First Time Piggies...bedding And Location Questions!

[badger2503]

Hi, I've got two boar guinea pigs reserved to pick up next month while I get everything ready for them. They're a bonded pair and their birthday is on the 5th of April 2017. I'm so excited! One is a teddy and the other is a crested (I think?). I have a couple of questions related to the space I'm setting up for them.

First of all, what's the opinion on Hugro Hemp Bedding? I've ordered these for them. I asked the girl at the store about hemp bedding and she said it can be too dusty and she recommended Carefresh instead (which incidentally they sold) but I think it's a bit too expensive? The reviews and description of the hemp bedding says that it's generally dust free and very good. Does anyone have any experience with this bedding, and if so, is it any good?

I'm setting up a Ferplast 120 cage for them, but plan on creating an enclosed area with a large run and the cage inside of this so that I can leave the cage door open with a ramp and they can come out and access a larger (but still secure) space. I'm just not sure on where to put this living area. One option is under our stairs in our living room (it's an open space, not a Harry Potter-style arrangement!). I liked this because they'd be close by us and not shut away somewhere, but my only concern is that obviously the TV and speakers are in the living room. My partner tends to have the TV and music on too loud for even my liking sometimes, so I can't imagine how it would be for sensitive piggy ears. The second option would be the spare bedroom. They'd have their own space, it would be much quieter but I worry about it getting cold as it's hardwood flooring and there's nothing else in there, not even curtains, although there is an electric radiator on the wall. My partner doesn't like the idea of them being shut upstairs away from it all, but I think they may appreciate the space to themselves.

What do people think? Where would be best to put them?

 

[flowerfairy]

I use hemp bedding for my two sows in their litter trays. I prefer it to carefresh, which is blazingly expensive.

I also use fleece in their chill out zone (ie most of the cage)!

My two live in the dining room where the fridge also lives so i go in to see them loads during the day. I am sure they would soon get used to tv noises and you could see them more. You could even use them as an excuse to have the tv turned down a bit!

 

[Guineapigfeet]

I also use hemp bedding (different brand) and I think it's fab. It's very absorbent I like the asthetic of it.

My pigs live downstairs at weekends and don't seem at all bothered by the tv, the power tools, or the smoke alarm!

 

[Lorcan]

I'm a fan of Carefresh, but I agree it can be on the expensive side. Good stuff though, but there's other equally good stuff out there.

As for noise, I find that my pigs do better where there's action, so to speak. My boys are on the floor of my living room so they're used to people coming in and out, saying hello, begging for blueberries (!). I don't think they'd be so confident if they'd been in the bedroom if only because they get less interaction that way by default.

 

[rome_italy]

my two piggies has a cage with fleece and newspapers underneath; I am definitely satisfied of this (cost-free) bedding.
I live in a flat, I don't have so much room for the cage and I put it next to the sofa in the living room where there is TV and music sometimes. But they don't like loud volume and we keep it very low. They seem to appreciate some relaxing classical music and even Bach's organ music! and Calipso loves Dr. Nowzaradan's stories! (those ones about morbidly obese patients who go to surgery for losing weight!)