The Fleece Project: The Study

[wheekypigs]

Personally, I don't know if fleece is such an economical choice for me anymore because 1. I have trouble keeping myself from buying new fleece because they always come up with such adorable patterns, and also I'm forever changing my cage configurations (frivolous, but no less true :P) and more seriously ~~

2. I have to change the fleece every 4 days because my piggies are not exactly the neatest with their potty habits, and I use the coin-operated washer and dryer in the building.

I use batting and towels under the fleece and they start to smell pretty quick, sometimes within the day. I might try experimenting with mattress pads next (more expense). The shavings don't smell that quick, require less frequent upkeep (no daily poop-scooping, and no laundry, and no hair and hay dust shaken all over the place during changing), and I figured, will cost me less (I get the shavings pretty cheap from a feed store).

I still put in two litter boxes to encourage them to poop and pee in and to hold the hay, although the hubby insists on putting hay in front of Mousey wherever she lays (because she's old and the hubby is worried she won't eat), so there's hay everywhere on the fleece - try poop-scooping from that or vacuuming poop and hay.

It helps a lot if you have neat piggies that do their business in the litter boxes or a specific spot only, then the fleece is just pure joy to use - much less maintenance.

This is part venting, and part just sharing an experience on how the fleece is working out for me. This is not meant to discourage anyone from using fleece, but just to acknowledge some difficulties and different realities that can occur - initially or otherwise. I use fleece because I read here that most piggies like it, and it's true, my piggies really popcorned when they first got the fleece, and still do sometimes when they come into a freshly changed cage. I believe they are more comfortable on the fleece.

I will keep using fleece, and my goal now is to find a way to eliminate the odour building up so quickly.

And I still want to thank the people on this thread for providing all the useful information on fleece

[shamrockmommy]

Wheekypigs,
I can so identify with you.
I love the patterns, I love that it's so comfy for the pigs, and especially that they don't get any bits of loose bedding caught up in their rears (boys).
I love that when you pick up the pigs to snuggle they smell nice, not like shavings or carefresh.

BUT, there are some cons too. I can't seem to keep the fleece/towels in the cage for as long as others say. Usually it's once a day that I end up changing because of the pee smell. Maybe my boys are just big drinkers.
I do use a litter box, and that helps a lot as they'll pee in there as well.

Then they also mark (drag behind) on the fleece and stink up the place with boar butt . They can't do that as well on other beddings.

Currently I'm trying out the horse wood pellet bedding. It lasts about 3 days before I have to do a complete change out. Otherwise I scoop the corners each day. It does break down and turn into tiny bits of bedding, which seems to make me and the pigs itch . I am not sure I'll be sticking with it once the bag is gone. It is a really good price, $6 for 40lbs, which lasts about 8 cage changes (2x5).

I like the carefresh even better but the cost is high considering it takes about half of a large bag to cover the cage bottom.

So I struggle with the convenience of pellet/carefresh bedding, but the comfort of fleece...

[kala83]

I would really love to try this with my cage but I do have my doughts that my girls wil not destroy it....any time I have ever put anything down around the they always try and try to rip through and it always gets holes in it. So I think with my new cage I am still going to be using just aspen bedding....unless you all have some sugesstions on how I can try this out with out getting things torn to shreds.

[RyanR]

With the recent cage change, I've noticed that with just three pigs and my current litter area. The smell is almost unnoticible until about two days before I clean up. However, with the cooler weather now they aren't drinking as much water.

[MotherofGambit]

I love your post. I have allergies and my piggies pine bedding is aggravating them and my asthma...oh and he has some sniffling. I think he doesn't like the bedding either! So I am thinking of going the fleece route. He already likes to snuggle in my fleece jammies and he only 'goes' in one corner...so I feel confident that it won't be too bad!