I was looking for a bit of advice on cages/pens for our 3 female guinea pigs
Our Current set up is on the floor and about 4 x 6 to 6.5 feet with a tarpaulin as the base to stop the pee seeping through and a number of the Kaytee Hamster Fences around the edge. It isn't a full 4 x 6 though as we have a 2 x 4 Midwest Habitat in one corner but we haven't used it much recently as we were trying to get them out socializing and eating more and have kept it closed for a while so the available space is more of 2 x 6 area with about a 2 x 2.5 L area at one end. As bedding we have two 2 x 3 Guineadads plus a 2 x 2 for the L area.
The main problem is that the Guineadads dont cover all of the tarp so we end up with pee puddles that have to be mopped up and cleaned on a regular basis. Also with no side to the tarp pee and poop has a tendency to find its way out of the pen.
I had seen a lot of talk about C&C cages and found a website selling various kits but then discovered another site (guieanpigcages.com linked to from one of the GuineaLynx pages) that you could also make them yourself. I think the site selling the cage kits may be related to the one that has instructions on how to make them yourself as they have similar website names but cant be sure.
Anyway I was thinking of getting a 2 X 6 with a 2 x 2 loft (Probably the Roomie Zoomie one as one of our girls is quite big) which I think should work for 3 piggies but is a little smaller than what they have now (if you ignore the loft). It means we can use the Guineadads we have as well.
I have a few questions that I am hoping that some of you may have answers and experience you can share.
1. Do you know if the Cagetopia site is linked to Guineapigcages? It is basically the same address as Guineapigcaes but with store added at the end but they may just be playing off of their popularity i dont know. *Edit * never mind just checked and it is the same people.
2. Are there any issues with getting the kits (other than cost I am guessing) as I dont have much free time or space to try and cut and shape the Coroplast myself to make a good fit.
3. Are lofts a good idea?
4. If we were to widen the cage at a later date do we need a divider between the two 2 x 6 sections and if so is it OK to trim the Coropast where the doors would be or does that leave gaps for the pee to seep through.
5. As an alternative to a full extension I was thinking of adding a 1 x 2 section halfway down one side for the food bowls. Would that work? Does the food area need to be covered.
6. Are their Fleece liners any good as we would probably need to get one cut to fit the loft?
7. Does anyone have any suggestions for good hay managers? We were using an Ikea Bag holder but found they eat more if we just put big piles in but that limits their floor space.
8, Any other accessories we should consider putting in (we have a few hideys, one plastic, one woven grass and one Cardboard) they also have the pockets on the Guineadads that they like hiding in.
9. How would we be able to open it up easily to let them out (and back in) for floor time?
Just looking to make their home as safe, hygienic, easy to clean and as fun for them as possible
Any help and advice greatly appreciated
Thanks!
Need some Cage/Pen Advice
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bpatters
- And got the T-shirt
Guinea Pig Cages Store is owned by Teresa Murphy, who also owns the Guinea Pig Cages site and several others. The products and well made, and the service is good. You can assemble the materials and make the cages yourself, or buy the kits from GPC Store.
Their fleece liners are fine, but the reviews on the fleece flippers are decidedly mixed.
Lofts are a personal preference. Some people love them, some don't. The pigs are indifferent.
The cages are infinitely remodelable -- all you do is just reconfigure the grids in whatever shape you want and zip-tie them together. You can put two of any size together and just take out the center dividing wall. You will need coroplast or some other waterproof liner at the bottom.
You can leave one outside grid open like a door, and just clip it closed with a carabiner when they're in the cage.
But you can also piece coroplast together. Just tape it well from the underside with some kind of tape that can withstand moisture.
Hideys are up to you. Just don't clutter the floor of the cage with them, and make sure they've all got at least two doors. You can cut way down on the cage furniture by hanging fleece forests in the cage.
I prefer hay in a big pile. I think you get fewer hay pokes in the face that way.
The food area does not need to be covered. I just put the plate down wherever there's room. My pigs have always moonlighted as furniture movers, so nothing is ever where it was when I left it.
Their fleece liners are fine, but the reviews on the fleece flippers are decidedly mixed.
Lofts are a personal preference. Some people love them, some don't. The pigs are indifferent.
The cages are infinitely remodelable -- all you do is just reconfigure the grids in whatever shape you want and zip-tie them together. You can put two of any size together and just take out the center dividing wall. You will need coroplast or some other waterproof liner at the bottom.
You can leave one outside grid open like a door, and just clip it closed with a carabiner when they're in the cage.
But you can also piece coroplast together. Just tape it well from the underside with some kind of tape that can withstand moisture.
Hideys are up to you. Just don't clutter the floor of the cage with them, and make sure they've all got at least two doors. You can cut way down on the cage furniture by hanging fleece forests in the cage.
I prefer hay in a big pile. I think you get fewer hay pokes in the face that way.
The food area does not need to be covered. I just put the plate down wherever there's room. My pigs have always moonlighted as furniture movers, so nothing is ever where it was when I left it.
Thanks for the info bpatters, it looks like it may be just what we need to try and make things easier on the housekeeping side of things. I know what you mean, a couple of our girls also seem to moonlight in furniture moving as well.
Here is a pic of our 3 girls (If I got the image hosting sorted). It also shows some of the issues we face with the current pen set up in terms of keeping it clean.
We believe one of the girls is an American (Chunkita, on the right), one an Abyssinian (Siouxsie/Suzi, on the left) and we think the other one (Nala, middle) may be a Ridgeback
https://imgur.com/kk1B83C
Here is a pic of our 3 girls (If I got the image hosting sorted). It also shows some of the issues we face with the current pen set up in terms of keeping it clean.
We believe one of the girls is an American (Chunkita, on the right), one an Abyssinian (Siouxsie/Suzi, on the left) and we think the other one (Nala, middle) may be a Ridgeback
https://imgur.com/kk1B83C
They go through it like lawn mowers and then pull up the shoots.
We are constantly clearing out our local supermarket of it when ever they have it in stock.
We have started calling it Wheekgrass because as soon as they spot it they start Wheeking big time.
We just have to keep an eye on it as some of it tends to develop a white fluff on top of the planting medium and we dont want them getting their noses in to that so we usually pull it out once they are down to shoot level. When we can get it they go through a couple of pots a day.
We are constantly clearing out our local supermarket of it when ever they have it in stock.
We have started calling it Wheekgrass because as soon as they spot it they start Wheeking big time.
We just have to keep an eye on it as some of it tends to develop a white fluff on top of the planting medium and we dont want them getting their noses in to that so we usually pull it out once they are down to shoot level. When we can get it they go through a couple of pots a day.
Thank you. We are trying to but there is so much to learn and pay attention to. This site has been pretty much our "GoTo" source of info since we got them in March, especially after we lost Mu Mu. I dont think my wife had any idea what she was getting us in to when she got them and how much work they would be.
They certainly are a handfull and each have their own little personality
Siouxsie is a bit changeable, an intrepid explorer into everything and popping and twisting and running around like crazy one minute then staring off in to space or shy and reclusive the next, my nickname for her, after 4 weeks of having to medicate all 3 of them single handed for different issues while the wife and daughter were away, is "Boopy". As when ever I am doing anything in the pen she comes along and "boops" me with her nose. She always bites me when I pick her up to weigh although usually not too hard although she has drawn blood on a couple of occasions. She has a bit of a head tilt as well, more so if she is stressed, after an ear infection so is a little "wonky"
Nala is super energetic as well an wants whatever I am giving to the others and will barge in to get it. She can be skittish and gives me a run for my money when it comes to picking her up for weighing, she will chatter at me and when I get hold of her she will squeak a bit but then settles down.
Chunkita (or Chunky as call her as she is over 1KG) is the boss girl, she will hurtle around at full tilt on occasion especially during floor time but is a big lass so only does it when she feels like it, the rest of teh time she trots or ambles but will go through everything in her patch (bowls, hideys, her sisters) liek a steam roller. She has a bit of difficulty grooming as she cant reach her butt fully so i have had to sneak up behind her to remove the odd "Klingon" every now and then which usually results in a squeak and a jump but she settles down after that. She absolutely does not want to be picked up and being so big it is tricky trying to corner her so I usually have to use a tunnel or other ruse to catch her. Once I have her she calms down but really doesn't like being handled and will struggle at every opportunity (The vet had to call for help once telling her tech "I have a suicidal piggie on my hands when she was in for a check up) . Every time she hears the fridge door or the rustle of a bag she goes in to full wheek mode and is always watching me when I come out of the kitchen in case i have something for her. Nala is getting the same.
All three were from different stores at different times so no blood ties but they get on well enough.
We love them to pieces but they are a lot of work so I am hoping a better cage/pen arrangement will help reduce some of that.
They certainly are a handfull and each have their own little personality
Siouxsie is a bit changeable, an intrepid explorer into everything and popping and twisting and running around like crazy one minute then staring off in to space or shy and reclusive the next, my nickname for her, after 4 weeks of having to medicate all 3 of them single handed for different issues while the wife and daughter were away, is "Boopy". As when ever I am doing anything in the pen she comes along and "boops" me with her nose. She always bites me when I pick her up to weigh although usually not too hard although she has drawn blood on a couple of occasions. She has a bit of a head tilt as well, more so if she is stressed, after an ear infection so is a little "wonky"
Nala is super energetic as well an wants whatever I am giving to the others and will barge in to get it. She can be skittish and gives me a run for my money when it comes to picking her up for weighing, she will chatter at me and when I get hold of her she will squeak a bit but then settles down.
Chunkita (or Chunky as call her as she is over 1KG) is the boss girl, she will hurtle around at full tilt on occasion especially during floor time but is a big lass so only does it when she feels like it, the rest of teh time she trots or ambles but will go through everything in her patch (bowls, hideys, her sisters) liek a steam roller. She has a bit of difficulty grooming as she cant reach her butt fully so i have had to sneak up behind her to remove the odd "Klingon" every now and then which usually results in a squeak and a jump but she settles down after that. She absolutely does not want to be picked up and being so big it is tricky trying to corner her so I usually have to use a tunnel or other ruse to catch her. Once I have her she calms down but really doesn't like being handled and will struggle at every opportunity (The vet had to call for help once telling her tech "I have a suicidal piggie on my hands when she was in for a check up) . Every time she hears the fridge door or the rustle of a bag she goes in to full wheek mode and is always watching me when I come out of the kitchen in case i have something for her. Nala is getting the same.
All three were from different stores at different times so no blood ties but they get on well enough.
We love them to pieces but they are a lot of work so I am hoping a better cage/pen arrangement will help reduce some of that.
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Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
Some people have cats that love to watch "guinea pig TV" :-)
Check over this page. It might help you avoid getting bitten (gentle or hard).
www.guinealynx.info/handling.html
Check over this page. It might help you avoid getting bitten (gentle or hard).
www.guinealynx.info/handling.html
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RavenShade
- Thanks for the Memories
They are actually similar colors to my trio.
I have a C&C and I use UHaul fleece furniture blankets (the gray ones - and get UHaul, I bought some others off Amazon and could not use them), with fleece over top. Fold-able to any cage configuration. My old cage housed more pigs and was an L shape.
I have a C&C and I use UHaul fleece furniture blankets (the gray ones - and get UHaul, I bought some others off Amazon and could not use them), with fleece over top. Fold-able to any cage configuration. My old cage housed more pigs and was an L shape.
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GrannyJu1
- Supporter in '21
When Scatter (my second neutered boar) died, we combined the two cages into an "L" shape. Not a perfect fit since they were on tables, but it worked. We cut the coroplast so one piece laid down between the two cages and I covered it with a small fleece 'rag'. They didn't use the second cage much so I made it the feeding cage. this made it easy to clean up loose food scraps. (I gave up on using bowls because food ended up on the floor anyway and dumping poop and pee from the bowls was kind of gross.) Both sections had hay piles and water bottles. They liked being able to have a "private" hay pile. I put hideys in both sides. By that time, I only had 2 pigs and was actively looking for at least one more. No rescues around here and no one had any pigs for me to take from a private home, so I finally broke down and got unrelated babies from a pet store, inadvertently introducing my pigs to fungal infections. The last neutered boar didn't live long enough to be bothered, but I did spend a couple of months medicating the remaining 3.
When I got my kittens I had to block the end again since I couldn't make a lid to fit, and the kittens definitely made a lid a necessity! I now use the second cage for storage and kittens.
When I got my kittens I had to block the end again since I couldn't make a lid to fit, and the kittens definitely made a lid a necessity! I now use the second cage for storage and kittens.
We have GuineaDads that are similar to the U-Haul blankets but with a quilted fleece topping and a waterproof backing plus a fleece pocket for them to burrow in to at one end. They seem to work quite well as long as they pee and poop on them and not the bare areas of tarp. You do have to do a poop sweep a few times a day and they say to wash them once a week but we have been doing that twice a week.
As well as the loft I was thinking of adding a small 1 x 2 T half way down for a food area to try and encourage them to pee and poop there as well but on the GuineDad so it is easier to clean.
Going to try and get it ordered soon and will post pics once I get it set up. Looking forward to not having to deal with pee puddles!
Thanks for all the info and advice
As well as the loft I was thinking of adding a small 1 x 2 T half way down for a food area to try and encourage them to pee and poop there as well but on the GuineDad so it is easier to clean.
Going to try and get it ordered soon and will post pics once I get it set up. Looking forward to not having to deal with pee puddles!
Thanks for all the info and advice
SHOP AMAZON