Mystery mould

[Cat906]

Hi. My piggies are currently outside still as the weather has been very mild (they will come in when it gets a bit frosty). This year they’re enjoying a new 5ft Chartwell and I bought both the hutch snuggle and hugger to go with it. However the last couple of weeks I’ve noticed white furry or green mould on the inside of the roof of the hutch. It comes off with a wipe. I’m swapping out the puppy pads and hay daily so prettt confident that they are dry inside but only doing a full clean with wipe and disinfectant once a week. I’m not sure where this ‘mould’ is coming from - it never used to happen in my old hutch. Is it because the hutch snuggle is keeping not allowing the hutch to ‘breathe’? Has anyone else ever had this?
Short of doing a full wipe out and full fleece change every day I’m not sure how to stop it.

 

[sport_billy]

I have not heard of this before. Have you f10'd it?

 

[SkyPipDotBernie]

Mould likes moist warm places

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’ve not had it happen myself. (My pigs are in a hutch in my shed, with blankets over the hutch and then a thermal hutch
cover everything and my rabbit it outside in s a hutch with blankets and a waterproof hutch cover), but the hutch not be able to breathe would be my first guess. How long do you leave the covers open for during the day?

 

[Betsy]

I have had this too but only in the last couple of days. I F10'd mine thoroughly until the cloth no longer had any mould colour on it and only came off clean. The roof of the bottom level doesn't have it on so I think it's because I have had a blanket on the top of my hutch permanently for a while so the airflow around the top hasn't been good. I have now taken the blanket off and given it a wash and a tumble dry. I have the hutch snuggle and the thermal cover for my hutch. I'll leave the blanket off during the day and just cover the hutch at night to see if that solves the problem. Do you lift the front covers during the day when it's not raining? I do to let as much air in the hutch as possible.

 

[Betsy]

I think I may have found what was causing the mould in my hutch. The log arch had mould on it. I have sprayed it liberally with F10 and now it is soaking in Milton. Si that should kill off any mould spores on it. I'll make sure it is thoroughly dry before putting it back in the hutch.

 

[Cat906]

I have had this too but only in the last couple of days. I F10'd mine thoroughly until the cloth no longer had any mould colour on it and only came off clean. The roof of the bottom level doesn't have it on so I think it's because I have had a blanket on the top of my hutch permanently for a while so the airflow around the top hasn't been good. I have now taken the blanket off and given it a wash and a tumble dry. I have the hutch snuggle and the thermal cover for my hutch. I'll leave the blanket off during the day and just cover the hutch at night to see if that solves the problem. Do you lift the front covers during the day when it's not raining? I do to let as much air in the hutch as possible.

Hi. Good to know it wasn’t just me! I also had a blanket over the hutch too when it was cold a few weeks ago and it had been since then that I’ve noticed the mould. The fleece hasn’t been on for a few weeks but sounds like I need to take all the covers off, give a decent clean and make sure it’s completely dry before putting the covers back on. What’s the F10 - is that a brand name? I’ve been using Johnson’s clean and safe spray but if there’s something better I will get some tomorrow!

 

[eileen]

ive had the same problem in the top part of hutch,i scrub with f10.F10 is the only discifectant that kills fungal spores.due to the damp weather.

 

[eileen]

ive the chartwell 6 feet hutches with cover and thermal cover.the roofs on these hutches are flat and do not allow moisture to drain away.so water collects in small pools on top of cover.this is when i notice some mould.i scrub the roof twice aweek.i hope you can get some relief with F10.

 

[Betsy]

F10 is vet grade disinfectant @Cat906. You can get it from Amazon. A little goes a long way. I dilute mine into an old spray bottle.
Here is the link for you.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/F10-Disinfectant-100ml-concentrated-solution/dp/B005AIOBRU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544214911&sr=8-1&keywords=F10

 

[SkyPipDotBernie]

Would a mini disposable de umidifer for houses work. If you kept it high up in the hutch

 

[Cat906]

F10 is vet grade disinfectant @Cat906. You can get it from Amazon. A little goes a long way. I dilute mine into an old spray bottle.
Here is the link for you.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/F10-Disinfectant-100ml-concentrated-solution/dp/B005AIOBRU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544214911&sr=8-1&keywords=F10

Thank you! I’ll order some now