What do you use for bedding for you Guinea Pigs?

[MemooMerrilyOnHigh]

I've been using straw or hay but they just eat it all really quickly and I wondered if there was any alternatives. Was thinking or putting some old towels in the hutch or some wool. Just want them to be cosy!

You shouldn't use hay with GPs - it can injure their eyes. Definitely don't use wool - if they eat it they'll be in trouble. Meadow hay is best, on top of a thick layer of newspaper. If you're using plenty they shouldn't have chance to eat it all - you need a good, really thick layer. Don't pat it down for them - leave it all fluffed up and let them burrow in it and sort it out themselves. Make sure the hutch is in a very sheltered position - if possible, bring it inside a shed/outhouse or a garage, if there's no car being parked there. If that's not possible, put a layer of insulation on it - old carpet, bubblewrap, anything like that. At night drape a shower curtain over it to keep out wind and rain.

Sorry, my first sentence should say you shouldn't use STRAW!

We use Megazorb on top of a layer of newspaper for ours, with lots of hay for them to eat and snuggle in. Megazorb is a horse bedding product - I think it night be made from paper. I get it from the local equine supplier in a big sack which lasts for a good while.

We use wood shavings (the dust free kind you can get from a pet shop), but our pig is indoors.

yep definately no straw! It can also damage their insides too.

Oh that's interesting about the straw -- I look after GPs for friends and tend to use what they supply, which includes Barley straw. It seems very soft, I can't imagine it poking anybody's eyes out (softer than the hay, even).

Last time I cut out pieces of cardboard to fit (weird cage) and put the barley straw and hay on top of that. You can get shredded cardboard as GP bedding, too. I would use Megazorb + hay if they were my own beasts.

They stayed with us for 3 weeks this month and ate tonnes more than usual, I guess it's the cold??