smelly piggys

[monica1607]

Well my OH is allowing me to keep the guinea pigs indoor permantely (usually only inddor for the winter)! So I am building them a 2 storey indoor cage, made of 'thrown away' wood (bits of wood people have discarded including 2 pine wardrobe panels) only spent £1.50 on it so far and all I have left to do is buy the wire mesh!
Anyway, Ive noticed that my GP really smell lately! I have had quite a few piggys but never any that have lived soley indoors. I usually clean them out every 3 days and they have a 'toilet' in the cage that is cleaned out every morning, but now I'm having to clean them out every 2 days as they are really pongy. I keep my piggys on newspaper covered with sawdust. They have been having alot of 'scrap allotment veggies' thanks to my dad, as well as dandelions, could it be this or are they just generally smellier this time of year as they have been fine over the winter and I'm worried that if the OH gets a wiff of them he'll demand they go back outdoors.
I have been thinking about the whole fleece blanket thing, but I dont like the idea of washing them in the same washing machine as my familys clothes due to the fur and what not stayin within the drum (I have 2 long haired piggys). Can anyone give my advice on which is less smellier and if I were to put them on fleece other than removing hair with a brush, gloves or what not, how can I avoid 'washing machine hair'? would putting into an old duvet be any good? Really dont want them to go back outdoors!

 

[doglovinpiggylover]

i have my piggies in the front room, and i have noticed recently they smell more but i think its just due to the rise in temps, i have them just on newspaper so i am changing the top layers every day and changing completely every two or three days.

Make sure you buy smelly hay that overpowers the poops lol

ps cant advise on fleece, ive never used it x

 

[Shaz]

I keep my piggles on Megazorb and their cage never really smells but the past two weeks it has started to get a bit whiffy not long after i've cleaned them out, I think it is due to the warmth because even though its pouring down here it's still quite warm.

My boys only ever go on fleece when they're in their run and they absolutely reek after an hour! I personally prefer Megazorb to anything else the only problem is if you're wanting to use it for the first time its in a giant sack and if you didn't like it you'd be a bit stuck.

 

[fluff]

stop feeding dandelion as this a duiretic and makes them pee for england,try megazorb itsreall cheap around £7 ish for 85 ltr.and soo much more absorbant than shavings/sawdust

 

[Hc1]

for fleece, you could get one of these [ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/washing-machine-rug-bag-jumbo/dp/B007RAQMFS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1339357927&sr=8-4"]Moorland Rider Horse Wear Rug Wash-Bag - prevents damage to washing mashing from loose hair, Sizes: Small, Large or Jumbo: Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors[/ame]

just put the piggie fleeces in the bag, zip it up and wash as normal. Then just shake the bag outside and hang them all out to dry

 

[Shuvvy]

I had wood shavings for about a week before I switched to fleece, it really is the best thing I've done for their cage. I got cage liners from Cosy Cavies (can't recommend this site enough), they are all in one i.e. they have a waterproof layer and wadding inside two layers of fleece. These can be bought from a number of online stores and also you can find tutorial vids online to make one yourself.
As for cleaning/washing, I spot check mine every morning and sometimes in the evening if needed. It's like a million times faster to do it on fleece than wood shavings as you're not constantly searching for poo. When I wash them (once a week) I have a little routine that you may find handy

1. Put piggies in their run so they don't get in the way!
2. Take out the liner and shake of all the remaining poo into the cage
3. Take up all the corners and hold it in a bag like shape to take to my bath where I then brush off as much hay as possible with a dustpan brush. I use the bath as it's an easy place to keep the hay from going everywhere and when it's off I can sweep it into my dustpan.
4. Put the liner in an old duvet cover and knot the end as tightly as possible. I have a duvet cover dedicated to this job so I don't end up using all my covers!
5. Wash on 30 degrees
6. When finished, remove from cover and brush off any remaining hair if there is any.

That's just my way of doing it, experimenting is the only way to find what's best for you

 

[Shuvvy]

I meant to add also that fleece doesn't really smell unless you leave it for a loooooong time. rolleyes