long as they've got hay - which they obviously do have to have - then there's always a small chance.

Jane - I've heard the hay/grass and bedding but not bits of loo roll!
 
i know your trouble! originally i had my 3 boars on hay and the amount of things that got stuck weren't good,i currently have 13 boys all on fleece and barely a problem,i recommend trying it,i use a layer of newspaper,towel and then fleece on top;)
 
Hi Melly Moon :)
I have two boars too, one who is partly long haired and I used to have problems with pieces of hay getting stuck in his 'skirt' and my short haired boar gets all sorts stuck in his bottom because he is a bum dragger - scenting all over the place!
So now I keep my longish haired boy trimmed around his back end so that the fur reaches the floor but doesn't drag so hopefully won't tangle. This also helps to keep him cleaner in that area :)
I also house them on newspaper, towels and fleece, and they have a hay loft up a ramp which is just newspaper and hay. This cuts down on the amount of time they spend lounging in the hay and so lessens the liklihood of hay being lodged in delicate places!
I agree that switching to fleece or vetbed could work for you and your boys, as long as they have access to tasty hay they'll be happy :)
xx
 
I can only agree - since I have switched to fleece I have had a lot less stuff to dig out of my neutered boy's bits! Fleece also has the advantage that it is always soft and dry, as it wicks away the pee to the layer beneath and it is a lot less messy to change! We usually still have hay bads, but the piggies have to make an effort to get there.

You can get cheap baby fleece blankets and towels in quite a few supermarkets. The trick is to wash the fleece at least twice before use and never use softener with it, as that seals the fleece and makes the piggies sit in the wet. It depends on the thickness of your underlay on how often you change with fleece. With my group of seven, I change every three days and pick up any poos and bigger messes once or twice daily.

If you are worried about the filter in your washing machine, wash the fleece in a pillow or duvet case and shake out afterwards.
 
Wow - thank you for all your replies! I am off out shortly to look around for some fleece! Many thanks again - it's good to know it's a common problem and my guys are not an exception! I really like the idea of using a duvet cover or pillow case to stop all the bits getting into the washing machine! xx
 
It's definitely a common problem, although it seems to be worse with some boars than others. My two love tunnelling in the hay, so would be very disappointed if I took it away from them. I just make sure I check their "bits" a couple times a day.
 
Have a look at this very recent thread - it's a good example of how to convert your cage.

You will still get hay mess near the hay tray or corners, but most you can pick up and shake off before you wash. Some will stick and will have to be picked off after the drying.

You can either fix the fleece with the top of your cage or fold it over and, if necessary, secure with velcro to keep the piggies from wiggling underneath (as some are very fond to do rolleyes)! It is advisable to have at least one full change or two.

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=42594&highlight=new+fleece
 
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