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Post by rimpley on Aug 17, 2014 3:13:28 GMT
We've had our boys Cookie & Marshmallow for a couple months and to combat extreme odor issues, we've moved to fleece. I sewed them a liner with fleece and using the u-haul pads in the middle. I knew the boys pooped a lot, but holy cow! Marshmallow not so much, but Cookie poops everywhere he goes! I had taken out the fleece, brushed it off and put it back in. Placed him back in the cage and he had pooped twice. He had also pooped several times in the basket he was in while I was cleaning. What is normal? Is Cookie just a poop factory?
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Post by SiLamb on Aug 17, 2014 4:06:36 GMT
Hi...guinea pigs can poop A LOT! I have two boys and I no sooner get their pen cleaned that they immediately breaking it in with poop.  Pooping a lot is a sign of good health. Maybe Cookie is eating more hay than Marshmallow??? Is the poop formed or mushy or experiencing diarrhea? Anything but formed poop is a problem. From what I've learned, most of the time the smell problem has to do with pee and not poop. There are only a couple issues that can cause poop to really be the problem. As to the pee. I've not used the u-haul pads, but I've known people who use them. How often are you changing fleece/uhaul pads? (Note: fleece wicks the urine away and the uhaul pads are absorbent, but there isn't anything there to reduce the odor (i.e. baking soda) So changing may need to be more frequent. How well are they drinking water? I use cat litter covered by window screening covered by fleece in the kitchen area. In the rest of the area, I'm trying different ideas. Presently I'm using the newspaper pellets which use recycled newspaper with baking soda. This is working quite well. I'm not covering the area completely, but primarily in the areas that they like to pee. |
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Post by SiLamb on Aug 17, 2014 4:33:09 GMT
I forgot to mention...those that I know who use the fleece/uhaul pads like it |
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 17, 2014 22:01:14 GMT
Depending on the size of your cage, just take out the pad and shake the poos into a trash can. If too big for that, do a daily sweep up with a stiff brush and dust pan, or a quick vac with the dusting nozzle. If the odor continues to be a problem, add a layer of unscented, clumping kitty litter to the bottom of the cage, cover with a layer of fiberglass window screen, then the fleece pad. Should be fine |
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Post by Bean on Aug 18, 2014 7:35:49 GMT
I thought pigs pooped a lot and then I got rabbits - now they seem like complete amateurs!
Constantly munching hay and having it pass through is great for their teeth and digestive health, so it's a good sign even if it's more work for you! I use soiled bedding on my compost heap too - it's good stuff!
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Post by SiLamb on Aug 18, 2014 15:23:36 GMT
I thought pigs pooped a lot and then I got rabbits - now they seem like complete amateurs! You made me burst out laughing. |
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 18, 2014 15:51:32 GMT
Pigs actually poop more when they are given veggies, than if they are mostly restricted to hay and pellets. Not that they don't poop a lot, but the poops increase exponentially with the amount and type of veggie I've also found some pigs simply poop more than others. They may eat more, too |
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Post by jolovespiggies on Aug 18, 2014 17:14:53 GMT
Oh yes, being a bunny mummy I can confirm that. Luckily though Holly does most of hers in her box.
Hugs
JO xx
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Post by rimpley on Aug 19, 2014 1:09:56 GMT
Bean...I think my boys could give your bunnies a run for their carrots. ;-)
Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk
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Post by rimpley on Aug 19, 2014 1:11:10 GMT
Good to know that the poop is normal. We do feed them veggies and the poop is well formed so I guess we are good!
Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk
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Post by SiLamb on Aug 19, 2014 4:46:12 GMT
that's great news!
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 19, 2014 11:52:18 GMT
The poop tells the story we msy eish they'd produce a bit less, or contain it a bit more, but a lot of great poos showing healthy pigs, is a wonderful thing |
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Post by Bean on Aug 20, 2014 12:38:32 GMT
Bean...I think my boys could give your bunnies a run for their carrots. ;-) Ha! That's fighting talk! I've always found boar poos are bigger than sow poos too. Haven't found the same in bunnies (as yet...). |
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Post by jolovespiggies on Aug 20, 2014 17:31:32 GMT
I just wish they all turned in to £50 notes LOL!!
Hugs
JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 21, 2014 1:39:25 GMT
I'd settle for pennies, Jo. I'd still be filthy rich, lol |
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Post by SiLamb on Aug 22, 2014 14:56:12 GMT
Pigs actually poop more when they are given veggies, than if they are mostly restricted to hay and pellets. Not that they don't poop a lot, but the poops increase exponentially with the amount and type of veggie I've also found some pigs simply poop more than others. They may eat more, too Really??? Wow, I would not have figured that. I had been assuming that the poop was increasing on days that they eat more hay. Hmmm...I'm going to have to watch this and do some observational experiments. Like always, 3piggles, you are a fount of lots of helpful information. |
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 22, 2014 15:19:03 GMT
Pigs have very weak intestinal tract muscles that cannot move the food through very well on their own. Western Timothy had been found to do the best job of pushing the food through, for the least amount of hay eaten. It also has the best balance of nutrients for healthy guinea pigs. So while the amount of hay consumed adds to the amount of poo, it also moves more food through the system and out the other side. So the more food the pigs eat, the more there is for the hay to move |
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Post by jolovespiggies on Aug 22, 2014 16:55:31 GMT
Yes you would 3piggles love, trust me to be greedy LOL!!
Hugs
JO xx
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Post by SiLamb on Aug 22, 2014 17:33:29 GMT
3piggles, well that makes perfect sense. Thanks for the explanation. I always do better if I understand the whys of things. |
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 22, 2014 19:29:23 GMT
So do I, Silamb |
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Pooping a lot is a sign of good health. Maybe Cookie is eating more hay than Marshmallow??? Is the poop formed or mushy or experiencing diarrhea? Anything but formed poop is a problem. 
