Making New Cage -need Help-

GuineaPigGeek · Jan 8, 2018

I got my two piggies in May, I'm only in high school and I don't have a job yet so in May all I could afford was a "Guinea Pig Habitat" I wanted to make sure they had a lot of fun things to do, but enough space to run around. So I finally saved enough and went to Walmart on Saturday. I bought storage cubes that people use for shoe storage and foam mats. (Plus more feed and timothy hay cubes). I used the cubes and made a big "C&C cage" for my lil furbabies. And its sitting on the foam mats. I placed Eddie in there last night just to see if he liked it. (He started squeaking and squeaking. And even started cooing while on my lap lol) well, anyways. He peed while in there (I was hoping he would) it didn't soak into the foam mats. But I cleaned it up right away. What should I do for bedding? I don't want their pee to puddle up until I come home from school to clean it. They'd walk through it and get all icky. Fleece liners are not happening again (tried them, didn't like it) I want to do shavings but I don't their pee to go through the sides and unto the nice table that their cage is set on. Please leave your ideas, I'm hoping to get it set up today or tomorrow. Thank you! P.S. I'm also looking for fun ideas for the cage or any ideas for decorating it so please let me know!

sport_billy · Jan 8, 2018

Hello

Have a read of the bedding thread here for ideas Bedding For Guinea Pigs - Overview

Personally I'd use the foam as waterproof layer to protect you floor on top of this towels on top of this fleece, the wee should then wick through the fleece. It is important the piggies do not sit in there wee so the foam alone us not suitable as bedding.
We use a plastic sheet to protect carpet, then towels then fleece.

Another option instead of fleece that us popular is vetbed.

Reddybex · Jan 8, 2018

Hiya! What did you not like about the fleece bedding? Its just I was thinking of giving it a go. At the minute I'm using woodshavings and hay

GuineaPigGeek · Jan 8, 2018

Reddybex said:
Hiya! What did you not like about the fleece bedding? Its just I was thinking of giving it a go. At the minute I'm using woodshavings and hay

When I was at school, they peed and pooped so much throughout the day and on the fleece it just made their cage look really gross. There was stains all over and the fleece looked blah

Also to washing it, it was hard to get all the poop/hay off it before hand so it got that stuff in washer and dryer (Mom wasn't too happy lol) it got to the point where I had to take it outside spray it with jet setting on garden hose, let it dry in the sun, and THEN put it in a washer bag and was it cant do that in winter. Plus it was a lot of work to make them in the first place. It stunk up my room really bad and I am finding that using shavings and changing them every other day is less of a hassle and less stressful than fleece. Xx.

Pluto&Astro · Jan 9, 2018

GuineaPigGeek said:
When I was at school, they peed and pooped so much throughout the day and on the fleece it just made their cage look really gross. There was stains all over and the fleece looked blah Also to washing it, it was hard to get all the poop/hay off it before hand so it got that stuff in washer and dryer (Mom wasn't too happy lol) it got to the point where I had to take it outside spray it with jet setting on garden hose, let it dry in the sun, and THEN put it in a washer bag and was it cant do that in winter. Plus it was a lot of work to make them in the first place. It stunk up my room really bad and I am finding that using shavings and changing them every other day is less of a hassle and less stressful than fleece. Xx.

Did you make sure they were wicked before you used them. Also some kinds of fleece don't wick at all. Some take some time. (The longest wicking that I had 15!

)

GuineaPigGeek · Jan 9, 2018

Kiya-Piggy said:
Did you make sure they were wicked before you used them. Also some kinds of fleece don't wick at all. Some take some time. (The longest wicking that I had 15! )

Wicking? I have never heard that word before...

Pluto&Astro · Jan 9, 2018

GuineaPigGeek said:
Wicking? I have never heard that word before...

I enjoy anti-pill fleece since my local Joanns sell that the most. Try avoid wool blends and glacier. Wicking the fleece takes some time. Even though we all wish we could just throw it into a cage and it works.

1. Wash the fleece in warm or hot water.
2. Dry after washing Repeat 3-5 times to break down the water barrier in new fleece fabric. DO NOT use any fabric softener or conditioner! This will replace the water barrier that you are trying to break down
4. Check after drying to see if the fleece is ready by pouring a small amount of water on it. If it is ready the water will pass through the fleece. If the water remains on the surface and does not sink through, return it to the washing machine for another cycle before checking again.

GuineaPigGeek · Jan 9, 2018

Kiya-Piggy said:
I enjoy anti-pill fleece since my local Joanns sell that the most. Try avoid wool blends and glacier. Wicking the fleece takes some time. Even though we all wish we could just throw it into a cage and it works.

1. Wash the fleece in warm or hot water.
2. Dry after washing Repeat 3-5 times to break down the water barrier in new fleece fabric. DO NOT use any fabric softener or conditioner! This will replace the water barrier that you are trying to break down
4. Check after drying to see if the fleece is ready by pouring a small amount of water on it. If it is ready the water will pass through the fleece. If the water remains on the surface and does not sink through, return it to the washing machine for another cycle before checking again.

Oh, yep. We did that. Never knew it was called wicking lol. My Mom spent hours making them and getting them ready, I felt so bad that I moved onto shavings so fast. But, you may have better luck with fleece than myself, It just wasn't good for me because you have to pop in and clean poo up lots, and not leave it for a whole school day.

lissie · Jan 9, 2018

What are you using under your fleece? The absorbent material under the fleece is important too.

Reddybex · Jan 9, 2018

GuineaPigGeek said:
When I was at school, they peed and pooped so much throughout the day and on the fleece it just made their cage look really gross. There was stains all over and the fleece looked blah Also to washing it, it was hard to get all the poop/hay off it before hand so it got that stuff in washer and dryer (Mom wasn't too happy lol) it got to the point where I had to take it outside spray it with jet setting on garden hose, let it dry in the sun, and THEN put it in a washer bag and was it cant do that in winter. Plus it was a lot of work to make them in the first place. It stunk up my room really bad and I am finding that using shavings and changing them every other day is less of a hassle and less stressful than fleece. Xx.

Yea I think after reading all that I'll stick with woodshavings and hay! The alternative for me would be puppy pads and hay. Apparently that works well and doesn't smell. As the boys are in my office I don't really want to be stunk out- I need to earn a living after all

Making New Cage -need Help-

Administrator