Piggies In The House Not Working Out....!

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smileyface:)

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So a week ago my OH said I could keep them in for winter, but to be fair since then I have had problems with the cage smelling (not much but enough to out him off!) and since I got my lovely stand the cage now dominates our small kitchen! I think the height is probably putting their bedding more at nose level too! I think I may have to revert to my old plan of heated shed and piggies in for cuddles during the day, unless I can get the cage to not whiff (liners coming so fingers crossed! ) and getting the cage back lower down and looking less like a piece of lab equipment lol! The stand will be great for my shed as I need proper storage, but thinking of ways to make the cage less overpowering in looks - got a small window of opportunity between getting the liners and finishing the shed to try to change my OH mind without him realising! He does like them but since I do have that big shed he's not being unreasonable. But still its a bit of a shame.
 
What bedding are you currently using? I find that Jack and Hector for some reason are incredibly smelly on fleece, so I use wood pellets and aubiose for their bedding which absorbs odour very well. Pumpkin and Boo are not smelly at all and neither are my girls. Other than that, are you feeding them a lot of brassicas (cabbage, sprouts etc?) as that could make them stinky.....
 
Smell is very much dependent on what bedding you use so a change might solve that problem. Fleece doesn't absorb so it depends what you use underneath. Puppy pads can be good and easily changed.

I use back2nature litter (which is super absorbant and really keeps smell to a minimum) under vet bed and we don't have any problem with smells unless they are desperate for a clean (around every 5-7 days).

In terms of cage size it's a bit awkward. You need a minimum size to meet welfare standrds but they do take up a big bit of space in a room. Our boys take up the whole bay window in their double level corner cage (for two pairs).

See what you can work out :)
 
I have a "fake" vet bed over wood pellets in the girls cage. It works really well for smells. Is it the urine smell or poo smell that you are smelling?
 
Goth Mummy said:
What bedding are you currently using? I find that Jack and Hector for some reason are incredibly smelly on fleece, so I use wood pellets and aubiose for their bedding which absorbs odour very well. Pumpkin and Boo are not smelly at all and neither are my girls. Other than that, are you feeding them a lot of brassicas (cabbage, sprouts etc?) as that could make them stinky.....
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I found fleece really smelly for my boys too - I have ordered cage liners so yet to try these out - they are now on puppy pads, wood shavings and hay which has no smell normally - but yesterday I ran out of liners and along with the central heating radiators being tested by the workmen I know the waft of pee may have been caused by this - but he's not keen on the wood shaving smell either!

I have made a mezzanine level recently and lined the ramp with fleece for grip, but maybe that is getting peed on too?

Food wise they mostly eat hay and pellets and just their peppers and odd carrot and herbs, with some lettuce and cabbage but not enough cabbage that I would be worried - would brocolli cause their pee to smell more? :hmm: they had that the other night for the first time.
 
MerryPip said:
Smell is very much dependent on what bedding you use so a change might solve that problem. Fleece doesn't absorb so it depends what you use underneath. Puppy pads can be good and easily changed.

I use back2nature litter (which is super absorbant and really keeps smell to a minimum) under vet bed and we don't have any problem with smells unless they are desperate for a clean (around every 5-7 days).

In terms of cage size it's a bit awkward. You need a minimum size to meet welfare standrds but they do take up a big bit of space in a room. Our boys take up the whole bay window in their double level corner cage (for two pairs).

See what you can work out :)
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He first said they could stay when he saw them in the new cage, on the floor in the kitchen, but I think I have done myself no favours as it now is on the new stand and looks huge and their bedding is now a lot closer to nose level - I am going to have to wait till the joiners finish the work to the house (today or tomorrow) and then I can totally tidy up the kitchen and get the cage back down lower again - hopefully that and making sure the bedding is sorted might buy enough time to help him love them again. Like the sound of the back to nature bedding as a back up for litter trays etc - does the litter itself have a smell?

I am also thinking about putting in more litter trays as they do tend to pee in every corner and think that maybe the bedding isn't coping as well in those areas - lots to fix so really grateful for everyones advice - would love to have an ending that involves the boys staying in for winter - fingers crossed! :)

p.s. to be fair both my OH and I have bad colds so I really can't understand where the concerns over pee smells are coming from - I think maybe he is thinking he smells something because the cage is right up in his face?!
 
It doesn't have much smell at all. It's recycled paper pellets so really absorbant but a bit coarse for little paws on it's own which is why I use it under vet bed. It's good in litter trays too as my friend uses it like that.

If they always pee in the same places then it might be you have to do spot cleans in those areas more often than you change the whole cage. My boys are pretty indiscriminate and pee pretty much anywhere! :)
 
I am using litter trays and it has cut the smell down as it is easier to just bin the contents!
 
so took the cage of the stand today - world record for purchasing something and then rejecting it I am sure - nothing wrong with the stand, just the feng shui! :doh: - and put it back on a lower unit and it has helped to make it look less imposing in the kitchen. I changed all the bedding - put in puppy pads, some wood shavings and lots of hay - removed the fleece from the ramp and added a couple of extra litter trays - going to empty those trays before he comes home tomorrow night so fingers crossed there is nothing smell wise to complain about - all the junk in the kitchen is going soon too so going to keep everything minimalist so that the cage doesn't look that big - have said I will get the shed sorted out soon, but hoping to sway him over the next week - :nod: once my liners come if they improve the look and smell situation hopefully I can come to some sort of deal with him :inn::lol!: the cat is back sleeping on top of it again so she's happy too.:))

will report back in a few days to let you all know whats going on and whether these changes have helped - thanks again for the suggestions and support! :clap::cake:
 
It's a shame I use puppy pads too but since they now have a big run now., which also has puppy pads, they have more hay and they are a little more smelly than usual, just change them more oftenxx after all let's not forget. They are animals. Think a little smell is ok x
 
Shirley said:
It's a shame I use puppy pads too but since they now have a big run now., which also has puppy pads, they have more hay and they are a little more smelly than usual, just change them more oftenxx after all let's not forget. They are animals. Think a little smell is ok x
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I agree, and don't mind any smells or anything with my boys, my OH just thinks I have the shed so they could go there as originally planned - hoping he's just a bit grumpy as he has the flu coming on, but don't want to mess the piggies about either as they cant just be put out when its not suiting my OH - hope to get over these teething problems, I am just a total animal person whereas my OH can take or leave pets, and I think he just wants some more space in our wee house too, lol!
 
I'm sure your oh will succumb to the charms of their piggie lips! Everyone does, I'm sure he wouldn't want them to be unhappy or you either x
 
Shirley said:
I'm sure your oh will succumb to the charms of their piggie lips! Everyone does, I'm sure he wouldn't want them to be unhappy or you either x
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Yeah, think things have been a bit bonkers as builders in and mess everywhere for last two months - they are totally finished tomorrow so I will do my best to keep the cage clean, tidy and hopefully he will remember why he said they could come in in the first place! Maybe if I Star Wars up the boys cage or something he will like it more! Lol!
 
:lol!: Men eh:doh:. Glad I don't have one any more x:inn:
smileyface:) said:
Yeah, think things have been a bit bonkers as builders in and mess everywhere for last two months - they are totally finished tomorrow so I will do my best to keep the cage clean, tidy and hopefully he will remember why he said they could come in in the first place! Maybe if I Star Wars up the boys cage or something he will like it more! Lol!
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@Shirley its called pro-fleece, and is like vet bed but I suspect not as good. But cheaper!

And @smileyface:) oh well you are both a bit poorly and also have builders in - thats enough to send anyone a bit bonkers. Dont worry about your cage at the moment - put it down for now and wait till things have settled at your house. We just finished a large extention and for 6 weeks I had to have all 6 pigges plus the rabbit and our dinning table in the living room. It was awful!
I had to laugh at your suggestion to cover the cage in star wars things! I do the same thing - the girls cage is covered in fairy lights and bunting (out of piggie reach of course!) and the other has a Dr Who fleece. David says I'm not fooling anyone though, he can still tell they are pet cages ;)
 
Goth Mummy said:
@Shirley its called pro-fleece, and is like vet bed but I suspect not as good. But cheaper!

And @smileyface:) oh well you are both a bit poorly and also have builders in - thats enough to send anyone a bit bonkers. Dont worry about your cage at the moment - put it down for now and wait till things have settled at your house. We just finished a large extention and for 6 weeks I had to have all 6 pigges plus the rabbit and our dinning table in the living room. It was awful!
I had to laugh at your suggestion to cover the cage in star wars things! I do the same thing - the girls cage is covered in fairy lights and bunting (out of piggie reach of course!) and the other has a Dr Who fleece. David says I'm not fooling anyone though, he can still tell they are pet cages ;)
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Thank you goth mummy . I'm mummy of an ex goth ,or maybe she still is who knows! Xx
 
@Shirley are you my mother? Ha ha. My mum is actually called Shirley though she changed her name to Sofia in memory of her grandmother fairly recently.
lots of us who grew up in the late 70s/80s had a goth phase ;)

@smileyface:) its weird how the stand could make the cage look more imposing. I would hang on to it for now. i really want a stand for my girls' cage, as then I could store their stuff underneath it. I When your building work has finished you may re-arrange the whole house and find another place for it. 120 cm cages seem to fit pretty well either side chimney breasts in the alcoves.
 
Goth Mummy said:
@Shirley are you my mother? Ha ha. My mum is actually called Shirley though she changed her name to Sofia in memory of her grandmother fairly recently.
lots of us who grew up in the late 70s/80s had a goth phase ;)

@smileyface:) its weird how the stand could make the cage look more imposing. I would hang on to it for now. i really want a stand for my girls' cage, as then I could store their stuff underneath it. I When your building work has finished you may re-arrange the whole house and find another place for it. 120 cm cages seem to fit pretty well either side chimney breasts in the alcoves.
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Nooo my daughter was born in the 90s suppose she'd be a new goth then lol xx. I grew up in the 70s and 60s bit young for the 60 s to remember but the 70 yes. I was a big rock fan didn't consider myself a goth tho xx
 
Goth Mummy said:
@Shirley its called pro-fleece, and is like vet bed but I suspect not as good. But cheaper!

And @smileyface:) oh well you are both a bit poorly and also have builders in - thats enough to send anyone a bit bonkers. Dont worry about your cage at the moment - put it down for now and wait till things have settled at your house. We just finished a large extention and for 6 weeks I had to have all 6 pigges plus the rabbit and our dinning table in the living room. It was awful!
I had to laugh at your suggestion to cover the cage in star wars things! I do the same thing - the girls cage is covered in fairy lights and bunting (out of piggie reach of course!) and the other has a Dr Who fleece. David says I'm not fooling anyone though, he can still tell they are pet cages ;)
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I think you are right! House had been bonkers - we had a good chat about them last night, looks like I have some more time to sort them out - even giving them more litter trays has helped as they to eat poop and sleep in those so much easier to empty first thing - also I have pulled a cover over the top of the cage for the morning so when OH is walking in for breakfast he doesn't have the image of piggie poop nuggets as the first thing he sees - going to get the kids involved in doing up the outside of the cage in a Frozen theme - once that's done there will be no way they can go out! Lol!
 
Goth Mummy said:
@Shirley are you my mother? Ha ha. My mum is actually called Shirley though she changed her name to Sofia in memory of her grandmother fairly recently.
lots of us who grew up in the late 70s/80s had a goth phase ;)

@smileyface:) its weird how the stand could make the cage look more imposing. I would hang on to it for now. i really want a stand for my girls' cage, as then I could store their stuff underneath it. I When your building work has finished you may re-arrange the whole house and find another place for it. 120 cm cages seem to fit pretty well either side chimney breasts in the alcoves.
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I think the height didn't help - I have lowered it again and it does look better in the space its sitting - its a small room so little space to play with - the stand is sturdy and I needed something in the shed to store hay and everything else piggy so this is perfect for that. You are right, once house tidied out the cage will look even less imposing, think the joiners sawdust and builders stuff just made everything look messy - but fingers crossed!
 
Good luck with your Frozen themed cage. If I have to watch that film one more time I shall scream. My 3 year old and 8 year old are completely obsessed. It was frosty this morning and they were singing "do you want to build a snow man"! x
 
Goth Mummy said:
Good luck with your Frozen themed cage. If I have to watch that film one more time I shall scream. My 3 year old and 8 year old are completely obsessed. It was frosty this morning and they were singing "do you want to build a snow man"! x
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Lol! Only seen it once but ordered I for Christmas - what have I done?! Lol
 
My piggies aren't inside (they are in a shed) but I've been having great success with vetbed over large flake shavings. I don't vetbed the whole area (yet!) As they have 6' x 4' plus loft which would be pricey. I vet bed the bed areas which are the stinkiest areas and have been very impressed.

The combination makes spot cleaning so easy because I just pick up the vetbed and tip poops into a bucket and then because the shavings underneath stay compacted it's super quick to pick out the wet patches and replace with clean.

I know lots of people here don't like shavings but if you get good dust extracted large flake it is really easy to spot and replace wet patches which other materials can hide
 
afu said:
My piggies aren't inside (they are in a shed) but I've been having great success with vetbed over large flake shavings. I don't vetbed the whole area (yet!) As they have 6' x 4' plus loft which would be pricey. I vet bed the bed areas which are the stinkiest areas and have been very impressed.

The combination makes spot cleaning so easy because I just pick up the vetbed and tip poops into a bucket and then because the shavings underneath stay compacted it's super quick to pick out the wet patches and replace with clean.

I know lots of people here don't like shavings but if you get good dust extracted large flake it is really easy to spot and replace wet patches which other materials can hide
Click to expand...
i really love snowflake wood shavings, they have been really effective under hay - when my fleece liners come i might try using a thin layer in the corners to help - vet bed does sound interesting!
 
So far no smells as long I am using puppy pads, wood shavings and hay - making sure I don't forget to bed mezzanine properly too! Using alot of hay though, so fingers crossed when liners arrive they will do the job and I can cut down the hay to just the mezzanine and hay holder - kitchen looking better and since I've started covering the top of the cage my OH has not complained - yet! It seems the lower the cage the less he notices - and with the cage getting lower it means there is scope for a run during the day straight from the cage......! Lol!
 
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