Do cage liners really need to be three layers thick?

[Caroline]

Measured my FN 142, have my coupons and am heading out the door soon to go and buy fabric for liners. Do I really need to line the them with quilting?

Also wondering about how much extra fabric I should purchase to make a hammock and other fun items for Hayley's cage?

 

[Twilight Chinchillas]

I think I've seen posts where people used terry cloth for the center, to help absorb urine. I'd get at least an extra yard, as you can replace hammocks as they become toast, but you can also make hay holders, tube covers, hidey houses etc.

 

[Caroline]

How much fabric is needed for a hammock?

 

[ChinnyMom]

i use just two layers of fleece and it works fine to absorb the urine. i change out liners about every second day. would go longer but Rhino is starting to be a monkey and pee on his liner, right beside his litter pan. lil booger........ lol.

 

[Chin_Parent]

I use two layers of fleece too, and it depends on the cage how often I change it. Chalupa drinks TONS so hers gets changed every couple days, Chinchy's can go for 4 days or more, and Persephone is too new to tell, but since she has a big bottom on her cage, it should last a few days. I like to make three liners for each cage, and so far I've gotten 8 yards to complete liners and covers for plastic/wire ledges. I would measure and do some quick math before you go, and it is always nice to have extras to make other fleece accessories.

 

[ChinnyMom]

and pre wash and dry your fleece before sewing! lol. don't want it shrinking and contorting after you've put tons of work into a hammock or house.

 

[mishellyshel]

i dont even "make" liners. i just buy the thicker fleece and cut to measure my FN and then fold in half, so technically it is 2 layers. i have litter dishes in all my cages and dump them either nightly or every other depending on cage.
some of my boys pee in the same spot only on the fleece. for those guys i get an extra piece of fleece and put it on top of the spot, i change that every day or every other depending on the chin. i also clean my cages every night removing all debris of shavings, hay, & food. i change my fleece liners about 1 time per week. more if they get stinky, but with the nightly cleanup and litter or small fleece change, once a week works.
there is usually 1 or 2 cages that i need to do a triple layer of fleece but you figure all that out as you go.
i always wait til the fleece is on sale and then get about 3 yards which does about 2 liners with extra left over for pieces.
and i always wash and dry before cutting to avoid shrinkage!

 

[ChinnyMom]

i dont even "make" liners. i just buy the thicker fleece and cut to measure my FN and then fold in half, so technically it is 2 layers.

that's what i do too. with only one 'official' liner, and the others just cut and folded fleece.

 

[Essentia]

I have a few actual sewed liners, but mostly I just use the folded in half fleece. For me, it also washes better than the actual liners since it only has to wash one layer.

 

[Caroline]

So like I have stated, I was heading out the door, coupons in hand to purchase fleece. Had a dr's appt on the way for a problem with my dominant hand and ended up walking out with it in a cast. Seems the pain was being caused by calicum deposits on my thumb joint. Heres to hoping it will work and I can avoid joint replacement surgery in the fall. So unless I can figure out a way to work with this cast on the way that I managed to figure out how to groom, saddle, bridle and ride my horse, the project of getting the cage ready for Hayley has been put on the back burner for a few weeks. I did stop at Joanns and found some cute fabric that was on sale.

 

[ChinnyMom]

i feel your pain! i had a 'ganglion' (spelling?) on the side of my dominant hand/wrist and it caused me no end of trouble for years through my childhood. doc said it was a calcium deposit on the wrist joint. funny enough, it appeared when i fell off my bike, and when i fell off my horse, that's when it went away on its own! lol.

 

[comtnmama]

Brilliant! Especially considering one of my girls just figured out how much fun chewing the thread seams out of things can be. :banghead:

that's what i do too. with only one 'official' liner, and the others just cut and folded fleece.

 

[Caroline]

Well, wish that would have happened today when I fell off my horse. Mind you I probably would not have fallen off had my hand been in a cast. Silly boy has slimmed down now that he has lost all his winter coat and is getting out more, plus he bloated when I went to retighten his girth and so the saddle slid as I was dismounting (thank goodness) and down I went. Landed on cast which also then in turn prevented my arm from breaking.

 

[ChinnyMom]

i remember when my lil brat of a pony used to do that bloat while girthing trick! lol.

Patty, anything made of fleece for chins should have hidden seams, to ensure they don't get at the threads.

 

[Chin_Parent]

I just made tons of fleece stuff for my new girl Persephone, and she finds it super fun to yank the pan liner out of place. I always hate that, especially since I hand sewed it, I'm just thinking "Please, please don't chew on it, mommy just spent the last couple hours making that for you."

As I'm a jobless housewife for the summer though, I don't mind having something to do and spending the day sewing.

 

[Dawn]

I use 3 layer sewn liners, I change mine out about every 3-4 days and when it's nice out I line dry them. I can't comment on the comparison of 2layer to 3layer as I've always gone with the 3 layers, but I have to say they are nice and padded for sure!

 

[Andrea]

I have three-layered liners that are sewn and they are great. I never thought of simply folding a large piece of fleece, but I'm going to try that! I change out the liner every other day, but I have three chins in one QC mansion...I bet with less chins I'd only have to change it out every three-four days. I have two chillers, a fish bowl and a glass litter pan strategically placed so they cannot pull up the liner. So far I've had no problems

 

[Shooper]

My boys use their litter box to pee, so I just use a single layer and tuck it in around the edges.

 

[Chin_lvr]

I've started folding one layer over the other and putting a baby's changing liner in between. Something like below, only mine is cotton on the top so I wrap it in the fleece. I wrap it around the bottom of the cage put the marble slate on top and no one has bothered it yet.

But this may work too. It's hard to see not holding it in your hand.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4086282&isTopSellingItem=true
I'm always looking for ways to reuse old things I have around the house. That or throw them out!