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Post by PigPog on Jan 26, 2008 11:59:08 GMT
Bedding Discussion: MegazorbTell us what you think of Megazorb as bedding. The Supplierwww.northerncropdriers.co.uk/megazorb.htmDescription"Its wood pulp, it basically looks like a piece of paper that has been through the washing machine and dried in your pocket." Thanks Emma (GuineaPigQueen) for the description!
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Post by PigPog on Jan 26, 2008 12:00:31 GMT
I've just started using Megazorb, and I like it because:
It's cheap to buy - I got an 85 litre (20kg) bag for £6.99 which does my nine hutches for about two weeks. It's made from wood pulp so it's natural and bio-degradable too. Good for the environment! I also think it's a lot less dusty than the woodshavings I was using previously so I hope to see the coughing stop soon. I like that it's pale grey in colour because I can easily see blood on the bedding - a useful tool when discovering if your piggies need the vet urgently.
My piggies seem to prefer it too. There's much more playing and popcorning in the hutches and they seem to be a lot happier in general. A big thumbs up from me!
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Post by eppingstrider on Jan 26, 2008 21:00:12 GMT
I use Megazorb under the hay (and above the newspaper) because that's what my rescue centre recommended when I got my boys. I tend to concentrate it in the corners and the particular places along the side of the cage where the boys tend to pee, but I although it obviously does take up some of the liquid, there is always a bigger patch on the newspaper than there is wet megazorb, so it must spread underneath it from the target area!
I get it from the Little Pet Shop online, which do nationwide delivery, but I'm one or two miles outside their free delivery area, so I go and collect it!
As it's a wood based product I'm interested in seeing how it composts along with the hay, newspaper and piggy manure (very rich in nutrients for plants!). Next year I hope to report success in growing fresh veg for the boys on a bed of composted piggy bedding!
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Post by teddypig on Apr 9, 2008 15:50:04 GMT
Just bought an 85l bag of Megazorb from Farmway for £5.29, and it's only £3.99 postage - hope that helps someone! I've been wanting to try it for a while as it looks so much better than woodshavings. I have no idea where I'm going to store the bag though! www.farmway.co.ukReason for Editing: added the link!
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Post by 2piggiesforme on Apr 9, 2008 20:01:55 GMT
ohh thanks sooo much am going to order some when i get paid your a gem jackie
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Post by teddypig on Apr 9, 2008 20:20:40 GMT
You're welcome - I have not ordered from here before, and they don't do a very big range of guinea pig products, but they do Megazorb and Burgess supa guinea excel food that my piggies eat for only £4 for 2kg, and £16.98 for 10kg which is also a good price I think!
If they impress with the the delivery and service as much as the price I will definitely order from here regularly.
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Post by guineapigqueen on Apr 9, 2008 20:48:21 GMT
My megazorb usually comes from Farmway, I have one local so I go and collect it. I changed not so long ago due to the wood shavings drying up the Skinnys skin and I dont like putting them on fleece.
Emma x
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Post by eppingstrider on Apr 10, 2008 9:46:10 GMT
I just put in an order for more Megazorbe and the response came back that it's currently 'not available'. I don't know if this is something temporary with the supplier, or whether something else is up. I'll let you know.
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Post by teddypig on Apr 10, 2008 11:41:20 GMT
Is that with Farmway ES?
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Post by eppingstrider on Apr 11, 2008 4:50:04 GMT
No, that's with the Little Pet Shop on line, but they're in Norfolk so I go and collect it. On investigation they say they can't supply it any more as their supplier has stopped doing it. I looked at Farmway (thanks for the tip) and although it would be good in an emergency, I think the delivery charge makes it quite expensive. I'm very keen on buying local where possible, so I did a search (just on "Megazorb") and discovered a farm on the Norfolk/Suffolk borders that stocks it, mainly for horse use. If I go and collect it I can have any number of bags for £4.55 or something equally small, or they deliver 10-100 bags for £5.55 each; more than 100 for £5.35 each. www.megazorb.co.uk They also stock dried grass. I'm thinking about switching onto it completely as there is a nice piece there (about horse bedding) which suggests I would use less of it if I did that rather than combine it with hay. There is also a very nice piece there about composting and reuse of the bags... It turns out they've got a composting scheme in their village run by a Master Composter which is a scheme I've just joined! I turned my compost heaps last weekend and found my piggy manure is coming on very nicely. If this was a month later I'd pick up a couple of bags on the way back from a visit to that area (it's about sixty mile round trip), but I'm going to run out this weekend, so might just invest in a delivery of 20 bags - which would be more than a year's supply! I think the car is never going to see the inside of my garage Of course if I do this, it means the boys are also going to come off their Wagg, as that's the only other thing I get from the Little Pet Shop. I must go onto the Feeding thread and have a look at recommendations for pelleted food Reason for Editing: typo
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Post by teddypig on Apr 18, 2008 19:18:45 GMT
I cleaned out Wilbur and Barnaby's cage last night and replaced the woodchippings with megazorb for the first time.
They didn't quite know what to make of it and hid in their house all night and didn't come out until this morning - even though I put lots of fresh food, veg and water out for them! They seem ok with it now though and are back running around as usual ;D
I really like the megazorb - it's so much softer, not just for the guineas but for me too, and I don't get the tingly feeling on my hands after touching it like the woodchippings. I like the fact it doesn't stick to my clothing too!
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Post by eppingstrider on Apr 26, 2008 18:00:21 GMT
Fred & George are now on Megazorb on its own (except for paper underneath). I did my normal thing of cleaning one half of the cage and putting new bedding down, then sending them down that end so I could do their hutch end. Fred did a double take at the inch thick megazorb instead of hay, then jumped up onto it as if nothing was different. He also found the hay rack and ate out of it while I was cuddling George . They're pooing in all the usual places. I'll let you know whether there is anything interest to report tomorrow!
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Post by eppingstrider on Apr 29, 2008 12:56:26 GMT
Well, the only interesting thing to report is that I'm much happier with the result of just megazorb on its own than I thought I'd be. ;D The boys seem quite happy with it, although complain about not being able to rootle around in the hay, so as well as the hay rack which I've put back up I've been giving them a mound of hay to play with. Today I stuffed that into their bendy stick tunnel, as they have to pretty much squeeze through it now - and that seems to have kept them well amused. The bedding just needs a pick over to get rid of poo, and a little scoop up of soggy stuff, but on the whole it's cleaner and fresher than before and hardly any seems to get through to the paper underneath. And there's less waste to dispose of too.
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Post by PigPog on May 1, 2008 6:03:03 GMT
The bedding just needs a pick over to get rid of poo, and a little scoop up of soggy stuff, but on the whole it's cleaner and fresher than before and hardly any seems to get through to the paper underneath. And there's less waste to dispose of too. I think it's easy to pick the poo out too. And the soggy stuff I seem to be able to pick up in chunks and throw away - easy! I'm glad Fred and George are enjoying their new bedding.
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Post by eppingstrider on May 25, 2008 19:18:30 GMT
Well, the boys have been on megazorb only for a month now, and I have only used 1.5 sacks which works out around £8 a month or £96 a year ....compare that with Carefresh!!
The downside is that I have to remember to put hay in on a regular basis as they clear it up in hours...which is not a problem except if I had an emergency they wouldnt have a backup of food to eat.
I dont suppose any of the rest of you live on your own, but do you have a plan B in case you have an accident and cant get home to look after them?
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