Litter Pan for Hay = Cleaner Cages

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ItsaZoo
Supporter in 2024

Post   » Thu Jan 09, 2025 9:31 pm


With Millie, I change out the chenille every couple of days. She pees everywhere and is smelly if I don’t stay on top of things. (Sorry, Millie, but it’s true.)

Ruby Sue can have a chenille pad in her pen for a week. Even though she drinks more water, she pees in her hay box or on one of the extra pads where she sleeps. (She makes up for her good hygiene by chewing on the bars to get on my nerves.)

The chenille seems to be more absorbent than my fleece pads. And when I shake out the chenille, most of the hay and poops and hair shake out. Some of the hay seeds stick though. They launder nice and dry quickly.

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Waddles
Party Poop-er

Post   » Sat Jan 11, 2025 1:08 pm


Good to know, thanks!

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Waddles
Party Poop-er

Post   » Sun Jan 12, 2025 11:50 am


I find draping a towel or fleece over the cage bars and tucking it under the cage liner to hold it down helps to deter a cage chewer. Maybe that'll work with Ruby Sue.

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ItsaZoo
Supporter in 2024

Post   » Mon Jan 13, 2025 8:06 pm


That’s a good idea, but I’d have to cover the whole front of the cage. She can stretch all the way to the top (she may be part ferret) and will find any bare spot to chew on when she gets excited. I’ve woven apple sticks through the bars, and put paper, cardboard, and woven play balls everywhere she chews and she just goes around them.

So now I distract her with a “Chit” sound like the Dog Whisperer uses when he needs to get a dog’s attention. It works for the most part, and it’s funny the surprised look she gets like, “Oh, was I incessantly chewing again?”

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Renonvsparky

Post   » Thu Jan 30, 2025 5:01 pm


I used to put hay in a little hopper that attached to the cage, but my guinea pigs didn't care too much for it. I just put it down on the floor of the cage for them. It doubles as extra bedding and they all enjoy it. The downside is that it makes cleaning and shaking out the fleece. I also have to change their blankets religiously, but it's all worthwhile to keep them comfortable and happy.

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ItsaZoo
Supporter in 2024

Post   » Thu Jan 30, 2025 11:18 pm


I was piling the hay on one of the wee pads that I sew, but the hay boxes are working well. Ruby loves sitting in there rooting around in the hay. Millie is sitting in hers sometimes. She’s not as enthusiastic about jumping up into anything like Ruby is.

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Renonvsparky

Post   » Fri Jan 31, 2025 9:12 pm


They set their cages up how they want. I just put in the pile and they eat the parts they like and spread the rest out wherever they want to lay in it. Most of them move their hut or tunnel on it so they can have cover too.

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Sef
I dissent.

Post   » Sun Feb 02, 2025 4:48 pm


I have given up trying to have a neat, tidy enclosure for our guys. I just toss a big pile of hay into their habitats and let them 'have at it. More cleaning work for me, but I feel like they are happier than when I insisted on trying to use hay racks.

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Renonvsparky

Post   » Mon Feb 03, 2025 9:57 pm


Exactly the same reasons I do it. If I have to work harder for the little ones, so be it. I'm willing to do it.

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