Post by PigPog on Apr 23, 2008 23:03:30 GMT
Our Finacard Diary
Six Weeks of Testing Finacard as Bedding
by Rodents with Attitude Moderators
Bob - Hugs Cavies and Hugs-Cavies (Doris)
Foreword by PigPog
Finacard is bedding made from finely chopped cardboard and was brought to our attention in February 2008 by the developer of the bedding. Finacard is popular with keepers of rats and the developer was keen for us to spread the word about Finacard among guinea pig enthusiasts.
None of the staff here at RWA knew exactly what what Finacard was, so we decided someone should try the bedding first before recommending it to our members.
On that note, our intrepid moderators Bob - Hugs Cavies and Hugs-Cavies (Doris) embarked on a six week road test of Finacard to discover exactly what their guinea pigs thought of it. They have produced the following diary with photographs to record their progress.
A big thank you to Bob and Doris for their hard work and expenses in testing this bedding for us.
Finacard is bedding made from finely chopped cardboard and was brought to our attention in February 2008 by the developer of the bedding. Finacard is popular with keepers of rats and the developer was keen for us to spread the word about Finacard among guinea pig enthusiasts.
None of the staff here at RWA knew exactly what what Finacard was, so we decided someone should try the bedding first before recommending it to our members.
On that note, our intrepid moderators Bob - Hugs Cavies and Hugs-Cavies (Doris) embarked on a six week road test of Finacard to discover exactly what their guinea pigs thought of it. They have produced the following diary with photographs to record their progress.
A big thank you to Bob and Doris for their hard work and expenses in testing this bedding for us.
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08 March 2008
All our piggies are currently on Finacard bedding, we got some yesterday from our local shop (large bale £9.99) and have used over 1/2 on our piggies.
They seem to like it. ;D
The downside is that it is quite expensive in the amount that we need, also there is only one stockist in our area. We are considering whether to keep our long haired piggies on it. We will let you know what it is like next week.
I've been looking at their website, and it says that you can have bales delivered and that a maxi bale can last up to 6 months. I'm not sure what size we have, but it isn't going to last that long.
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09 March 2008
Here are some pics of the piggies on Finacard. We e-mailed to ask about the size of the maxi bale and it is 630mm x 360mm x 300mm. Its definitely better for longhairs, we could also see it being better for skinnies too.
They do all seem happier on it too!
We also just put the degus on Finacard, they seem happy, running about their cage like mad things (this is perfectly normal!).
I am hoping they will find the Finacard gentler on their little feet - we worry about the degus and their little feet as they can get bumblefoot like the guineas.
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15 March 2008
The bedding in my view is good, and we are likely to be carrying on using it. Having spoken to a rat person at work, it is very widely used in the rat world with good results. Also, Harry has now thrown some at me, and its much easier to clear up than woodshavings which he used to thow at me!!
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21 March 2008
We've now been on Finacard bedding for a full fortnight. It seems easier to clean out, and I use less bin bags for the same amount of stuff. The pigs seem happier on it, and it seems a lot less messy in the house too. On woodshavings the piggies used to wiff a bit towards the end of the week, on this they don't. I think its going to be better for our Swiss Rhydian, as he is less likely to be covered in stuff!!
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22 March 2008
It can be used in carriers and for shows as well as for normal use. I loaded up our carriers today, and noticed that the Finacard is less likely to get caught in the rungs of our four boxes.
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23 March 2008
I had every intention of taking pictures of our piggies on Finacard at the show today, only it was sooooooo cold we were more worried about keeping us warm!! You see the show was in a tent. That said - another bonus of Finacard, I didn't get any splinters from it, but I got it from removing the woodshavings! I also felt that ours although were cold, were more comfortable on Finacard, I think it feels better under the feet.
We are off to another show next weekend, and this one is under normal hall conditions! So will endevour to get pictures of both them at the show and in the carriers.
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28 March 2008
Carrier loaded, this is our "four box" show style box (also known as the piggie caravan!). First with just the Finacard, with the hay on top ready to go, and lastly with the pigs inside.
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04 April 2008
Ok, as promised, piggies on Finacard at a show!
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15 April 2008
Our hormonally challenged sow (Myrtle) who up until recently didn't have any fur on her back side, seems to now be growing fur. I think Myrtle is a combination of changing to Finacard, and her going through the guinea pig menapause, but I am fairly certain that Finacard has played a part in her fur growing back.
-- Copyright 2008 Bob and Doris of Hugs Cavies. Written for Guinea Pigs - Rodents with Attitude. All opinions are those of Bob and Doris and based on an impartial experience of Finacard bedding. Please ask permission if you would like to reprint this article.
