Advice Please On Maybe A Third Level?

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Florrieberry

Florrieberry

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Hi all, my C&C cage currently has 2 levels. Our 4 piggies love going up and down the ramp and I was wondering if I could safely add a 3 x 1 top floor from the back left corner across. I would like to know if I have enough support to carry the extra weight?
There are loads of plastic connectors and wire ties. There is a metal bar across the inner 2 panels of loft, front to back (from the seller of the panels) the left side of the loft has a diagonal wood bar across the front panel (but doesn't rest on it) and there is a long wooden bar running the length of the back upper floor (but only rests on it at the middle) .
I would love any advice re the safety of the current support and the options for supporting another layer please. Thank you. (pics below)
 
Florrieberry said:
Hi all, my C&C cage currently has 2 levels. Our 4 piggies love going up and down the ramp and I was wondering if I could safely add a 3 x 1 top floor from the back left corner across. I would like to know if I have enough support to carry the extra weight?
There are loads of plastic connectors and wire ties. There is a metal bar across the inner 2 panels of loft, front to back (from the seller of the panels) the left side of the loft has a diagonal wood bar across the front panel (but doesn't rest on it) and there is a long wooden bar running the length of the back upper floor (but only rests on it at the middle) .
I would love any advice re the safety of the current support and the options for supporti 20150413_192157.webp 20150413_192121.webp 20150413_192205.webp ng another layer please. Thank you. (pics below)
Click to expand...
Sorry problems getting pics to upload!
 
I'm sure you could make it work with the proper support in the right places. But would it be really tedious to clean? You would gain very little space. Where would the second ramp go? How would you clean the second level?
How about extending out of the cage? For example, make the short side of the L shape into a 2x2, but with a 1x1 overlap? Not sure if I'm explaining it properly.
I've had loads of different cage designs and have had 3 levels a few times but they really are so much more time consuming to clean. It's fun to experiment with tour cage though. Why don't you look at some other people's designs on here or on guineapigcages.com and just experiment?
 
Humfred said:
I'm sure you could make it work with the proper support in the right places. But would it be really tedious to clean? You would gain very little space. Where would the second ramp go? How would you clean the second level?
How about extending out of the cage? For example, make the short side of the L shape into a 2x2, but with a 1x1 overlap? Not sure if I'm explaining it properly.
I've had loads of different cage designs and have had 3 levels a few times but they really are so much more time consuming to clean. It's fun to experiment with tour cage though. Why don't you look at some other people's designs on here or on guineapigcages.com and just experiment?
Click to expand...
Not sure what you mean about the 2x2 with 1x1 overlap?
2nd floor is currently 2x2 on the left side, but extends as single width across the back. The ramp comes up into the floor through a hole cut with wire cutters.
I was thinking of either positioning another ramp above this, cut into a floor above, which would be a single 3x1 centre back, allowing 2x1 gap front left for cleaning that side, and a1.5 x1 gap to right for cleaning that bit. The top would have to be done by standing on a stool. I find fleece in the top is quick to spot clean and keep all the hay downstairs!
What sort of supports did you use? It is fun adapting the cage as our piggies love something different :-)
 
I didn't realise it was already a 2x2. I can see it now actually. Just notices the half a grid too. So it's a 2x5.5?
It's really hard to explain my ideas just in words. Haha. I wish I had pictures of my old cages left (although they are probably somewhere on thie forum) I usually use wood slats for support or a few times Ive made a third level thats completely free standing. Not attached to any other part of the cage so I could pick it up and put it on the flood for cleaning. I used metal table legs that you can buy in b&q. My cage was at the floor at the time though and the second level was completely open plan. No grids, just the correx sides. So that wouldn't work for you. Those metal table legs are good to give additional support in certain spots though. Especially if it's sagging somewhere when you make a long level.
 
I don't feel I'm being helpfull. Haha. Would like to see it when you've figured it out though. Love seeing other people's cages!
 
These are the ones I mean. You can just zip tie them to grids or correx through those little holes at the top.IMAG1589.webp
 
Humfred said:
These are the ones I mean. You can just zip tie them to grids or correx through those little holes at the top.View attachment 27141
Click to expand...
The legs are a good idea, are they the right height for the panels then? How do you mean free standing for the third level? What was it balanced on?
When you used wooden slats did you thread them through the tip hole of the side panels beneath the floor above like I have? The floor above doesn't actually touch mine except in the middle where it dips a bit.
 
Florrieberry said:
The legs are a good idea, are they the right height for the panels then? How do you mean free standing for the third level? What was it balanced on?
When you used wooden slats did you thread them through the tip hole of the side panels beneath the floor above like I have? The floor above doesn't actually touch mine except in the middle where it dips a bit.
Click to expand...
20150413_192121.webp
 
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