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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2017 0:56:05 GMT
misscatafer I used to use Coco mat flooring and i hated it. They destroyed that quicker than hemp. randomname thank you for your input. I like natural cages too. I just don't know what to try next really! They're wire mesh cages so I have to use something that's in sheets and I don't like Coco liner flooring and I'm really not keen on hemp. 🤔 I won't use the fleece then, I'll give it to my friend. I just don't know what to uuuuuuusseeeeee and I want to redo their cages before we move. Kev can't stay on cardboard and Pickle and Poppy are in such a mess with their hemp.
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Post by randomname on Apr 11, 2017 2:37:54 GMT
I used to use large wall tiles with a bit of hay on top in the mesh cages. They tended to poo & wee in the bedding, bath or on wood toys (as they probably didn't like standing in their wee on the tiles) Was low cost, but not ideal. pretty easy to clean too. Have you tried Fitch? The one advantage it has is it doesn't get flung about everywhere. Would be fine on top of tiles.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2017 7:37:52 GMT
I have tiles in my big cage and I hate it lol. Everything seems to fling everywhere. They have tiles with a mix of hemp and repticard. I hate repticard so I might give fitch a go in the big cage, thank you for that idea. ❤
Maybe laminate? 🤔
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 11, 2017 10:17:41 GMT
I think shelf edging could be the answer, you can use any substrate you like with edging, will take some time and effort but shouldn't be too difficult or particularly expensive.
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Bedding
Apr 11, 2017 12:20:41 GMT
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Post by misscatafer on Apr 11, 2017 12:20:41 GMT
We will definitely be getting shelf edging when we replace the plastic shelves, so fed up of hoovering daily! I have two fleecy pads for them which they nap on and seemed to really value at first, but over the past week they keep peeing on them relentlessly! You never know what you are going to get with these beautiful beings they have obviously lost the novelty at the moment! I'm so surprised they destroyed the coco matting more than hemp Emily, it just shows how individual degus are. The mat we use is quite thick and even if they rip it up it remains intact, just fluffed up.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2017 12:37:17 GMT
misscatafer they make holes in it within minutes, the hemp they pull away from the edges so there is loads of mesh flooring exposed. I'll work on edging the cage once they're all together and attached, no point cutting bits of acrylic down to side then having to chuck it due to DIY'ing the three cages together! I just wish they had solid flooring 😢. X the hemp is just one big mess, hardly a floor any more just huge balls of it everywhere. I don't mind the mess of stuff on the floor, I have that problem now anyway. It's finding something suitable to cover the mesh with. X
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Post by winic1 on Apr 11, 2017 12:51:11 GMT
We put edging on all our shelves. Because I didn't want to block the view too much, we put a lower wooden strip, then a taller strip of plexiglass behind that. That way, they have wood to chew on, and to hold it all tight, and the taller plexiglass to keep the stuff inside better. Nothing is foolproof, they still fling some stuff over (because they deliberately fling some stuff over, or someone is having a tantrum and kicking stuff high) but it greatly reduces the mess. Look here for how we did it: Paradise in a Critter Nation - www.deguworld.proboards.com/thread/15977/paradise-critter-nationWe left the plastic trays that the cage came with, and simply edged them in wood so that the edges were protected from chewing. So far, in all these years, no one has chewed a tray yet. On the wooden levels we added, we covered them with stick-down linoleum tiles. Makes cleaning SO easy! And again, the wooden edges protect from chewing. For substrate, we use aspen wood chips. Started with cocomat, it lasted a year or two, then they discovered it was absolutely GREAT for ripping up and stuffing in huts. End of cocomat. Instead, we put down a thin layer of loose coconut fiber substrate sold for reptile cages: www.zoomed.com/db/products/EntryDetail.php?EntryID=231&DatabaseID=2&SearchID=1We buy the bag kind, not the brick, and just put down a thin layer, then put the wood chips on top of that. The "coco-dirt" holds wee, instead of letting it puddle on the plastic or linoleum, and the wood chips provide some separation from the wet "dirt" until it dries. With the woodchips on top, this stuff seems to stay in place, and not get scattered or thrown out of the cage. At clean up time, in the areas where they prefer to wee you do have to scrape up some globs of this stuff, but it's easier to get off than dried wee crustations directly on the floors of the cage.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2017 13:35:23 GMT
Would the stick down linoleum tiles work to stick onto mesh? X
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Post by titchycatnipsandwich on Apr 11, 2017 14:18:19 GMT
I wonder if it might, if you stuck something under the mesh? I can't see the mesh providing anything much to stick to, whereas if there was... IDK, stick down tiles on the underside - so adhesives both facing inwards - they'd adhesify to each other and not slip?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2017 14:20:31 GMT
So double them up and make a sandwich with the mesh in between? X
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Post by titchycatnipsandwich on Apr 11, 2017 14:21:39 GMT
Yep, that's my thought
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 11, 2017 14:24:00 GMT
I'm not sure that would work because they are very stiff, I don't think they would flex around the cage mesh. You may be able to stick a single layer together by using stiff tape underneath, but you would still need to edge the perimeter with wood or metal.
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Post by ntg on Apr 12, 2017 7:15:09 GMT
Was it saddlers who used tongue and groove timber (the stuff that clicks together) to line his mesh cages at one point? At least that way it's safe to chew but a little tougher than cardboard or hemp so it might take them a bit longer to destroy it.
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 13, 2017 9:42:12 GMT
Yes, I think it's also called matchboard, details in the materials guide.
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jade86
Foraging Degu
Posts: 73
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Bedding
Apr 21, 2017 22:43:48 GMT
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Post by jade86 on Apr 21, 2017 22:43:48 GMT
Iv lined mine with vetfleece, but after reading the previous posts I'm not too sure this is good for them? One of the boys sometimes kind of digs it up at the corners but I'm not sure if he's actually consuming it, I don't know what to do know, should I look into an alternative? The girls don't seem to do anything with it apart from snuggle into it. Lining the cages with vetfleece wasn't cheap so I'd like to keep it if possible but if it's harming them then it needs to go.
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 23, 2017 10:54:26 GMT
I think it has to be your decision, Jade. If you could watch him as he digs at the corners you might be able to tell if any chewing and swallowing is involved. Are the corners ruffled up and you aren't actually sure if he is doing it with his feet or his teeth?
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jade86
Foraging Degu
Posts: 73
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Bedding
Apr 23, 2017 15:23:45 GMT
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Post by jade86 on Apr 23, 2017 15:23:45 GMT
I think he might be doing it looking for a way out because it's only really at the corner of the door he does it, I can't see him swallowing it but it kind of fluffs up into wee fluff piles, could it be for making the bed? It's just Baldrick that does it, he's really bad for chewing the bars aswell and can do it for quite a long time, starting to get abit worried. Iv just received a delivery of toys and goodies and going to be putting another order in next week so maybe getting some more toys and things will help, fingers crossed
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 23, 2017 18:58:32 GMT
It could be well worth thinking about and testing theories on why he is doing it. Some degus need more space than others and will always want more, some are crazy nest builders and you can keep them happy with tons of paper, cardboard and sticks, don't be afraid to experiment to figure out what is in his head. I use quite a lot of heavy tiles and square saucers for protecting areas and making potty areas easily cleanable, maybe you could put a heavy tile in the chewed corner, 'quarry' tiles are really good.
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Post by zenaida on Apr 29, 2017 1:19:41 GMT
Question: Anyone in the USA using hemp at all? It seems to be highly recommended across the pond. I went into my local co-op that seems to handle most of the horse stuff locally (and there's lots of horse stuff locally) and asked about it. They just looked at me like I had seven heads. Anyway, I've been using carefresh. One "60L" bag covers the whole cage. At my current rate, I use about 2 bags a month (do-able for me, but would like better). Today, google turned this up for me: www.americanhempllc.com/ Americans: any possible legal issues getting this stuff? It would have to cross state lines. My state legislation currently allows for the possession of recreational marijuana but the purchase laws haven't come into effect yet and the amounts are smaller. Obviously this is not the same as pot, but the DEA likes to try and pretend it is. Those abroad: Does this look like the same stuff you use? Small pets bedding link: www.americanhempllc.com/small-animal-pet-bedding and horse bedding link: www.americanhempllc.com/horse-bedding
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Post by randomname on Apr 29, 2017 7:38:15 GMT
Yeah zenaida those last links are the same as the stuff I use. Could you email the company and ask if there are any restrictions? They'd probably have a good idea of what's possible. As you probably know, maryjooooohana (lol) is totally prohibited in the UK but there's no problems with this bedding. I guess the USA are more *ahem* muscular (?) in their law enforcement, so clarification might be a good thing! On Amazon UK there is the ability to order a small sample bag from suppliers, maybe the USA version will have similar offers? Or if you ask nicely, the company might supply you with a sample.I know some people feel it's not as soft as wood shavings, but I honestly have never had a problem with it, animals seem to like it fine. Some people feel it's too expensive, but I find performance is better, so costs are not as high (!) as one might assume. Definitely worth a try in my opinion.
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