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questions about using fleece

porkchopsmom

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I have read several posts where people use fleece. Is that like fleece that blankets are made from? How often do you change it? Do you run it through the wash machine? How well does it hold up? Couldn't the piggies get under it and get to hot? I am finding Carefresh to expensive with the bigger cage the girls have and have gone to kiln dried pine. I think Porkchop is allergic to it, all she does now is scratch at herself. If fleece is better and easier I would like some info.
 

Slap Maxwell

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Is that like fleece that blankets are made from?

Yup, polar fleece. You need to have an absorbant layer underneath it to catch the pee. Cotton batting or heavy layers of newspaper work. Puppy pads are a favorite.

How often do you change it?

Every 2-3 days is normal. It needs to be spot cleaned every day.

Do you run it through the wash machine?

You can, but get all the hay and shavings off it first. Otherwise it will get in your machine.

How well does it hold up?

It should hold up well. Will last you a very long time.

Couldn't the piggies get under it and get to hot?

Some pigs dig under it but if they get hot its unlikely they will stay.

I stopped using fleece more than once because many people, including me, couldn't stand the odor. Not all people have an odor problem. Also, hay and shavings stick to it and are a pain to get off. If you don't they stick inside your washer. My washer stank after I washed the fleece. It works for some people but not for me.

If you can afford the cost vet bed would be a better alternative. If you like the shavings, kiln-dried pine is an excellent choice. It is absorbant and extremely cost-effective. I buy a big bag for $5 and it lasts me five weeks for my 2x6.
 

JennG

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I actually love using the fleece. I use it for 90% of my cage. I made (out of coroplast) a potty area for them. It's removeable and the size of a 1x1 grid. I bought most of my fleece at Walmart. They sell solid fleece for around $6 and printed fleece for $8. I did catch a sale at JoAnn's Fabric a few weekends ago that had printed fleece for 30% off and the solid was 3.99 a yard. I have about several different shades and one printed (ducks my daughter chose)

Anyways, I put a layer of newspaper down. Then a layer of 2 beach towels that I got from Walmart for 3.99 a piece and then I put the fleece on top. I use bricks to hold it down and try to keep it one solid piece. I just revamped my cage and extended it, so I had to get alittle creative but a yard of fleece will fit a 2x4 cage. I usually scoop poop out every night and take everything out and wash them 2x a week. I haven't noticed any smell which is good since its in my kids' bedroom. For the "kitchen" area and the bridge, I use these cheap rugs I bought at Walmart for 78 cents a piece. I just shake those out every night and wash them out 2x a week too. I try and make sure I shake off or brush off most of the hay and bedding. I've gotten some stray hay and stuff in the wash but I just wipe it out. It's definitely cheaper and I have 3 girls now w/ a 4th on her way w/in the week, SO cheap is good. But it works. Good Luck!! I don have pictures of my old cage posted in the gallery.
 

RyanR

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Fleece works great for me and the boy sand I have not had any problems with it in the washer but everyone varies. My boys love it.
 

laura220

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I use fleece and love it! There's no smell but fresh hay in my room. On half the cage(2x4)I put two layers of newspaper and on top of those a folded towel. On the other half I put a washable puppy pad then the fleece goes on top and is attached to the side by clothesclips. I only need to wash it once a week but I only have one pig and a almost 1x2 litter box full of kiln-dried pine.

I spot clean the litter box and fleece everyday. Twice a week I empty the litter box out fully.

It is a pain when the shaving get all over the fleece but before I wash it I shake it out real well over the railing of my balcony. Most of it comes off and I don't have a problem with it in my machine. Hay is easy to pick right off.
 

Sabriel

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I love fleece! We do wash it seperatly, as my husband finds it makes the clothes smell (I have a horrible sense of smell) but we just do a load of pig laundry and his work clothes (they also make our clothes smell. His work stuff smells like garlic)

I find if you can keep they hay contaned then you have less to pick off the fleece. I also find that Yesterday's News is a good litter box litter as you can just vacuum it off the fleece.

I use the cheap solid fleece blankets Walmart sells up here. They are $6-$8 CAD and two of them cover my cage (3X6) with a bit of overlap. I use crib pads underneath.

Good Luck.
 

Lisser

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I've now started using fleece as well bc I saw so many of the posters on here using it. I had a fleece blanket I bought a couple years ago from either Walmart or Target, I can't remember. It was about $7. I fold it in half long ways and it fits my 4x2 cage almost perfectly. A small area isn't covered but I have my kitchen area bricks cover that. Under the fleece I have a thick layer of newspaper but the next time I change the cage, I'll be putting puppy pads over the newspaper, under the fleece. I have no smell at all so far. I've had the fleece in there for 2 days. I clean up poop several times a day. Right now my girls go poop all over the place and I don't want them walking through it. So I usually pick up poop in the morning and at dinner time.

In short, I love the fleece!! I have fleece blankets on my bed too!! I figure if I'm comfy in it, they girls probably are too.
 

cavy-cool-crazy

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Fleece works very well for me. I bought a set of 3 large fleece blankets for £10, and they have held up very well in the wash. I hoover the poops off the fleece and the rest of their cage every morning. It's very rarely wet from urine. It gets washed every 3-4 days in the washing machine. The pigs have their own set of washing, so it all gets shaken out in the garden then all the piggy blankets and soft toys get stuffed into the washing machine.
 

porkchopsmom

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Thanks for the input. I will try to get to Walmart and see about the fleece. I can keep the hay and food in the loft to avoid the mess. How do you litter train them? They do seem to urinate in one corner. I guess that would be a good place to try putting it. They are always scent marking the cage, does this cause the smell? It aeems most of you like the fleece so if there is anymore comments about negitive I would like to hear them before I buy a bunch of fleece. Thanks again!
 

Lisser

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porkchopsmom said:
Thanks for the input. I will try to get to Walmart and see about the fleece. I can keep the hay and food in the loft to avoid the mess. How do you litter train them? They do seem to urinate in one corner. I guess that would be a good place to try putting it. They are always scent marking the cage, does this cause the smell? It aeems most of you like the fleece so if there is anymore comments about negitive I would like to hear them before I buy a bunch of fleece. Thanks again!

i have nothing negative to say about using the fleece so far. I've had the same fleece blanket in the girls' cage for 4 days now. No smell what-so-ever. I vacuum the poop out twice a day.
 

suzy_99

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I have been using fleece for about 6 months now and I have no complaints at all. It doesn't smell so long as you clean it every 2-3 days and it is so much easier to clean then the shavings. The only negative is that if your cage is in a family room or something like that, you may feel the need to sopt clean more because of all the poos they leave on the fleece; however, I got over this real fast and now I only spot clean once per day.
 

jeza921

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I have a balcony right next to the pig cage, so I just lift out the fleece every day and take it outside and shake it over the edge. Landlord hasn't noticed the buildup of hay and poos yet. :shhh: I put a new piece in every two days, or else it starts to smell.
 

Lisser

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I just went to Walmart and got a new piece of fleece for the girls!!!
 

Funnygpigs

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I started using fleece about 3 weeks ago. It does smell sometimes. If I clean it every 4 days, it does get a slight musty oder. Other wise, clean it every 2 days -- no oder. :0)
It is cheaper then buying bag after bag of shavings. I hang my fleece out on a clothes line and hose it off with water to get rid of the shavings/most of the pee. Then I wash it in the washer. That will save you a bunch of picking time.
 

Percy's Mom

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Funnygpigs said:
I hang my fleece out on a clothes line and hose it off with water to get rid of the shavings/most of the pee. Then I wash it in the washer. That will save you a bunch of picking time.

Great suggestion on hosing off the fleece before washing! I'm switching to fleece (I think) and wasn't looking forward to the picking.
 
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