Fleece: Help! Need advice ASAP!

[rjramer06]

Hello all! I am a new guinea pig owner and am going to be making a CC cage this weekend (early this week since it's a holiday this weekend and many stores won't be open). I've been reading about using fleece bedding and LOVE the idea. However, I have questions that I really need answered ASAP.

I have 1 male guinea pig, and for no have no plans of getting another. We (meaning my fiance and myself) play with him everyday so I am hoping he will be ok with that. We're going to build a 2x3 cage for him and follow the instructions posted.

My questions are:

How much fleece do I need for a 2x3 cage?

How many layers of towels?

Should I use the newspaper-towel-fleece method, or just use towels and fleece only?

How often should I clean the towels? (I saw that most people clean the fleece once a week).

How can I clean the poo if I don't have the right type of vacuum? I just have a normal vacuum that would just suck up the fleece I think (unless I can get a special attachment)?

How many sets of towels/fleece should I have on hand?

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated. Please help me!

[Rnd210]

Even if you only have the 1 guinea pig you need to think about getting another male for him and you should build a 2x4 cage so that you have the room for another male later. You should have atleast 2 sets of fleece for changing so thaqt you don't have to wait for the wash and drying on cleaning day. The cost of taking care of 2 piggies as far as feeding really doesn't increase that much. Oh and you need 2 yards will make 2 sets for a 2x4 cage and give you a some xtra for making a sleeping bag and or tunnel.

[PiggieMom]

Just reiterating Rnd's advice. Guinea pigs are social animals and really need to be kept in at least pairs. They will be happier, live longer and be healthier over all. Human companionship is not the same as same species companionship. Please read up on social live at Cavy Spirit. After you have a cage built please look into adopting (not buying) your pet a cagemate. There are a lot of resources such as these forums, petfinder.com, local rescues and shelters and craigslist. We can help you if you have a hard time finding a pig to adopt.

I agree with two sets per cage. I'm not sure on how many towels as I use incontenince pads in my cage. I do know that newspapers are worthless as bedding as they are not absorbant and will just make a gopping mess if gotten wet. Some people use a dustpan and handbroom to sweep up poops. I've also heard of people using large plastic serving spoons as poop scoopers. If you haven't already, please read The Fleece Project. I'm sure it will answer many of your questions.

[Deb's4Pigs]

I don't use newspapers at all. I use two layers of towelsright now. I was using three but two seem to be working. My cage is 2x7 so I buy fleece that is 3x8 so that some

goes over the edge and they can't go under it.

[jenniwat001]

You will need 30 inches by 40inches of fleece, but buy a bit extra as it shrinks in the was. I'd buy two sets of fleece so you don't have to do laundry every time and two layers of towels should do you. I change the fleece weekly and the towels twice weekly so you will need four towels per week. I use newspaper but thats personal choice I think. Good luck.

[akstrohm]

As others have said, he does need a friend. Human companionship is not the same, regardless of how much attention he gets. Two males do best in a cage that is at least a 2x5 on one level. And bigger is better.

The bigger your cage is, the less often you will need to clean it.

I would not bother with the newspaper. You should do at least one layer of towels, but you may need more. Mattress pads work well too.