Does Fleece=Smell?????

[Jenni_Feathers]

I have read the fleece project study sticky and now understand what fleece does and I really wanna switch from shaving to it. One problem, right now my parents are financing most of my piggy care including bedding, I printed the fleece study sticky and had them read it, my dad loves the idea and thinks it is awesome and that we should do it, my mom on the other hand barely skimmed what I printed and isnt a fan of the idea, she thinks it will smell bad. I have had her read the areas in the sticky that tell that it doesnt smell but she still thinks it will. Can anyone pretty much back what the fleece project study says? It would help her to hear what you all say about the smell and your experience with fleece and how much you love or dont love it and stuff like that. Or do you have any tips on what to do just in case there is a smell cause that may help too. I think that she understands how it works but I'm not sure because she wasnt really interested in the idea but if she would just read what I gave her and about the money saving I'm sure she'd like it, she is just really really optimistic right now though. Any tips???

Please help.

~*Jenni*~

 

[YANGLiCiOUS]

I don't use those as well, only shavings...

 

[Ly&Pigs]

If you use the right combination of things under the fleece, spot clean daily and change the fleece every few days, there will be no smell.

 

[Jenni_Feathers]

Oh I have another Fleece related question.

How many yards of fleece do you need to get for a 2x6 C&C cage?

 

[Maisiepaisie]

If each grid is 14" thats 84" or about 88" taking the gaps into consideration. 2.5 yards would give you 90" so I would get 3 yards giving you room to tuck in. Don't forget you need extra to go up and over the sides of the coroplast if you're doing it that way. I find that the easiest way as it keeps it in place. I buy it by the metre and get 3 metres for a 7 grid long cage. I save the offcuts to make cozies.

 

[ctinaw]

I started using fleece as soon as I had my C&C cage built and there is no smell. I change the fleece approx once a week. It really depends how much they use their litter box vs the floor. Most of the time mine go in the litter box so I clean that more often depending.

To me the hay has the strongest odor of anything. I suggest you invest in a dust buster or another similar handheld cordless vac to vac the poops daily.

 

[babybunny]

I use a litter box and put extra padding under the usual tinkle spots. I change out the spots every 2-3 days and put all new clean stuff in once a week. I personally notice less of an odor than when I used shavings/carefresh.

 

[samoews]

I salute all of you who make the fleece thing work; I tried it, and after one day the smell was more than I could take! I don't want to rain on anyone's fleece-loving parade; I just thought I would give my (differing) opinion on the subject. I know there are many people who do make it work and are very happy with it, and though I love the idea and look of fleece; it just wasn't for me.

 

[Newpiggiemom]

I, too have been using fleece for my boys' 2x5 C&C cage. I thought it was a great idea and looked wonderful. I do however notice a smell after a couple of days. My boys pee wherever they want and won't use a litter box. It has been recommended to me to try mattress pads under the fleece that there is less smell that way. I haven't gotten them yet. I change the fleece twice a week but it does smell.

It is way cheaper in the long run than Carefresh but if it continues to smell I might have to change. My son's room can stink when the cage needs cleaning.(which is very frequently, right now)

If your pigs use a litter box to pee, it might be fine. I sweep the poops out every evening, it only takes a couple of minutes.

 

[Maisiepaisie]

Look out for mattress pads that 'lock away wetness'. I don't have a problem with smell but I did when I was using towels even with loads of layers.

 

[Scooter]

I have two girls, and what works well for me, is to have a thick towel as the bottom layer in the cage. Then, I put a puppy training pad and then the fleece. I change the fleece every 3 days. I wash the fleece in cold water with a mild detergent, and vinegar in the spin cycle. I have never had a smell problem. My girls like to lay, sleep and, when they are relaxing, mess in their bunks. In their bunks, I have a piece of vinyl as the bottom layer (which I wipe with a mixture of vinegar and water) then a washcloth, then some folded fleece.

 

[ctinaw]

I salute all of you who make the fleece thing work; I tried it, and after one day the smell was more than I could take! I don't want to rain on anyone's fleece-loving parade; I just thought I would give my (differing) opinion on the subject. I know there are many people who do make it work and are very happy with it, and though I love the idea and look of fleece; it just wasn't for me.

I think just like animals - some people have a stronger sense of smell than others, but I honestly do not notice a smell from mine. It also may depend on what kind of area your cage is in. I would imagine that one in a small room or bedroom would seem to smell more than one out in the living room because of the smaller space and less airflow.

I love the look of it and I'd think it'd be more comfy for the piggers. Also - it saves so much money. I do still buy carefresh for their litter box, but that doesn't take me very much since I line the bottom with newspaper first, then use paper shreds - THEN put in some carefresh on top. So the money I'm saving with the fleece is going to be quite a bit. And the towels and fleece did not cost very much - I spent about $30 bucks total to have 3 different fleeces and some new towels for under the fleece.

 

[ctinaw]

Look out for mattress pads that 'lock away wetness'. I don't have a problem with smell but I did when I was using towels even with loads of layers.

How many mattress pad layers do you use then? Do you cut them to size or just kind of fold them up? Right now I use 4 towels - so just four layers with the fleece on top. Since mine use their litter box most of the time to pee, this has worked for me so far, but other options are good to know.

 

[Pandora4co]

Right now I have fleece on my top level only. I use a waterproof mattress pad I bought cheap at walmart as the bottom layer, and I put cloth baby diapers in their usual pee spots that I can swap out every couple days. I change the fleece every 5-7 days depending on how much they have peed up there. It doesn't smell. But if I don't use the cloth baby diapers and change them every 2-3 days it does smell. That made all the difference for me.

I'm considering putting fleece in part of their bottom level too. They have a plastic box in the corner down there that they do most of their pee in anyway. I'm just worried about the mess from the hay.

 

[sohappy2beme]

I have a 2x6 cage and I bought these terrific fleece blankets at Ross for $6.99 and the length is perfect (either the twin or full will work fine because both are 90 inches long and there is ample room for tucking.)! What I have to do is sandwich the fleece inbetween two layers of coroplast because my girls LOVE to tunnel. I have the original coroplast base, then cut 6 inch high by however long the cage is, and tuck the fleece between the two pieces then hold in place with jumbo binder clips. Under it, I have usually two layers of mattress pads (also bought at Ross for about $13.00) and under that newspaper. I dust bust the poop twice a day--morning and night--and change out the entire bedding once a week. I promise, there is no smell. I also have two litter boxes--the girls use theirs a lot but they still potty all over the place as well. Presley doesn't use his as often but because he is only one, his half of the cage is always neater.

I cannot tell you how much I love fleece. Be sure to wash your fleece at least 4 times before you use it--that will really ensure that it will wick properly. Every week we have a different color in, so the cage always looks a tad different. God, I really love fleece!

 

[valfl]

I am still new to the fleece project. I got tired of spending so much money on CareFresh. Although I do have to say I never smelled anything with it.
I am still experimenting with fleece. I bought some blankets on sale at CVS and Big Lots. They were $3-$4 each. I also bought a waterproof pad at Walmart and am sewing it to the bottom of the fleece.

Our cage is in the main family room so there is plenty of air to difuse smell.
I have recently smelled a strong amonia smell but I had the fleece on the bottom. I am hoping that by changing and putting the fleece on top will eliminate that. Even then I had to be sitting on the floor next to the cage before I smelled it.

You definitly need a dustbuster or other small handheld vacuum to spot clean up the poopies like many of the others have said. That will help with smell.

Hope all this info helps,
Val

 

[pigsforlife]

I also bought a waterproof pad at Walmart and am sewing it to the bottom of the fleece.

If the pad underneath the fleece is waterproof it is not going to absorb the urine and it will most likely smell. You need something absorbent like puppy pads, mattress pads or towels.

 

[Maisiepaisie]

Waterproof pads are good if theres absorbent layers on top and the waterproof layer is at the bottom, those are the type I'm using. Ctinaw I only use one layer of pads. I got them from Amazon.

 

[John4216]

I find that the "smell" depends on your sense of smell and how acute it is also. I change our fleece every day because I can start to smell the fleece. This is partially because I have a sensitive nose and also because I have 8 pigs using the fleece. Now if it was only 2 pigs then it would not be as much of an issue.

So I guess the answer to the question is it depends.

 

[Jenni_Feathers]

Okay, thanks everyone, we are gonna try fleece, I think we are gonna drive in tomorrow to get it, I'm so excited I just cant decide which patterns to get...If you wanna help me choose (please do!) here is my thread for it https://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/cafe/30910-should-i-get.html