Scooping Poop

[ashleynicol3]

How do you scoop the poop out of your chinchilla's cage? I'm using two layers of fleece (one big piece folded in half since I don't know how to sew) and I tried using a small brush and dustpan to scoop the poops, but it doesn't work well on the fleece. I also tried using the little hose on my vacuum to suck the poops up, but the hose sucked them up, then spit them back out. I guess it's not strong enough. Should I get a little handheld vacuum? I don't wanna take the fleece out every day to clean up the poops!

 

[Amethyst]

Most people that use fleece just buy a shopvac to suck up the poop, that way it doesn't get clogged with the hay and stick/wood pieces either. I just have a small pet vacuum that I use, it works, but wouldn't recommend it since it clogs a lot with hay and sticks, and the filter gets poop stuck in it.

 

[ljiayi]

I use the big kind of vacuum by Philips. The poop doesn't get stuck in the filter whatsoever and I can just take out the dust container after I'm done to clear all the rubbish that has accumulated. It's a good investment since I use it for housework as well.

 

[Stackie]

Shop Vac (around a 3-5 HP one). Had mine for 6 years and going strong. I recommend buying a bigger hose than what comes with them, though. It never gets clogged.

 

[ashleynicol3]

I like my vacuum, just not the tube piece. I think I'm going to get a hand vac so I can use it for his poop and for the hay that he tosses out of his cage. That way, I won't have to get the big vacuum out all the time. I'll just look for one at Walmart, the higher the voltage, the better.

 

[becky12883]

Hand vacs work for poop, but not for hay. I've had a couple and the Dirt Devil scorpion that I have now will suck the hay up for about 2 seconds and then it either clogs or loses suction. I use the shop vac almost daily, outside and inside the cage. I have a 5 or 6 volt one and it really really sucks (in a good way)!

 

[ashleynicol3]

I ended up getting a Black & Decker 18 volt hand vac. It definitely works for the poop and somewhat for the hay - not big amounts, but will suck up the lose pieces. It might be a little too strong as it lifts up the fleece a bit, but it'll do - I just have to hold the fleece down with one hand and vacuum with the other. I have a crumb phobia, so it'll come in handy for other things as well.