Cage Quick hay questions

[chickpea616]

I feel like I'm overthinking this, but here goes: I want to have a hay room/area where the pigs can play, nap, eat, climb around, etc. I prefer not to just throw the hay down on the fleece, I'd like to keep it contained somehow. I've seen people using plastic Sterilite containers (and similar) and was just wondering if you do this, what do you use? And do you need to cut openings, or use a bridge to get in, etc? I think I've seen people also using shallow litter boxes.

Also, do you put anything on the bottom of the container? Or is it ALL hay?

thanks!

 

[lissie]

Any plastic tray will work.
Some people make them from extra coroplast.

If the lip is low enough, you do not need to cut an entrance. I think they can easily jump over 2 to 3 inches. If it's taller, you will need a bridge.

You need bedding under the hay. Hay is not absorbent and will become a soggy mess. I like wood and paper pellets.

 

[chickpea222]

Thanks so much! Quick followup - could you post the specific wood and/or paper pellets and where to get them? Thanks again!

 

[spy9doc]

After trying many different types of bedding and pellets, my favorite is Petco's So Phresh line.
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I have a litter pan on the main level and in the loft. The pan came from WalMart and was marketed as a "kitten litter pan". The sides are less than 4" tall and my boys have been able to easily jump over the sides since they were quite small. When they were babies, I started them with the pressed paper pans and simply cut a doorway in it.

I put a layer of litter in the pan and then hay on top. They love being in the litter pan where they can do two things at once. If the hay becomes soiled with poop and pee, then it is changed. I generally remove wet and soiled litter, spray with Cage Clean (old name) and then put a very light layer of fresh litter over that before adding hay.

Don't even consider one of those useless corner litter pans. I have never had a cavy who would get in one. The litter pans should be large enough that an adult cavy can stretch out in it.........and believe me, they will.

 

[spy9doc]

Regarding litter pans, I have happily found a source of the pans that I use and just ordered more. They can be ordered from Amazon or Chewy.

https://www.amazon.com/Van-Ness-Sma...=1519082659&sr=8-8&keywords=kitten+litter+box
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The very small pressed cardboard type can be purchased at many pet stores.

 

[chickpea222]

Thanks spy9doc! By the way, with that litter pan, do you cut an entryway into it, or do you use a bridge for them to climb in, or ???

 

[spy9doc]

By the way, with that litter pan, do you cut an entryway into it, or do you use a bridge for them to climb in, or ???

Read my previous post. Cavies are better jumpers than you give them credit for. If yours are very small, start with the Nature's Miracle pressed cardboard/paper one that already has an entryway. The blue plastic one requires no modification. My boys have used it since they were quite small. The only modification I made was to glue flat weights on the bottom so that it couldn't be moved all around the cage.

Chip will move anything around the cage that he can handle. Before I discovered my current pellet bowl, I watched him pick up the edge of the ceramic bowl in his teeth and slide it all around. Now that he can't move the pellet dish, he moves the tunnel over to the dish so that he can eat in private. He's such a little rascal!

 

[chickpea222]

Thanks again, sorry I missed it in the previous post. Yes, I have quite the jumpers - one can jump on top of a large pigloo with no problem, so it shouldn't be issue for her. The younger one may have a problem, but I'll see how she does. I'm excited to provide a hay room/area for them, up until now we've only used a hay rack, so I can't wait to see how they react!

 

[spy9doc]

I've given up on a hay rack, but have still left one in the loft. They occasionally pick from it, but why have to work at it when they can just hop in the litter box, munch to their heart's content, and take a nap while they're at it?

Yes, quite a bit of hay is wasted by putting it in the litter box, but it is worth it to me considering how important adequate hay consumption is to their well-being. My previous cavies didn't eat nearly enough hay and Chester developed the worst malocclusion the Vet had ever seen. hmy: Of course, part of the issue may have been genetic, but nevertheless repeat dental plannings and accompanying anesthesia probably ultimately claimed his life.

My boys absolutely LOVE fresh hay! They get so excited when we tidy the litter pan with fresh hay. They can barely contain themselves and compete to see who gets to the litter pan first. They don't fight over it and the other one will pick around the edges and wait his turn. If the box were large enough for both of them, I have no doubt that both would be in there together.

Keep us posted as to how your new arrangement works for you.

 

[chickpea222]

Spy9Doc -- Was it the bedding or paper pellets that you like/use from the SoPhresh line? I picked up some of the bedding the other day and am waiting to use it (have to still get the new cage set up!) -- but I did see the paper pellets right next to the bedding and was wondering which one to try, or which one you used.

Kelsie -- what a great idea! I made myself a kitchen out of leftover coroplast, but I was thinking of purchasing the Cafe for the new cage setup. I was thinking of using the Cafe for their actual eating area (with food bowls, water, and a hay rack), and then I found the perfect sized Sterilite bin just today at Target, so I was going to use that in the loft for a very large hay box. It's 6 inches tall, though, so it's either cut an opening in the side or use a wooden bridge (or coroplast ramp). I like your idea of a fleece liner at the bottom of the box, and just thought I'd ask -- is that something you purchased also? And is it the standard fleece layered with uhaul pads? Thanks!!

 

[spy9doc]

Was it the bedding or paper pellets that you like/use from the SoPhresh line? I picked up some of the bedding the other day and am waiting to use it (have to still get the new cage set up!) -- but I did see the paper pellets right next to the bedding and was wondering which one to try, or which one you used.

I initially tried both and neither the boys nor I liked the paper pellets. I suspect that they didn't like the feel of them underfoot and I felt that they were noisy. I have been using the crumbled paper type for 3-4 years and have never looked back.

Occasionally someone asks if the baking soda in the litter causes respiratory issues? Never in all the time I have been using the litter have we had any hint of a respiratory problem. That doesn't mean that it couldn't happen, but I think that it is a low probability.

I always buy the 40L size and it costs around $21 with tax at my local stores. After trying other types over the years, I have been very satisfied with SoPhresh both in terms of quality and the price point. Also, note all the great reviews.

https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/so-phresh-crumbled-paper-small-animal-bedding