Is this an acceptable bedding solution? - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**Somanypets** · #1 01-06-09, 09:32 pm

We have had our guinea pigs for 2 weeks and I have I have already totally redone their whole cage. I made the horrible mistake of believing that the people at the pet store actually knew what they were talking about and ended up with a $90- 2 foot cage and timothy hay as a bedding!

So right now our pigs are in a C&C cage (well a C cage as my coroplast is on order and will be arriving next week) Since I don't have my coroplast yet I have a garbage bag that I split to make a plastic sheet down to protect my carpet, then towels layered over that then covered with flannel. I know that there is a concern about the pigs getting at the plastic so all edges extend past the grid.

Our pigs did for a couple of days have pine shavings and they just seemed to be sneezing a lot. Now that there are not any shavings, the sneezing has stopped. So I don't really want to go back to shavings.

If flannel is acceptable I will be changing it twice a week.

**NicholsS10** · #2 01-06-09, 10:55 pm

I don't see why flannel wouldn't be acceptable since it's just like putting down a blanket or fleece. I use fleece and towels for over 2/3 of my cage. A lot of people on this website use fleece and towels and wash them twice a week, it's a lot cheaper than buying bedding.

**gooberific** · #3 01-06-09, 11:11 pm

Flannel stays wet, whereas polyester fleece wicks the moisture down into the layers beneath it so your pigs aren't sitting in wet spots.

**NicholsS10** · #4 01-06-09, 11:34 pm

If gooberific is right about the flannel, then i would try to get some fleece.

**Ly&Pigs** · #5 01-07-09, 12:22 pm

Goober is right about the flannel, it doesn't wick. The moisture just stays in the flannel making it stay wet.

You will want to invest in a couple large fleece blankets for your cage.

**gooberific** · #6 01-07-09, 01:24 pm

Thanks, Ly.

You can find no-sew fleece blankets/kits at places like Jo-Ann fabrics, and they go on sale fairly often for about $10, and it comes with two pieces of fleece: one patterned, one solid. Also check out the fabric remnants, as I've been able to find pieces of fleece big enough for an entire 3x4 and then some! They're super cheap compared to buying off the bolt!

**Somanypets** · #7 01-07-09, 02:09 pm

Thank you for all the responses! I'll go and get some fleece this weekend. I think our pigs are soon going to have a nicer place to live that we do.