Carefresh Good or Bad

[Winnie]

Is carefresh good for the cost 3.95 canadian or is the shavings better?

 

[Ly&Pigs]

How big of a bag is it?

 

[Slap Maxwell]

Carefresh would be my first choice if it wasn't so darn expensive. I would spend $40 USD a week filling my cage with it. Instead now with kiln-dried pine I spend about $1.25 USD a week. Carefresh can be dusty as well.

 

[daftscotslass]

I agree with slap, it's extortionate over here - £2.99 for a 10l bag that would cover a quarter of my cage (if that!). You cannot seem to get the larger bags in the UK. I currently use it only for my hamster cage and the piggies' litter tray.

 

[Slap Maxwell]

Sorry for the triple post, thanks for deleting it. My computer went whacko.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

It did the same thing to me a little while ago, but it posted mine 4 times. I think the site itself wasn't responding like it was supposed to.

 

[Sabriel]

$3.95 CAD is a good price for Carefresh no matter what size bag. 10L costs about $7.00 CAD plus tax in Ontario. And that's at PetSmart which is the cheapest place here in Toronto. How bad is tax in Manitoba anyway? We have 15% GST + PST here in Ontario.

I use Carefresh for my boars loft. I wanted something light, but I didn't feel like picking shaving out of his fur. He also likes to play with his water bottle. (He's kinda ditzy. When he drinks he only puts his mouth on half of the spout. Water gets everywhere when he drinks.) I find Carefresh is more absorbant and easier to change little spots like that.

Not every bedding works for everyone. Some people hate fleece, but I love fleece. I'd have fleece on his level too but I have to find better velcro since he gets it wet (between not being litter trained and his water bottle issues he gets his cage really wet.) and the glue that holds it to the coro loses it's tack. Some people swear by aspen. Or kiln dried pine, or Yesterdays News (I use that under the fleece of my lower level) or wood pellets. Just keep trying things untill you find something that works for you, your pigs and you bank account.

 

[Winnie]

It's 7 percent pst and 7 percent gst they bag is one of those long skinny bags

 

[Winnie]

Money is no option but what is the best brand of bedding.

 

[Sabriel]

Then you guys pretty much have the same anount of tax as us. That's sounds about right price wise then. I wouldn't buy such a tiny bag though. I usually buy the big 50L bags. It's cheaper in the long run and you'll use it all anyway. It's not ike it's going to go bad.

The only way you'll see if you like it is to try it. Everybody has a different opinion of what is the best bedding. Slap Maxwell does not care for fleece and I couldn't do without it. That doesn't make either of us wrong. Just different people with different needs.

 

[amfeider]

I love fleece! How I made it was taking a layer of fleece batting then fleece and sowing (preferably with a machine) around the edges and a bit towards the center to hold the batting in place. To clean it you shake poos into garbage bag and machine wash every 2-3 days. You also said money is no problem you might want 2-3 layers of batting because it is softer. Also, make two to make changing easier. Totally this project cost me 20$.

 

[Slap Maxwell]

Your right Sabriel- I can't stand fleece- but that dosn't make it a bad choice. I love my KD pine- but that dosn't make it the best choice. I am planning on experimenting with wood stove pellets next week.

You just have to experiment and find out what your budget, you, and your pigs like the best.

 

[cutemomome]

I had the same delima when atrting out my cage, but after 4 weeks of testing and changing things around, I found the perfect combo for ME, of course, it might not be the best for you, but I hope this could still help!!!
I know I wanted these features for their bedding.
1. comfy for them.
2. affordable for me.
3. MINIMUM ordor.
4. Convenience for cleaning.

I wanted to use fleece, but I don't want the smell, so that means using and changing carefresh daily. DING-DING-DING, toilet train.

I started out with sewing 2 layers of cotton to my fleece.
I started out with 3 litter pans in 3 corners of the cage, (one corner was for their ramp)
I fill the pans with a layer of carefresh, press it down.
topped the pan off with hay.
I would change the pan DAILY, therefore no smell.
I take away 1 litter pan per week, so they have to learn to go in the designated corners, and finally, you will be left with 1 pan.

This way, the fleece stays dry (NO SMELL).
It is cheaper than carefresh, (you only use it to line the litter pan instead the whole 2*5 cage)
You dont have to risk them to respiratory disease by using wood chips!
The most wonderful thing is that the older pig will usually teach the younger 1.

I piggie sat for a friend for the weekend, and her girl went home, she started going in her hay dish, thinking the dish is the litter pan, so now my friend just replaces the dish with the litter oan!

Once the got potty trained, you can start put in cute little furnitures, and not worrying about them soiling the sofa upholstery.

PS. Works wonders with young pigs!

 

[Winnie]

Did you put it in one corner and just hoped he pooped in it or did u throw some of his old poop poop in the litter pan to teach him This is were you poop.

 

[cutemomome]

I started out with 3 litter pans, so nommater which corner of the cage they went to poo and pee, it will be in the litter pan.... : )
Then each week, you take away 1 pan, and you will be just left with 1.
I didnt put any poop in their litter pan to start off, because I figured they've always picked to back up into a corner and pee!
Look in my gallery, you will see the set up!