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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2017 15:03:08 GMT
Sorry to ask this question AGAIN.. 😤 How annoying am I haha. So I'm tidying the goo room and they all need cleaning out, but I cannot shake the hemp flooring off as they all have ruffled it up so much it's just impossible to do anything with or re-put in. Kev has used the whole bottom level sheet to make a den. Pickles just destroyed absolutely all of hers in her and Pumbas cage. Aaaaaaaa! I know they clearly enjoy it, but it's gonna become very uneconomical for me. 😒 But other bedding makes too much mess on the carpet. I've seen a company on Facebook who make made to measure fleece liners. Is it really too dangerous? They all have fabrics in their cages and don't chew them. The only thing is Pickle occasionally likes to destroy the straps but doesn't eat it. The fleece covers are machine washable. It would cost a lot to kit them all out but if I did I could just use a sprinkle of paper bedding on top, plus lots of kitchen roll that they all love to use to make beds. Kev's nest that he's VERY proud of.
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Fleece
Jun 20, 2017 16:13:23 GMT
via mobile
Post by misscatafer on Jun 20, 2017 16:13:23 GMT
I think they would get smelly really quickly! I have two fleece cushion type things for mine and I have to take them out and wash them as soon as somebody wees on them as they absolutely pong. Unless you bought enough to able to constantly rotate between cage and washing machine... But it seems a lot of effort having to constantly change the whole cages every few days, plus it means ever changing scents for the goos which they might not be too pleased with. They do look so nice and tidy though! Everything pretty and neat tends to be impractical
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2017 16:37:26 GMT
True. Good point.
What if like I washed the same part from each cage every few days?
So like for example: on every Monday or every other Monday wash the top half level for everyone.
On every other or every Friday wash the middle section for everyone
And so on.
So it's only 1/4th being washed each time?
With old nesting material being kept?
I know the risk is ingestion with fleece. But surely the risk is there having any cloth toys/hammocks?
Pinky & Perky I discovered today have disembowelled their hammock. It had like sheep wool kind of effect lining on the inside, they've ripped it all out lol!! So the hammocks all bunched up and ruined on the inside. But they haven't eaten any of it as far as I'm aware - I've never seen any of them ever eat fabrics.
I'm not concerned for prettiness although, the fleece cages like for rats are beautiful.. I just want something that would last and not need replacing every month like the hemp is currently.
At £18 per cage per month it's a dear gig lol. They're literally destroying it so it's not cleanable.
I've managed to clean Pinky and Perky today because they're tiled and I use carefresh but it's so MESSSYYYY. Everyone refuses to walk in there and it's due to that cage.
I find hemp stinks very quickly and I can't shake that off or wash it either because of what they do to it lol!
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Post by Emziedee on Jun 20, 2017 16:46:43 GMT
I'm not liking the hemp for the summer. Going to switch to something else and come back to it in the winter.. not sure what though! They just don't seem to want to be near any substrate or hemp right now and I don't blame em!
I cut up a fleece blanket and I have bits placed around their cages and I always find them lying on that. They both adore fleece and I put it all on a quick 20 min wash and 10 min tumble with a teeny bit of baby non bio and it's fresh and ready again in 30 mins
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Fleece
Jun 20, 2017 16:53:28 GMT
via mobile
Post by misscatafer on Jun 20, 2017 16:53:28 GMT
Yeah I tried hemp as well, it just got destroyed and isn't strong enough to hoover off or anything, and it is stinky. You could try the rotation idea... But from what I've found it only needs to be weed on once for it to stink the room out. I don't know how yours wee (personal subject lol), but mind tend to have two or three favourite corners to super soak, and then the rest of the time they must just wee everywhere as they run around leaving little trails, meaning the fleece would get smelly very quickly. I know you have tried coco matting already and it didn't work for you... But I have only just replaced mine after I used the same two sheets since February at around £4 a sheet! No smell, no mess, easy to hoover off etc... They are in pound stretcher at the moment for £4 a packet. All degus are different though I suppose!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2017 16:58:54 GMT
misscatafer yeah I'm considering trying coco liner again if the fleece is a no no. When I used to use it I had to buy rolls off Amazon and it was really expensive like extremely. Not at all affordable in any way. I'm gonna have to find a pound stretcher if that's the case it's only £4! How big is one sheet do you mind me asking? Ours sort of wee in certain areas and that's it. They don't wee on their food levels. They don't wee on their wheels or in their beds etc x
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Fleece
Jun 20, 2017 17:28:03 GMT
via mobile
Post by misscatafer on Jun 20, 2017 17:28:03 GMT
One sheet is around 75cm across by 60cm depth, we cut ours to size using a sharp knife. We use two sheets just on the top level and use wallpaper liner throughout the rest of the cage covered in substrate and carefresh. This time we have covered the Coco matting with carefresh and substrate too, just because they are trying to get to each other through the mesh so are being more destructive. Just took some pictures, this is 6 days in : Boo has chewed through to the mesh on the edges in her attempt to see the girls below. remains intact so far! (only put the cider box in today to create a platform for them to sit by Boo more comfortably)
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Fleece
Jun 20, 2017 19:18:04 GMT
Post by savvy on Jun 20, 2017 19:18:04 GMT
I think you have to give up on being constantly neat and tidy if you have goos. The only other alternative is using a perspex guard to try to keep some of the substrate in.
But I must admit, I do run my house for the benefit of the goos.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2017 19:27:29 GMT
savvy oh I gave up with that a long time ago. I do my best with hoovering every day. It's about cleaning and cleaning them out. It's impossible with the hemp the way it is they just totally trash it and I can't afford new hemp every 2-4 weeks for each cage 😫. Although I wish I could lol as they do love it! I've got Perspex guards on Pinky and Perky's cage who use a loose substrate and it doesn't work at all due to the doors and little tiny doors etc.
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Post by moletteuk on Jun 20, 2017 19:41:05 GMT
Why isn't the perspex working? Is it on the outside?
I think wooden edging that sits inside the trays would be my preferred option. I know that wasn't what you asked lol! Loose substrate has the advantage that you can spot clean.
The fleece would have to be your decision. I don't think regular fleece would last all that long, I think they would dig at it and fuzz it up in places. I wouldn't pay a lot of money for multiple sets right away. Could you buy some cheap fleece from a bargain shop and make a couple to try? You don't really need sewing experience to make serviceable things for goos.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2017 19:52:15 GMT
moletteuk because of the way the cage is designed, the Perspex is on the outside yes. But despite putting several screws in to try and pull the cage together, there's a big gap between the levels and the outside frame and everything is just warped so everything just falls through. The doors are too small to get Perspex on, the little extra doors let everything out. I have 0 woodwork skills lol. I'd love to, but I have no tools. Cal is refusing to have anything to do with the goos as I've taken over a whole room for them so he's just being a big baby. I will give the fleece a go! I can probably use a needle and thread relatively successfully lol! What would I need to do? I could get some possibly tomorrow, if not Thursday or Saturday. Thank you ❤😌❤😌❤
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Fleece
Jun 20, 2017 19:59:19 GMT
Post by savvy on Jun 20, 2017 19:59:19 GMT
You won't need a needle and thread, just cut it to size. Fleece doesn't frey.
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Post by randomname on Jun 20, 2017 20:21:20 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2017 20:41:03 GMT
Destroying it, making it either into nests or just ruffling it up so much it goes straight to the cage tray metal. Literally within a day of putting it in.
There's none left on the bottom level of Kev and Poppy's cage, it's all been made into a den.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2017 20:42:08 GMT
randomname are hemp chips big enough to stay within the bars?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2017 20:42:50 GMT
Kev screams at me if I touch the nest lol 😱
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Fleece
Jun 20, 2017 20:56:42 GMT
Post by randomname on Jun 20, 2017 20:56:42 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2017 21:21:35 GMT
Never used flax mats. I'll give them ago. thanks!
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Post by moletteuk on Jun 21, 2017 9:59:46 GMT
@savvy I was assuming there are some kind of straps sewn on to keep the fleece in place Just had an idea though, you could use self adhesive velcro to stick the fleece down to the shelves and then you only need to sew the opposite velcro to the fleece. I reckon one of the custom wooden accessory places would make you some edging and it wouldn't be that expensive because it would be really quick to make.
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Post by savvy on Jun 21, 2017 11:12:25 GMT
You could always cut the fabric so there are strips on the corner to tie it in place moletteuk, it depends how good you are at cutting it. Velcro would also work. I forgot about holding it at the corners to be honest.
Has anyone thought of old coffee/peanut hessian sacks? A pet shop where I used to live would sell these off at £1 each.
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