Bedding Do pigs need materials to make a nest? - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**rogersmithiii** · #1 10-07-09, 06:55 pm

My house is in the Northeast. I keep daytime temps around 65 deg F, while night temperatures can drop to 55. Right now, Tree sleeps in a Post Office Overnight shipping box, sitting on top of newspapers.

Do I need to supply hay in this box, or some kind of bedding to allow him to build a nest to keep warm? Or does the box keep him warm since it keeps the heat in?

Right now, the only hay available is what he is eating. Nothing is inside his box.

**Ly&Pigs** · #2 10-07-09, 10:11 pm

Guinea pigs don't nest. If you have no bedding in the cage, it would be good to provide him with something to keep him warm such as fleece.

**akstrohm** · #3 10-07-09, 11:18 pm

Is this box within a larger cage or do you put him in the box at night?

You'll need something to cover the newspaper. It gets wet and smells very quickly otherwise and is not sanitary. Hay is not a suitable bedding as it is not absorbent. Pigs only need hay to eat.

**JD In Van** · #4 10-07-09, 11:52 pm

I find my boys like to sleep on their hay actually. I put a handful in each house and they snuggle up in it. You can put down a layer of carefresh and then hay over it.

Other wise they try and sleep in their hay boxes and they're WAY too big!

**akstrohm** · #5 10-08-09, 08:55 am

Yes, pigs love to play in hay. A loose handful not in a hay rack is definitely fine. It just cannot replace bedding.

**1frankie7** · #6 10-08-09, 09:20 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by akstrohm

Is this box within a larger cage or do you put him in the box at night?

You'll need something to cover the newspaper. It gets wet and smells very quickly otherwise and is not sanitary. Hay is not a suitable bedding as it is not absorbent. Pigs only need hay to eat.

My question exatly is the box within a cage or is it just a box?

**rogersmithiii** · #7 10-10-09, 06:39 am

When Tree first arrived, he was in a 24 by 30 cage. The box sat inside of the cage, and I cut a hole to allow him access. Right now, I have him in a C&C cage that is 48 by 60, with a temporary plywood cover to keep out the cats. The original cage is inside of this with the door open 24 /7. The box is inside there. I change the newspaper daily, but will read this forum to figure out a better bedding material.

Still working on the design of the C&C cage.

Rog

**akstrohm** · #8 10-10-09, 08:03 am

Carefresh, Aspen, and Yesterday's News are other options. What do you have in the rest of the cage? Fleece?

**1frankie7** · #9 10-12-09, 05:25 pm

I think he means the whole cage with newspaper and the little cage(not sure though!

)

**Dichotomy83** · #10 10-12-09, 05:59 pm

If you have some old towels that you can use to line the cage, layering fleece over them is a great bedding alternative. The fleece will wick away the moisture, and the underlying towels will absorb the urine. Its very easy to "poop scoop" using this litter method.

**rogersmithiii** · #11 10-13-09, 04:34 am

OK. I decided to listen to the fleece frenzy. I stopped by Big Lots, and picked up two of those animal print, fleece throws that everyone was talking about. They were $3.00, marked down from 5. Are these the right ones? Also bought some bath towels for $3.75. I plan to put two layers down, and then the fleece on top of that. I will wash the fleece four times before using.

Still sounds strange, but we'll give it a shot.

**CavyMama** · #12 10-13-09, 06:11 am

Ohhh congrats on the fleece!!

Well, in order for the fleece to be efficient, you have to wash each blanket 3-4 times - without fabric softener or dryer sheets. This will make sure they will wick the moisture down to the absorbant layer rather than just let it pool on top.

Check this article out for more information about how to prepare the fleece.
http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...ect-study.html

Hope this helps!

Woops! I didn't read your post all the way through, you did say you would wash it 4 times. I just woke up so my brain isn't functioning yet! LOL I thought you just said, "wash it" (as in one time).

Still, the article from the link is a good one to check out (if you havent already)

**Duffinvt** · #13 10-13-09, 06:12 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogersmithiii

OK. I decided to listen to the fleece frenzy. I stopped by Big Lots, and picked up two of those animal print, fleece throws that everyone was talking about. They were $3.00, marked down from 5. Are these the right ones? Also bought some bath towels for $3.75. I plan to put two layers down, and then the fleece on top of that. I will wash the fleece four times before using.

Still sounds strange, but we'll give it a shot.

Yes !! I got mine at Big Lots, too. Huge elephants on them, but the piggies don't seem to mind. And washing four times really does help a lot.

**Buddy4** · #14 10-13-09, 08:09 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duffinvt

Yes !! I got mine at Big Lots, too. Huge elephants on them, but the piggies don't seem to mind. And washing four times really does help a lot.

I just created a kitchen area out of coroplast, and it has been a huge help. The fleece stays mostly clean, except for the poops. I sweep them up a few times a day, and it is working beautifully. The fleece is so much easier to deal with than the bedding. I laid down black trash bags, then a shower curtain, then towels, and then the fleece over that. It is fantastic!