IKEA fleece throws suitable for bedding?

[GuineaGin]

Hello! We just got two lovely piggies, at the moment we're using wood shavings and hay for their bedding and it's unbelievably messy.

Would those cheap IKEA throws/blankets be suitable for bedding? We've had some for a while, and they certainly have been washed a lot. They're a bit bobbly (is that a valid description?), would that mean everything would stick? I want our piggies to be comfortable and not surrounded by dust - though the advice from the recommended pet shop (not THAT one) was that wood chips were good.

Have a good day and thank you!

[GuineaGin]

www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/textiles-rugs/blankets-throws/polarvide-throw-white-art-20089925/

Oh dear, if they are polar fleece have I answered my own question? I think that's the type that's not suitable - but what if they've been used and washed for a long time? They're still soft though...

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I use Primark fleeces in their indoor winter cage but only the rough harsh ones because the very soft plush ones don't 'wick' and my piggies got pee soaked bellies.

Mine don't chew bedding so I can use puppy pads underneath then a newspaper layer.

Wood product bedding can be quite scented (even natural wood oils) and piggies have their respiratory sensitive faces right in there.

(If I wash anything pig related I use Ecover or those non detergent washballs. But IRL, I use the fleeces and throw them out. One fleece costs far less than having my machine repaired, and if I buy them on Reduced price, I stock up. One fleece cuts into 4-6. I always cut the stitched edging off, in case they catch their claws)


They are very messy animals bedding gets everywhere.
They're also very photogenic

[GuineaGin]

Thank you 70isaLimitNotaTarget!

They're still ever so shy, but one seems a little more placid and we even managed some cuddles today! Still trying to work out what "wick" exactly is, have been experimenting on the kitchen table with wetting the fleece with a kitchen towel underneath, still haven't quite worked it out

Here's our girls, they're 2 months old and ever so sweet!

[GuineaGin]

And here's the wood shavings, are these ones bad for them?

[GuineaGin]

Mmmm...we've only had the little ones for two days and we're already sick of the shavings. I'll try fleece and hope my washing machine survives...

Thank you for your help again 70isaLimitNotaTarget :)

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Gorgeous piggies and lovely colours. One of our boars was jet black (except three white hairs and a fatty eye ) when he yawned, his teeth were pure white, quite a stunning animal.

'wicking' is just where the pee goes through and the top stays dry, (like a nappy I suppose) so you need the absorbant layer underneath.
Towels are soft but absorb (I give mine any really scabby towels before I throw them out)

I've tried Megasorb (ok but I wouldn't keep buying)
I use Ecobale equine bedding in summer (tiny squares of cardboard)

In the winter indoor night cage, I like the rodent safe cat litter from The Range. No smell to it, it holds its shape well and makes a nice springey bed but piggies pee'n'pooh where they walk so I put a top layer of newspaper and a square of fleece that can get thrown out.
Indoors they have Hay Cookies or those cubes of hay, less messy, They have hay in the Pighouse to be messy with

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

If you wash fleeces, beat most of the hair off (Lakeland Limited do a Buddy Brush which is rubber) and put the fleeces in an old pillowcase, tie with string or a hairbobble.
That keeps it all in the pillowcase not your filter.

[MsMermaid]

I use fleece for my piggies. We have incontinence pads as a bottom layer as they are really absorbent, then a fleece on top (ours are from asda or B&Ms). We have extra small fleece in the hay corner with puppy pads underneath because the piggies pee and poo in the hay most often. I just pick up the extra fleece to clean the hay/poo out daily and shake it into the compost bin.

[MsMermaid]

And we bung our fleece straight into the washing machine. We are lucky in that we have 2 washing machines (an old one plumbed into the old coal shed, as well as the new one in the kitchen), so the old washing machine is just for our spoiled pigs.

[GuineaGin]

Wow, thanks for all the tips 70isaLimitNotaTarget and MsMermaid.

And of course thank you for your comments on my our babies! :)

[RattieOfCatan]

I use the ikea fleece for my rats, but the cheaper one! They used to do a white one with grey squiggles for £1.50, now they do this one instead:
www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/textiles-rugs/blankets-throws/vitmossa-throw-grey-art-90304889/
for £1.75. I stock up every time we go and use it as bedding, to cover the sofa, to make hammocks, etc. It's great! We use it until it's all destroyed, then throw it in with them until it needs binning Though I preferred the white one looks wise :(

[GuineaGin]

Thanks for the tip RattieOfCatan!

I have laid fleece on the cage and also made them a hayrack out of an old shirt. They are now both hiding inside it! Have checked that they can both get out safely and yes they can. It's nice that they have found a cosy spot, but it means they're constantly hiding, which probably doesn't help with getting used to us! Have ordered a metal manger, does that make me a meanie?

[EastMidsGPs]

If you are near a Poundland ..boxes of Rosewood Hay Cookies are cheaper there than P&H and other large stores. Their parsley bells are cheaper too

[PrincessPotsie]

I'm picking up our three baby guinea pigs tomorrow and I'm getting quite excited! It's DD1's bday on Sunday and she's wanted one for ages but in the end we've decided to get one for each DC.

[PrincessPotsie]

Wonder if it's like having a new baby...you've got all the stuff, sorted their room etc but you can never truly be ready?! I had a cockatiel, hamster and dog when I was little but have never had guinea pigs.

[EastMidsGPs]

Trust me they'll be at the delights you've bought them ..
shakes head at the discarded boredom stopping maze and ignored snuggle pads (with a choice of two covers)

But they'll be over the moon at the paper bags and cardboard boxes their gifts come in

[PrincessPotsie]

Ha! Much like the DCs then!

[GuineaGin]

I swear they have grown chubbier in the five days we've had them! Possibly because they're eating constantly - or because they're getting a little more relaxed and curl in a sweet ball rather than nervously stretching...

[GuineaGin]

When they eat spinach they're just about the cutest little piggies in the world

[IWasGintyMarlowe]

i use fleece throws for my piggies from a fabric shop in my town. they are lightweight, wick urine well and are easy to put in washing machine. i do have to shake them to get the hay out though!

[IWasGintyMarlowe]

i love to watch my piggies eat. they have their cage in the living room and when i have my meals on the table by their cage they eat too. it is so cute to watch

[PrincessPotsie]

Just got home with them and can't believe how tiny and cute they are! V excited!

[PrincessPotsie]

2 managed to escape inside which took a while to catch! They're all in their new swanky hitch after I'd had a cuddle with them all. The DC are going to be so excited!

[RattieOfCatan]

When they're settled in you'll need to take photos as proof ;)

[GuineaGin]

Welcome, little new piggies!