Gonna give fleece another chance

Just want to add here as a rat owner, we dont use paper bedding such as Carefresh heres why -

In bedding studies with mice, carefresh was discontinued early because it absorbed ammonia badly, to actually consistently use bedding such as carefresh it would have had to be changed out entirely nearly daily.
Kiln dried bedding has better ammonia control, bedding used for animals such as horses (which supports respitatory issues in them) is perfect to use such as Bedmax. I order mine from Chestnut Mill (Bedmax Shavings Horse Bedding - 20kg)

I've attached a photo from the study so you can see how it performed in comparison.

Bedding like this is actually pretty affordable in comparison to the big chain paper bedding brands like Carefresh, I use Bedmax for all my animals (gerbs, hamster, rats and now my guinea pigs).
I would consider going this route instead of fleece bedding if you do prefer anything but fleece.

Hope this helps a little!
 

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El Caso said:
Just want to add here as a rat owner, we dont use paper bedding such as Carefresh heres why -

In bedding studies with mice, carefresh was discontinued early because it absorbed ammonia badly, to actually consistently use bedding such as carefresh it would have had to be changed out entirely nearly daily.
Kiln dried bedding has better ammonia control, bedding used for animals such as horses (which supports respitatory issues in them) is perfect to use such as Bedmax. I order mine from Chestnut Mill (Bedmax Shavings Horse Bedding - 20kg)

I've attached a photo from the study so you can see how it performed in comparison.

Bedding like this is actually pretty affordable in comparison to the big chain paper bedding brands like Carefresh, I use Bedmax for all my animals (gerbs, hamster, rats and now my guinea pigs).
I would consider going this route instead of fleece bedding if you do prefer anything but fleece.

Hope this helps a little!
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That is really helpful! Goodness! Thanks for that. I’ve kind of committed myself for a while to try the fleece, what with buying the Zorb and fleece, but I’ll write that down and have it, if the fleece is not for me. 👍 thank you!
 
Nice! I have the black zorb.

Oh, mine aren't quite IN the kitchen, but the next room. The two that have their cage in direct view are always watching me 🤣
 

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Pink for girls!

Now what do I do!? Measure twice and cut once?! Lol!
 

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Ruth1 said:
Pink for girls!

Now what do I do!? Measure twice and cut once?! Lol!
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I think washing the fleece at 60 degrees first might be a thing, as it can shrink a fair bit! Or cut it a couple on inches bigger. Not that I sew lol but fleece liners can shrink in the first few washes and if that happens after sewing your liners will be a bit too small and crinkled at the edges, cheaper shop bought liners do that sometimes if it hasnt been factored in during the construction! Fleece needs 3 washes anyway at least to wick properly and let the wee soak in :)
 
PigglePuggle said:
I think washing the fleece at 60 degrees first might be a thing, as it can shrink a fair bit! Or cut it a couple on inches bigger. Not that I sew lol but fleece liners can shrink in the first few washes and if that happens after sewing your liners will be a bit too small and crinkled at the edges, cheaper shop bought liners do that sometimes if it hasnt been factored in during the construction! Fleece needs 3 washes anyway at least to wick properly and let the wee soak in :)
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But I have no PATIENCE! 🤣🤣

Well ok I’ll listen to the voice of sense and wash it now 🙄. Thankyou Jimmy Cricket! 😁
 
Anti Pill fleece is the best. I cut it to fit my C&C cage lenght and width. I put a layer U-haul furniture pad under the fleece and and reinforce the bathroom corners wih an extra square cut of fleece with a pee pad under it. I change out the corner pieces or just scoop poop from there as needed. Toss all the fleece and Uhaul pads right in the washer. So convienient, clean, and easy.
 

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PigglePuggle said:
I think washing the fleece at 60 degrees first might be a thing, as it can shrink a fair bit! Or cut it a couple on inches bigger. Not that I sew lol but fleece liners can shrink in the first few washes and if that happens after sewing your liners will be a bit too small and crinkled at the edges, cheaper shop bought liners do that sometimes if it hasnt been factored in during the construction! Fleece needs 3 washes anyway at least to wick properly and let the wee soak in :)
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Yes, we have learned the fleece needs to be cut a bit larger for shrinkage. U -haul pads shrink a bit too so same applies.
 
Wash the zorb as well, when I used it it shrank a lot and pulled the fleece liners out of shape. Good Luck!
 
Ruth1 said:
Piggies! Let no one say they are easy to keep! 🤣. It’s a good job they are worth the effort!
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We get away with only shaking out the fleece only before washing, no brush needed. There are very few hay pieces left in the wash machine, I just pick the few out by hand. We have never needed to rinse the machine after. I suppose we are vigorous shakers around here and its all we have needed. 🤣
 
It’s all in the washing machine as we speak and I’m just sat here with a coffee, willing it to be done. It’s warm and breezy at the min so maybe I can get it dried to start work on it tomorrow!

Yes - so I ordered Zorb and anti pill polar fleece. If it doesn’t shrink I’ll have enough fleece to make 1 and Zorb to make another one. And possibly two new matching tents. Ooooh! If I got a patterned fleece I could make a reversible one and tents with both fabrics…. 😁. But I’m broke!

Ah who cares! May as we’ll be killed for a sheep as a lamb 🤣🤣
 
PennyCopper said:
We get away with only shaking out the fleece only before washing, no brush needed. There are very few hay pieces left in the wash machine, I just pick the few out by hand. We have never needed to rinse the machine after. I suppose we are vigorous shakers around here and its all we have needed. 🤣
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I could learn to be a ‘vigorous shaker!’
 
😢😢😢
Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to wick I go 🙄😢
 

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I have 14 piggies only two of them on fleece as one piggy is baby but i always find they tend to go on shavings half. And yet my herd of girls some like fleece and some like shavings. I don't mind what I use but do find with fleece its more washing hehe x
 
Ikklepiglet said:
I have 14 piggies only two of them on fleece as one piggy is baby but i always find they tend to go on shavings half. And yet my herd of girls some like fleece and some like shavings. I don't mind what I use but do find with fleece its more washing hehe x
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I’ve just done a clean out and I think I’m going to do 1 quarter Carefresh/hay - in their bedroom where they pee most and then in the open area - the fleece. I think that might work for our set up…. Have you ever done this?
 
From an older thread - with pics of my rough and ready sewing!
Free Ranger said:
Ah, I see. the Midwest has a fabric bottom instead of a plastic one. In that case some correx will be useful! Then your liner will sit on top of that.

Liners: Seriously - the guineadad liners are pricy and you can make your own much cheaper. Don't even need to hem or seam. My first go was dead simple:
1. Two rectangles of fleece fabric (the brown with stars pattern in the pics) cut to slightly bigger than size I needed (they'll shrink 1 or 2 inches when washed)
2. One rectangle of Zorb original Fabric cut to same size
3. Make a sandwich of fleece/zorb/fleece
4. Sewing machine round the edge (you could hand sew if you have no machine and are patient!)
5. Trim off a little bit of excess - bit rough at edges but it's fine! This one has been washed a dozen times... mine don't nibble at the edges or anything
View attachment 176968View attachment 176969

6. I got brave and tried to do a 'proper' one by putting 'right sides' together and turning inside out to make a neater edge.

View attachment 176970 but it's no more absorbent and the piggies have no preference!
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Free Ranger said:
From an older thread - with pics of my rough and ready sewing!
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Oh that’s great thanks! I was thinking about just doing a straightforward sandwich instead of like a proper quilt. Be easier and could even do a zigzag stitch to kind of ‘overlock’ the edges.
 
I got a bit better with the machine and did the proper 'turn it inside out' method to hide those rough edges for most of the fleeces but as mine don't chew the edges they don't notice any difference between the pretty ones and the ugly jobs - and they're covered by hay in seconds anyway!
I just machined the edges... I didn't do any quilting stitches across the middle of the fleeces. George's nails curl upwards so I didn't want him catching nails in any random stitching... and most of mine is very random!
 
Okay - I’m learning that the wicking process takes time and patience! Here’s me hoping that I could get this wicked and in the piggy pen in a couple of days! 2 washes and still puddles of fake wee 🙄

Think I’ll start again tomorrow and just not rush it. Patience! PATIENCE! 😳😳😳. (I was never one to wait for anything!)
 
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