2x4 Or 2x5?

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Pawz

Pawz

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I know the title seems to have the "obvious" answer of bigger is better but here is WHY this choice needs some advice.

I want to build a larger habitat for my 2 piggies. I would LOVE to go 2x5 C&C with a 2x2 loft but...First off that would pretty much dominate a very small living room right now. I also have to deal with young children running about and am worried that size may prove too big a temptation when it is making a play area less. In saying that, my living room will not be this small forever but our new home is not ready yet for at the very least an entire year away!

A 2x4 with a 1x2 loft could work, be less tempting for kids maybe and possibly be added to in the future but..would it really be big enough for the pigs? I want them to have plenty of space to run around after it has all the hidey's, toys and things in place.

I am so tempted to just go with the 2x5 and suffer trying to train kids to stay away but do I really want to make the space so cramped for everyone else?

Oh and just to put things in a bit more perspective a 2x4 is 149cm long.. where as a 2x5 would would push that measurement up to 185cm

Help!
 
How old are your kids?
And what sex are your guinea pigs?

I think the general advice is to go for the largest size cage you can, and 2 x 4 is considered the minimum for 2 sows, but not ideal for 2 boars.

Would it be possible to remove another piece of furniture from the room (an extra armchair perhaps?).

As for the kids, depending on their ages I can't imagine a bigger cage will be any more of a temptation than a smaller one, so over time they will get used to it. Particularly if you have clear boundaries from the start.
Are you worried they will try and climb in? If so a lid (or partial lid) might be a good idea.
Or explain that the guinea pigs are getting a new house and so are they, but if they play in the guinea pig house their new house will be taken away until they use it properly. Then get them one of those nylon pop up tents to make their reduced play area more exciting?

Just some ideas, but I am sure others will have lots to add.
 
The youngest is 2 and yes there is a popup play tent but that may no longer fit in the same room with a larger cage. It's not possible to remove any more furniture as there is only a large sofa which also reaches around a corner in here in addition to the TV wall which houses the big screen TV and it's surrounding storage unit (Big).
The cage will have to sit in the previously play tented corner regardless but the larger it is the more it encroaches onto the main rug that constitutes the main play area.

Guinies are a pair of opposite sex (male neutered). Although the do get lap time daily, it is not always easy to sort out floor time until kids are sleeping so I sort of wanted to make sure they have plenty of space to run even when not out.

Oh and just to add, a lid would be climbed ON, there have already been attempts made to climb on top of the existing cage
 
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i am lucky that we have a large living room,,.. we have a 2 x 4 c&c cage for 2 sows.. they have a loft 1x2 but rarely use it lol ! I have an indoor pen which i can leave set up every day for floor time. good luck with your decision !
 
artcasper said:
i am lucky that we have a large living room,,.. we have a 2 x 4 c&c cage for 2 sows.. they have a loft 1x2 but rarely use it lol ! I have an indoor pen which i can leave set up every day for floor time. good luck with your decision !
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I will have a large living room eventually it's just trying to find how to do things until the move. I want the piggies to be happy but I am also sensitive to the smells and the larger the cage the easier to clean and manage.
 
2x 5 is recommended for 2 boars. Gives them enough space to run around and get away from each other.
 
Squeakz said:
I will have a large living room eventually it's just trying to find how to do things until the move. I want the piggies to be happy but I am also sensitive to the smells and the larger the cage the easier to clean and manage.
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I cant stand the smell of hay.... makes me paranoid about the piggies smelling... but on fleece its easy to change and keep clean..
 
I've decided to go with the 2x5 with a 2x2 hay/kitchen loft. I am hoping this will give my loved up pair all the space they need as well as reducing the smell a little and still allowing space for any future additions to the 4 legged family.

Thanks
 
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