Who uses washable bedding?

  • Thread starter Thread starter crazycavies
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
C

crazycavies

I was wondering what sort of beddings people who use washable beddings use?
Vet bed? fleece blankets?
what do you put under to absorb the wee? newspaper?
How often do you wash? daily?

Thanks
 
YES! i use profleece (www.profleece.co.uk) and fleece blankets. I make them myself too to fit cage sizes. I use a number of linings to allow absorbency.

Use newspaper under the fleeces, it absorbs it and the fleece stays dry on top.

Mainly my cage is covered in profleece, had fleecing blankets in areas and newspaper, carefresh and the hay in upper levels!

its much better than sawdust/woodshavings too, and less messy

one of my is allergic to shavings anyway so cant use them. Its so much less mess with fleece too, just wash once or twice a week, depending on how messy your pigs are (i clean wee and poo areas every other day with fresh newspaper and hay, this is in a litter tray and higher level) and hoover out twice a day for their poos and odd bits.
 
I use vet bed on the lower level and fleece on the top. I wash them both twice a week,spot clean and change newspaper daily ( my little like to lay underneath theirs vet bed!rolleyes) Both my piggies used to sit on their houses rather then on their soft chopped straw, which is what made me change in the first place. It isn't that hard to clean, don't think I would go back to anything else now. xx:)
 
moonie8404 said:
YES! i use profleece (www.profleece.co.uk) and fleece blankets. I make them myself too to fit cage sizes. I use a number of linings to allow absorbency.

Use newspaper under the fleeces, it absorbs it and the fleece stays dry on top.

Mainly my cage is covered in profleece, had fleecing blankets in areas and newspaper, carefresh and the hay in upper levels!

its much better than sawdust/woodshavings too, and less messy

one of my is allergic to shavings anyway so cant use them. Its so much less mess with fleece too, just wash once or twice a week, depending on how messy your pigs are (i clean wee and poo areas every other day with fresh newspaper and hay, this is in a litter tray and higher level) and hoover out twice a day for their poos and odd bits.
Click to expand...

Thanks moonie! Is regular fleece you can get from a fabric shop ok then? what happens if they try to eat it. They dont seem to be very chewy pigs so it might ok!
 
marshie82 said:
I use vet bed on the lower level and fleece on the top. I wash them both twice a week,spot clean and change newspaper daily ( my little like to lay underneath theirs vet bed!rolleyes) Both my piggies used to sit on their houses rather then on their soft chopped straw, which is what made me change in the first place. It isn't that hard to clean, don't think I would go back to anything else now. xx:)
Click to expand...

Thanks marshie!

I'm thinking I'm going to get something and give it a whirl, I'm trying to reduce the allegens in my house, They will obviously still have hay to eat but the less dust around the better
 
crazycavies said:
Thanks moonie! Is regular fleece you can get from a fabric shop ok then? what happens if they try to eat it. They dont seem to be very chewy pigs so it might ok!
Click to expand...


you need to be careful what fleece you buy. cheap fleeces use colouring which have dangerous chemicals for piggies if they chew it. their poor weaving could also mean they fall apart easily when piggies chew.

I get mine online, i can give you the links if you want - they cheaper than shop bought fleeces too as you cut out the middle man!

I sew the edges anyway so its hard for it to be chewed on to fall apart and thread easily anyhow.
 
I am a fleece user, have been full time for over 3 years now.

At the moment I only really have newspaper and occasionally towels to absorb the pee under the fleece. I clean out every 3 days (cages are 5 pigs in a 2x7 and 3 pigs in a 2x7). If the quintet have messed up their cage more than normal and I have not been able to vacuum some of the mess up each day, then I muck out every 2 days. The trio could last about 5 days as they are very tidy and clean piggies.

The same cannot be said for all the cosies and cuddlecups, however - they get replaced daily.
 
moonie8404 said:
you need to be careful what fleece you buy. cheap fleeces use colouring which have dangerous chemicals for piggies if they chew it.
Click to expand...


I've never heard this before. Any more info on the chemicals/colorings? I'd be interested to know more, I really need to update the articles/Fleece Project so this may be a very important point to add.
 
I have to say that Pro-fleece got the thumbs down from me.
It is great for absorbency and ok if you are happy to put it in the washing machine.

I wasn't happy to put mine in the washing machine because of the hay and hair on it and also, I have to add, the weight of it when wet. Also my OH gets asthma, so it was "no go" on the washing front.

Otherwise, it is great.
 
Sorry I am a little confused. At the moment I use saw dust and hay in the hutch and clean the mess up every day and change the bedding once a week and give the hutch a good clean. After reading these posts can you put fleeces in the hutch instead of saw dust and the piggies will be happy with that or do you need a special fleece. Can I put fleeces in the hutch with towels under and this will be ok.Also will they still have to have hay in for bedding as my two don't seem to eat this. Would appreciate any advice and help.
 
Crumpylenko said:
After reading these posts can you put fleeces in the hutch instead of saw dust and the piggies will be happy with that or do you need a special fleece.
Click to expand...

I think Fleece is becoming more popular as a bedding choice for Piggies, for many reasons. For me it was to reduce dust and the amount of weekly rubbish. It also works out a lot cheaper in the long run providing you look after it properly.

The best Fleece to use is Medium - Heavyweight Polar Fleece as this is the one with the wicking properties you'd be looking for, for it to be a successful alternative to a more traditional substrate. This is available in most Fabric Stores for £5 - £8 a metre, and is available in a variety of colours and patterns. Make sure you wash the fleece a good 3 or 4 times before you use it with the Piggies.

Can I put fleeces in the hutch with towels under and this will be ok.
Click to expand...
Towels and/or newspaper work well as an absorbent base for Fleece, it's usually a case of trial and error and what works best for you and the Piggies. The Fleece and Towels work in combination to create a giant cage 'nappy' which remains dry on top whilst they layer underneath wicks any moisture away from the Piggies bums and tums!

Once you've found a combination that works, the next trial is usually wash day - if you stick the bedding straight in the Washing Machine you can guarantee that you will be picking Piggy hair out of your underwear for months to come! To avoid that nightmare you need to put the Bedding into a WashBag, Pillowcase or duvet cover and tie it securely at the neck (with an old hairband or similar) and then shove it in the machine. It still gets clean, but all the muck and hair is stuck to the WashBag instead of your washing machine (and your next 12 loads of washing!)

Maintenance wise, I actually find Fleece so much easier than any of the other beddings I've used in the past, they can't kick it out the cage either! One thing I do provide is a little Hay Rack and Litter area, which helps keep the Hay off the fleece, and then all I do is run the hoover over it once or twice a day, then gently rub up any rogue bits of hay with my pair of trusty Rubber Gloves (mahoosive hint and tip for anyone with Vet Bed too!), I tend wash the bedding every 3 days or so, and I've never had any problems with soggy bums or odour.

I love Fleece and would never go back! The Piggies adore it and have never been happier :)

I have some photos of Fleece bedding in use on my website (you might need to scroll down a wee bit)

Hope this helps :)
 
I use vet bed with the waterproof lining underneath it so I dont put anything underneath it. I have used it in the bedroom bit of outdoor hutches, with newspaper in the living bit, and hay in loo rolls and socks. No sawdust at all. Now they are all in indoor cages for the winter, I use the same vet bed but this goes over about three quarters of the cage, the other quarter is newspaper which mostly they use as a loo and is changed daily. Any bits of hay, poops etc on vet bed are brushed on to newspaper before daily changing. Vet bed changed twice weekly, given a really good brush outside then put in washing machine. When I have washed them I always run my washer through empty with a tiny bit of bleach in to make sure there are no nasty niffs. It's fine. Works well for me. x
 
Fleece is great for saving on the bedding cost but be careful about not clogging your washing machine. To be honest we are back on hay and newspaper here as all pigs are in the shed and its warmer for them. I don't want to clog my machine up and because I have children found it rather unhygenic cleaning fleece and then our own clothes even though I cleaned and disinfected the machine out.

Just something to bear in mind. :)
 
Crumpylenko said:
Sorry I am a little confused. At the moment I use saw dust and hay in the hutch and clean the mess up every day and change the bedding once a week and give the hutch a good clean. After reading these posts can you put fleeces in the hutch instead of saw dust and the piggies will be happy with that or do you need a special fleece. Can I put fleeces in the hutch with towels under and this will be ok.Also will they still have to have hay in for bedding as my two don't seem to eat this. Would appreciate any advice and help.
Click to expand...

Never use sawdust with piggies, its so bad for them x
 
SunshineAndTwinkle said:
Fleece is great for saving on the bedding cost but be careful about not clogging your washing machine. To be honest we are back on hay and newspaper here as all pigs are in the shed and its warmer for them. I don't want to clog my machine up and because I have children found it rather unhygenic cleaning fleece and then our own clothes even though I cleaned and disinfected the machine out.

Just something to bear in mind. :)
Click to expand...

I have to agree. I tried Pro-fleece which for the first few days was great. It was when I came to wash it that it became a problem! :(
I was disappointed, but I am pleased that I gave it a go.
 
hi, i use profleece under it i put a layer of newspaper then megazorb then newpaper! i wash it every 4-5 days it works great is always dry on top!i have a piggie with a bad bladder problem and she needs tp be kept dry at all times as she gets a sore bottom and feet. i shake all the poos off daily and before i put it in the machine. I put it in the machine in a horsewear wash bag which works a treat no poo or hay comes in contact with the machine so it doesn't get damaged. it comes out lovely and clean and any clean bits of hay stay in the wash bag which i just shake outside too. i got the wash bag at the pony tack shop

http://www.theponytackshop.co.uk/fo...rian_wash_bag_wash_bag_for_numnahs_girths_etc
 
I've been using fleeces for a few months (with a good layer of newspaper underneath) I also use old towels & cot sheets as my piggies seem to go through an awful lot of them as they are now indoors & if they aren't cleaned out at least once or twice a day they pong.Its more difficult to dry them now the weathers so bad.
 
Our piggies are indoors over winter, and they have fleece on top, with towels underneath. There is then some lino between them and the floor. I change the towels and fleece probably twice a week, they are in a c&c 4.5 by 5.5ft so the fleece stays dry for this time. They have hay in a small plastic dog bed but they still manage to chuck it everywhere! :))
 
I have gotten rid of the wood shavings and have put some newspaper and fleeces down in the hutch with some towels and blankets and they love it as they make little tunnels and hide and they are alot happier when they have floor time and there has been some pop corning in the hutch. I have noticed that the fleece is dry and towels underneath are soaking up the wet so I change the towel every day and leeve the fleece for a couple of days, I can't believe the difference and Crumpt doesn't sneeze half as much as he used to, Thanks for all of the advice.xx x x
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top