Piggy bedding

[Barmy]

Hi all

I run a small pet boarding service and have been trying to find the best bedding for the pigs. I have been using shavings and although I am happy with this it is hard to keep them looking neat all of the time which is important as when visitors come the cages have to look lovely and clean and inviting. I have got vet bed with newspaper under in some of them which is working well but I was wondering about fleece bedding.
I didn't know if fleece was ok and if so where do you get it. vet bed comes on a roll but fleece seems to come as a blanket. Do you put paper or towels under it. Do they get very smelly?

Any advice would be gratefully received.

 

[sport_billy]

Can't help with the vetbed but someone will know.....

Our 'special needs' girl is on fleece, it is a fleece blanket doubled up with a towel underneath. It is important when you first buy fleece to wash it several times this wiil help it wick away wee. Never wash fleece with softener also as this affects the wicking nature too.
We have to change Megs fleece 2-3 times a week.

 

[Toffeewoffee]

To be honest,i personally think that fleece will be hard work when running a boarding place, poo picking will need to be done several times a day and it will need to be fully changed every 2 - 3 days depending on how many piggies are in the one area. You would need to use towels underneath, so this is a set of towels and fleece to wash per cage every 2 - 3 days.

I have tried fleece several times just for 4 piggies and its too much work for me.

Something like megazorb, fitch, finacard or carefresh might be the next option, but shavings willbe by far the cheapest.

x

 

[kidspiggies4]

I have just changed mine to fleece with towel underneath. Best thing I ever did. Much easier than woodchips. A lot less messy!

 

[Rodentopia]

I run a rodent boarding business and fleece is hard work, I use paper bedding for my boarders now as otherwise I would spend all day poo picking, you can pick it up turn round and its covered again

 

[Barmy]

I run a rodent boarding business and fleece is hard work, I use paper bedding for my boarders now as otherwise I would spend all day poo picking, you can pick it up turn round and its covered again

I have just bought a little handheld hoover. took me 5 mins to do 7 cages. I have got brown vet bed which means I cant see the droppings. good and bad? The fleece beds are pink and will just have to hoover round before customers are coming on top of the twice a day hoover. Will see how it goes.

Are there any thoughts on respiratory issues with shavings. I imagine fleece or vet bed that has been washed is going to be better for them than dusty bedding?

 

[PipandPop]

I have fleece upstairs, and vetbed in winter.

And then downstairs I use a bedding for horses called Dengie Medibed. It is really fine chopped straw, very soft and they don't really eat it. They did for the first few days but have stopped now. It's very absorbent, doesn't smell, and you know when you need to change it because it is very obviously wet, so handy in that way.

 

[Rodentopia]

I have just bought a little handheld hoover. took me 5 mins to do 7 cages. I have got brown vet bed which means I cant see the droppings. good and bad? The fleece beds are pink and will just have to hoover round before customers are coming on top of the twice a day hoover. Will see how it goes.

Are there any thoughts on respiratory issues with shavings. I imagine fleece or vet bed that has been washed is going to be better for them than dusty bedding?

shavings are renowned for causing respiratory problems in small animals, whilst I have never had a problem I am cautious. I only use shavings with degus these days as they are the only bedding I find that works with them. Paper bedding like megazorb etc is a good alternative to shavings and looks cleaner then fleece