I wasn't originally planning on getting my C&C cage put together until this weekend at the very least (and it still might not get finished until then), but I put together the frame today so I could judge what would have to go where in order for it to fit where it's supposed to. For the time being, it will have to stay on the floor, but that's another issue and I already know how I'm going to solve it.
My problem is with the potential SUPERMESS my two boys will make with their food and water. Food in this case means pellets, hay, and veggies. Opie is a little cleaner - doesn't drag his veggies all over the place, doesn't make too much of a mess with his water, and doesn't tip his pellets over. He just pees in or near both his pellet and veggie dishes.
Fidget, on the other hand.... Well, he's the exact opposite. If his veggies are in the dish, he has to step right on the edge so the dish tips over. He'll then sit on whatever falls onto the bedding. Because of these problems, I was thinking of doing up a partially separated kitchen area like I've seen some people mention here. The only problem is that I have absolutely no idea how to go about it.
I've seen pictures, but they don't quite make sense to me for some reason. In your experience, what would be the best way to separate the kitchen area from the rest of the cage so that I can put some sort of bedding (Care Fresh or maybe that Yesterday's News litter) in the kitchen area for easier cleaning of the chaos?
C&C cage question: About the 'kitchen area'
Usually the kitchen area is seperated by a low wall of coroplast. or by the cubes themselves as above. They tend to make more mess where they eat.
The main reason for the kitchen area is to keep the hay and litter from being dragged onto the fleece. It's a pain to get that off the fleece sometimes.
Veggies shouldn't be that much of a problem, they don't stick to anything and they are usually fully consumed. (I don't ever see any evidence that there were veggies in the cage after about 10 minutes.)
What veggies, you never brought us veggies, go bring us some you forgetful slave
The main reason for the kitchen area is to keep the hay and litter from being dragged onto the fleece. It's a pain to get that off the fleece sometimes.
Veggies shouldn't be that much of a problem, they don't stick to anything and they are usually fully consumed. (I don't ever see any evidence that there were veggies in the cage after about 10 minutes.)
What veggies, you never brought us veggies, go bring us some you forgetful slave
I did mine by doing separate Coroplast bottoms. One side fleece the other is bedding. Connected them by using a bridge/ramp. I used the Super Pet large fiddle sticks. I covered it with a piece of fleece.
My Coroplast sides are 5" high rather than 6".
My Coroplast sides are 5" high rather than 6".
This is my 'kitchen', it's a 1x2 box I made out of Corflute, it's independent of the rest of the cage (which is lined with Lino since Corflute is pricey where I live) so I can carry it outside every week and dump the shavings on the veggie patch
I think I put 8 inch sides in for the toilet area...or maybe 7, can't remember now. I also normally put another piece of fleece in front of that (approx 1 grid wide) that catches most of the shavings/hay that get tracked out.
It's the only system I've tried and seems to work rather well.
I think I put 8 inch sides in for the toilet area...or maybe 7, can't remember now. I also normally put another piece of fleece in front of that (approx 1 grid wide) that catches most of the shavings/hay that get tracked out.
It's the only system I've tried and seems to work rather well.
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WEAVER
- one pig at a time.
Here is another thread with kitchen set ups...
http://www.guinealynx.info/forums/viewtopic.php?t=49855&highlight=kitchen
http://www.guinealynx.info/forums/viewtopic.php?t=49855&highlight=kitchen
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New Guinea Mom
- There is No Cure
My kitchen area is removable as well. I take it out, clean it out, put towel and fleece down and put it back in. It's the best for me. However, I've been thinking maybe a litter box might work better. I'm not liking the high walls either. I'll have to figure something else out.
Questions about the kitchens...do you think they reduce the time between fleece changes? Does it help convince the pigs to go to the bathroom in the kitchen the majority of the time?
I was hoping maybe the kitchen area could double as a litter box type space to reduce the amount of laundry that comes with fleece.
I was hoping maybe the kitchen area could double as a litter box type space to reduce the amount of laundry that comes with fleece.
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New Guinea Mom
- There is No Cure
My kitchens do just that. I don't have much pee or any hay or food in the living area, only the kitchen. My fleece is always clean. I dustbust poops twice a day and that's about it! I really really like that.
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cutemomomi
- Obey My Authority
I pretty much copied and pasted Weaver's design here too.
*cough cough*
And this is the video about the kitchen/hay area... :(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmByGb9sR9k
*cough cough*
And this is the video about the kitchen/hay area... :(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmByGb9sR9k
New Guinea Mom, where did you get that patterned coroplast?! I didn't even know it was made in anything but solid colors. But yes, it does give me an idea of which direction I'd like to go. Both of my boys tend to use the area near their food and water as a litter box already, so making two separate coroplast 'boxes' would make it a LOT easier for cleaning up. Both in terms of mess and how often I would need to wash the fleece.
Weaver, thank you so much for that link. I remember seeing it once before when I first came to the site, but when I went looking again before I posted this thread, I couldn't find it. Shows you how much I know about message boards. :)
Cutemomomi - HA! I love the looks on your piggies' faces in that video. Totally not sorry about making the mess. And I might just have to partially copy your cage idea at some point. Under-cage storage would be wonderful even if I used it for more than just the piggie stuff.
Everyone else - thank you for the ideas! Once everything is all set up, I'll have to post pictures either in this thread or the 'show off your cage' thread.
Weaver, thank you so much for that link. I remember seeing it once before when I first came to the site, but when I went looking again before I posted this thread, I couldn't find it. Shows you how much I know about message boards. :)
Cutemomomi - HA! I love the looks on your piggies' faces in that video. Totally not sorry about making the mess. And I might just have to partially copy your cage idea at some point. Under-cage storage would be wonderful even if I used it for more than just the piggie stuff.
Everyone else - thank you for the ideas! Once everything is all set up, I'll have to post pictures either in this thread or the 'show off your cage' thread.
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New Guinea Mom
- There is No Cure
Finaldecember, I have regular coroplast that I used stickers on. I got the idea from Weaver! Momo also did something similar on the front of her coroplast, which also gave me the idea to do my front as well. :o)
I can't wait to see your complete cage and babies.
I can't wait to see your complete cage and babies.
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New Guinea Mom
- There is No Cure
Okay, where do ya'll get that rainbow bridge thingy for the piggies to walk over? Weaver, is that easy for them to get into the kitchen? I'm liking your low walls, but I want to keep the hay inside the kitchen area. I just place it on the floor.
I want to redo my kitchen! :o)
I want to redo my kitchen! :o)
It is made by Super Pets, it is called fiddle sticks. They come in small, medium and large, I use the large. it can be found here http://www.petmountain.com/product/small-pet-cage-accessories/507977/large-18-l-x-10-w-.html . I think they only carry the tropical ones here in the states, although I like the way natural ones looks, I seem to only find those in the UK.
I made a 2x4 CC cage and built a 1x2 "Kitchen" Area to the side of it. I didn't want to ake away from his running room.
