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Post by twirly on Sept 11, 2012 2:43:43 GMT
Hi I am new to this and I'm going to buy a c and c cage. I really wanted a 2 story but I got 1 level cause I also have a dog and a cat and I needed the cage to have a cover. Any way ive seen people with the fleece bedding and I'm just trying to figure out how this all works. How do u get the fleece to stay put and not move around? Is there anything else I need to know about it? I'm getting it partly cause I have a store bought cage and my daughter has the hardest time getting twirl out since there is only a small opening on the side and a small opening at the top. The c and c cage I'm hoping will be easier for her to reach twirl with out twirl getting stressed. Do u think it will be easier?
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Post by 3piggles on Sept 11, 2012 14:03:58 GMT
You're doing the right thing. Store bought cages have tiny openings, impossible to get two hands in to get a good grip on the pig. Until the new cage is built, have her use a cuddle cup, basket or cardboard box to get Twirl in and out of the cage. Much easier to put it on the floor of the cage, gently herd Twirl in with one hand, and lift out the carrier, pig and all!
Fleece is a fabric that wicks liquid down to an absorbent layer below. 100% cotton towels, packing blankets, whatever is easiest for you, as long as it's absorbent.
You can hand or machine sew the layers together and attach ties to hold the fleece to the cage side. You can use grommets to attach the layers with or without ties. You can put bricks in the corners to hold the bedding, and many other options. Again, you'll use trial and error to find what really works for you. My next pads are going to have hooks to attach them to the cage sides. For now, I have a brick in each corner, but I also have a large cage.
If you are really handy, you could sew bumper around the bedding, or make it enough bigger than the cage to fold or roll the edges. I've used the spring-style wooden clothes pins to clip the bedding to the cage. I've used different colored metal binder clips. There are so many options, you just need to find what works best for you.
It also helps to have a kitty litter box to hold the hay, or even to make a kitchen area for water/pellets/hay. It concentrates the mess in one area, and helps keep the bedding cleaner. For the litter box, you can make smaller pads, use Carefresh, etc. I hope these suggestions help!
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Post by yodelpig on Sept 11, 2012 18:51:31 GMT
Hi and welcome!
You are doing the right thing!
Fleece from which any trace of softener has been removed (takes about 2-3 washes) will wick away any fluids from the surface and pass them to a layer below which should ideally be 100% cotton. I use cheap towels as underlay and padded plastic backed mattress covers (generously cut to size because of shrinking and then seamed) for the sleeping areas.
Please never overfill the washing machine when washing fleece or your stuff will come out stinking worse than it went in! Never use a detergent that has added softener or the piggies will sit in their own pee. If you have a filter, you may want to wash the fleece in a bag of some kind (pillow cover etc.).
You can either order good quality polar or micro fleece by the yard from suppliers on the internet or get cheap acrylic or polyester bed covers, baby blankets or pet plankets from supermarkets or pet shops. If you just want to give it a trial, I would recommend the latter, but I have found that you have less hair sticking to good quality fleece and it stands up much better to washing at higher temperatures which you need to do from time to time to prevent the build up of bacteria and germs.
You will need to poo patrol at least once or twice daily; piggies live mainly on hay which is not very nutritious food and hence need to process a LOT! Ideally you have some kind of tray where you have the hay to keep it from being dragged everywhere.
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Post by 3piggles on Sept 11, 2012 19:04:04 GMT
I will just add to Yodelpig's post that I have a small whisk broom and dust pan, as well as a cordless hand vacuum, and either makes a good daily cleaner.
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Post by twirly on Sept 12, 2012 19:04:52 GMT
Thank you for your help! It gave me an idea. I once made a fleece knot blanket for my daughter and I'm thing think I can do the same for the cage. Maybe go ahead and knot the whole blanket but leave the 4 corners undone to tie around the cage. I also saw a website that had absorbent fleece blanked for the cage but it was kind of expensive.
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Post by 3piggles on Sept 12, 2012 21:39:06 GMT
Because pigs have very small feet, it's better to have a flat surface, one piece of flat fleece to cover the bottom of the cage. That way they won't catch their nails in anything and risk a break or sprain. If you're in the US, Walmart is a great place to get pieces of fleece for very little. Joanne Fabrics also often has great sales, so their pricier fleece is quite reasonable.
Fleece doesn't absorb, so it goes over a layer of absorbent fabric such as towels. 100% cotton is the most absorbent.
Don't dismiss the knotting project, though. You may find it handy for creating hay holders and other things.
Also forgot to mention wash piggy bedding in an unscented detergent, and don't use fabric softener in the washer or dryer. Pig urine can have a strong smell, and mixed with chemical scents in detergent, can take on a nasty odor. Also, pigs live very close to their bedding. If it has perfume, they can't get away from it. Fabric softener inhibits absorption.
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Post by Jeannine on Sept 13, 2012 14:46:50 GMT
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Post by 3piggles on Sept 13, 2012 15:46:40 GMT
Shameful, maybe, but right on! It protects the sides, which get covered with urine spray. I keep forgetting you make those!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Sept 16, 2012 14:10:14 GMT
Hello and welcome to you love.
Hugs
JO xx
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Post by kimv on Oct 24, 2012 10:06:25 GMT
Hello! We don't have a guinea pig yet, we are getting one (or a pair) next month. But we have built our C & C cage. This is our cage (sorry for the small pic I don't know how to make it bigger). Anyway my daughter can easily reach in this cage. I did make a topper because we have other pets. Attachments:
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Post by 3piggles on Oct 24, 2012 15:09:32 GMT
Cats sometimes sit in guinea pig cages, but rarely hurt the pigs. I don't know of a situation where a cat hurt a piggy. Letting them sit in the cage and not reacting usually ends their curiosity. If they continue to sit in the cage, they want the company.
Dogs, especially in groups, have been known to attack animal cages, and kill the pigs or other animals inside. It's best to lock the room than to add a topper, as determined dogs have torn apart cages. Luckily, most dogs don't bother guinea pigs.
A topper would be great to keep large birds out of the cage.
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