Level of Effort? How often to clean cage

[Shannon563]

How often do you guys or should I clean my guinea pig's cage?

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[jaycriae]

Re: Main thread

Depends on the size, number of pigs, and type of bedding you use.


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[pouty]

Re: Main thread

I have 3 guinea pigs on fleece, I spot clean every day (once or twice) and switch out the fleece every 3 days, sometimes 4.

 

[CavieGuy]

Re: Main thread

I have 9 sows in one cage, I spot clean a minimum of 2x a day (in the morning and before bed time) and if I have time in the afternoon. I wash the fleece once a week.


It depends on how many piggies and how big your cage is. I would at least spot clean 2x a day.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

Re: Main thread

I have three boars on fleece. Spot cleaning is done countless times per day and fleece is removed and replaced every 48 hours.

 

[equinox96]

Re: Main thread

I have 2 boars and one is a heavy drinker so he is a heavy bed wetter!! In the morning, I replace the wet fleece pads with fresh fleece where they slept most and sweep up poo. I spot clean again after work when I give them their supper and again before I go to bed. I do a complete fleece change twice a week.

There kitchen area gets scooped where I see wet spots and change about every other week, it's wood pellets.

I will admit though, that I have a hard time tolerating poo in their cage, so I can't walk by without sweeping but it takes less than a minute.

 

[lisa325]

Re: Main thread

To be honest, quite often when I'm home on a daily basis, but I find it works better for us, and keeps things nice and clean for the pigs. I only change their big fleece liner every 2 weeks as it stays nice and clean, because I use extra pads in their sleep/resting areas . I use wood pellets in their kitchen area, and they're a godsend, best thing ever .

 

[jaycriae]

Re: Main thread

I'm very jealous of all you fleece-users. Spot-cleaning is so difficult on Carefresh.

My answer is a full clean around once a week for 3 sows in a 2x5, but my spot cleaning also consists of replacing large amounts of the bedding. Also, sometimes they randomly have a grosser week than usual and I have to change the schedule. (pretty sure it's because of the same reason I can't use fleece- odeta's tendency not to engage in enough coprophagy. sigh)


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[lisa325]

Re: Main thread

@jaycriae I hear you on the carefresh, I used it in the kitchen area for a while, and it although it was pretty good at odor control I found myself constantly scooping out the wet spots and picking out poops. The pigs also tended to kick it out onto their main fleece area, and that was a pain to clean off. It gets pricey too eh.

 

[jaycriae]

Re: Main thread

@jaycriae I hear you on the carefresh, I used it in the kitchen area for a while, and it although it was pretty good at odor control I found myself constantly scooping out the wet spots and picking out poops. The pigs also tended to kick it out onto their main fleece area, and that was a pain to clean off. It gets pricey too eh.

Oh, absolutely. It's easily the most expensive thing about my pigs. (Although Petco had a New Years sale and we stocked up on it, which helped some.)

Mine kick it everywhere too, I have to sweep it and the hay off my floor every couple days. I do love putting them in right after a full clean, though, because they haven't packed it down yet and they sink into it like snow. It's very cute and silly.


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[Shannon563]

Re: Main thread

So, I use shavings for the bedding in my Guineas cage. An I've been dealing with bad odor coming from the cage. An I read somewhere that I could sprinkle some baking soda at the bottom of the cage then put the shavings over it. Is that safe for them? Does that sound right? Any advice.

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[PigsandPugs]

Re: Main thread

Doe anyone use fleece in their kitchen area? I use fleece in a 4.5× 3.5 grid cage with careresh hay boxes for 2 sows.. I find I waste so much hay and am constantly picking through carefresh. I sometimes just use a layer of newspaper and lots of hay , then throw it out every day. Either way there is a lot of waste. I spot clean fleece all the time and change out pee pads/sacks once or twice a day anyway ( I work from home ), so the work is not a big issue, more the waste. The pigs do seem to love sitting in litter boxes though, (sigh). Any suggestions?

 

[PigsandPugs]

Re: Main thread

Shannon563, I have heard baking soda in bottom is safe, but I also feel 'iffy' about it. Personally I have not found it helpful when I tried it a few times .

 

[Rnd210]

I used shavings, the first time I had guinea pigs for about a month and couldn't stand the smell and that was with cleaning the cage about every 4-5 days, then I went to using only fleece pads and I do a complete cage cleaning every Saturday and spot clean 1-2 times a day. I also use fleece in the Hayloft area.

 

[PigsandPugs]

Do you just use mangers in hayloft or actual piles of hay on yhe fleece?

 

[Rnd210]

I use a Hay box similar to the Heart buffet box just bigger and very little Hay spillage on the fleece.

 

[Shannon563]

I know this is an old thread.. But I'd like to announce that both of my guinea pigs have passed away..

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[Guinea Pig Papa]

I'm sorry, Shannon. What happened to the poor little things?

 

[ZiggyPig]

I know this is an old thread.. But I'd like to announce that both of my guinea pigs have passed away..

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Oh my, I am so sorry! :sad:

 

[PigsandPugs]

That is heartbreaking. My thoughts are with you.