Bedding: New here and have a question

[SageCleo1]

My daughter (5) and I are going to get some guineas in a couple weeks, but I would like to take my time getting(making) the right cage and bedding. I think I like the idea of doing the fleece, since I can just wash it and reuse and save some money. I will do a litter box too with a hay holder by that. I am still unsure about the size of cage. I am thinking 2 x 3 w/ the kitchen up stairs, or 2 x 4 with a kitchen upstairs. It really is going to depend on the space available, it is going in my daughters playroom. My hubby is going to build a table/base so it can be off the floor slightly.
So when I do the fleece I want to attach the absorbing piece to it and I'm wondering if anyone has used those "ShamWoW" towels It is the as seen on tv thing but looks to be very obsorbent?

Anyone try this and have success. Otherwise I'll probably just use towels.

Thanks
Shannon

BTW- we are going to get 2 girls.

[wheekers01]

Don't attach. I heard it makes cleaning harder...I have never used sham wow but since it is supposed to be very absorbent it would probably work as an under bedding. Be sure to adopt guinea pigs. Pet stores sell pregnant and sick cavies. Good Luck!!

[SageCleo1]

Okay so don't attach. I just figured it would be easier to keep down so they don't dig under because of the weight or maybe use velcro...
So many decisions to make! I finish work for the summer this week so I'll have time to really get into things!!!!
I have been searching for a place to adopt her in Maine but have yet to find a place. I'm all for adopting. We adopted a dog in September

[Peggysu]

I use fleece and love it. Some people make piggie quilts and sew it all together. I choose not to do this. I use 4 layers of regular cotton towels and one layer of fleece on top. I have no problem with smell and it works great. I would never use anything else.

As far as cage size goes 3x2 for two females is the minnimum. Having a kitchen area on top helps keep hay off the play area. That's what I do.

With cage size I would recommend the biggest you can comfortably make. My girls are in a 3x4 with a 4x1 upper deck. I made it extra big so that I know they will get along, a 4x2 just felt too small for them.

Good luck and when you finish the cage and get your piggies, we love seeing pictures! Welcome to GPC!

[blessedbeingmom]

Welcome!

I read this post not long ago on here about the shamwow. I'm not familiar with them, but it's not something I personally would choose to use, after reading this.

http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...e-shamwow.html

We use fleece sewn to mattress pads. I got the idea from this forum. I bought a king-sized cotton-rich mattress pad & cut it up into the various sizes we needed. It works well for us, and we've had it for a few weeks (maybe a month) now.

[Froggirl009]

I use a layer of puppy pads and then a towel and then the fleece for my cage. It seems to work fine for me. Good luck!

[fieryone]

I have burrowers and clip the fleece down by cutting out a small area on the coroplast and pulling the fleece through. It keeps them from going under it and makes cage cleaning very easy.

For underneath, I use a mattress pad and two layers of towels under the fleece and then a kitchen area (I made a coroplast box) and I put Yesterday's News with a layer of Carefresh over it. This has been my best solution for odor control and ease. I would personally suggest making your cage a grid length longer and adding a kitchen area instead of an upper level. I removed my upper level after a week or two because it made it so much harder to clean the cage. But again, this is all just personal preference. I lot of people do have upper levels so they must work out fine for them

[SageCleo1]

You guys have been great... sometimes when you are new you don't responses on some forums but not here THANKS

Okay so fleece a definite... mattress pad... puppy pad type things... and towels???Can I ask why both the towels and the puppy pads? Don't the puppy things hold a lot?

I have to get the cubes this week just trying to find the cheapest place and then I'll see how big we can make it and still have a playroom for my daughter.

[Piggly is I]

I got mine at bed bath and beyond for $15, grey color only though i don't know if that matters to you. i use a flannel bed sheet for a top bedding, i find that it dries faster and very absorbant with pee, it can also cover a larger area of cage.

[ferndalezoo]

I would not suggest flannel as an upper layer on the bedding. It absorbs the pee, rather than wicking it through to what's below, and that's going to get nasty fast.

[Piggly is I]

yeah it absorbs it but when you wash it the hay and debris don't stick to it like fleece. my fleece blanket always has hay stuck to it after i wash it not so with the flannel.

[Peggysu]

The thing with fleece is that it keeps your guinea pig dry and it doesn't absorb, it wicks away the moisture to something absorbent. No wet or damp guinea pig. If flannel absorbs that's great just your guinea pig is wet. Getting hay off fleece isn't a big deal as long as you shake it out.

[akstrohm]

You don't necessarily need puppy pads and towels. Just pick whatever material or combination is easiest for you (mattress pads, puppy pads, towels, etc.).

I would really suggest at least a 2x4 for two girls. Mine are in a 2x5 and definitely use all the room. Keep in mind that a ramp takes away running space and that the second level does not count toward space requirements. You might want to reconsider where you put the cage if you can't fit at least a 2x4 cage in the room you're planning on. A living room would probably be a better place anyway so that the pigs get attention on a more regular basis.

[Wheekie]

I use Munchkin Brand Baby Changing Pads under a layer of fleece and it works great...been doing it for 3 years and never a problem. I get mine at Target, but I'm sure you can get them other places. Highly recommend them! Takes me all of 20 minutes to disenfect and change the cage!

[SageCleo1]

are the baby pad things disposable or washable?
I'm thinking we'll do the 2 x 4. I just measured her playroom which is right off the of the living room and we have plenty of room. They will get lots of attention in there, my daughter lives in there!!!!
I have to call some places now to see if I can find some coroplast.

[Wheekie]

They're disposable.$5.99/box and the box lasts 2 weeks. I should probably look for washable ones-be more environmentally responsible, huh? (besides saving myself some money!) They are great though...so easy.

[PiggieMom]

I buy washable pads from Discount Underpads. I buy the used ones and they never look bad to me, usually just little tears or tiny stains. Though their prices have gone up since I bought mine years ago, so there might be a better bargain out there somewhere. A regular sized pad will fit a 2x2 cage area perfectly. I've been using the same pads for at least two years and they're still going strong. Though I do rotate through about four sets of bedding.

[59classic]

Originally Posted by PiggieMom

I buy washable pads from Discount Underpads. I buy the used ones and they never look bad to me

Thank you for this! I have been thinking about making the conversion to fleece and pads, the pine bedding we are using is driving me mad!

[lala011398]

Originally Posted by PiggieMom

I buy washable pads from Discount Underpads. I buy the used ones and they never look bad to me, usually just little tears or tiny stains. Though their prices have gone up since I bought mine years ago, so there might be a better bargain out there somewhere. A regular sized pad will fit a 2x2 cage area perfectly. I've been using the same pads for at least two years and they're still going strong. Though I do rotate through about four sets of bedding.

I'm going to get a guinea pig and i would like to know how many times you could wash them before you buy a new one or can you just keep washing them and washing them 'till you decide to get a new one...

[lissie]

Originally Posted by lala011398

I'm going to get a guinea pig and i would like to know how many times you could wash them before you buy a new one or can you just keep washing them and washing them 'till you decide to get a new one...

I've had my fleece for 6 months and haven't had to throw it away. I'm pretty sure other members have been using theirs for longer periods. I'm always looking for cuter patterns though. So I guess the answer is you can keep washing them until you're bored with them.