Advice Please On My C And C Cage, Ramps & Levels Vs One Floor

[Nelly]

Hi guys can I have some advice on my cage please.

I have two pigs who are coming up to a year old and one 4 year old. All girls. They get on fine, the baby ones no not to mess with mama pig!

We have this cage but it isn't very practical. The top is hard to clean, it looks an eyesore (it's in our lounge) and it's hard to get them out for floor time. They only have floor time about 3 hours a week

I have read that ramps take away from space as pigs can't do laps and wonder if I could get rid of the top level. I don't want to stress them and mess up their order and happy life though! It would just be easier to get at them with one level, and see them more while in the cage.

Been cleaning today and hinged the ramp up so I could get them out and clean easier which helped. We can't have any bigger length or widthwise because it needs to fit the unit it's on.

The irony is they don't use the top level that much. When I clean it is always hardly soiled and they are mostly down the bottom.

However I know 2x4 is too small for 3 pigs. If they were getting more floor time could I get away with it, or am I being selfish?! Be honest please without being mean lol.

Thank you x

 

[LisaAli]

Actually a 4 * 2 C & C is the minimum recommended size for 3 Sows. So if you could increase their cage area by a little and increase their floor time together, they should be ok, but as always the bigger the better.. It is worth a look at our members cages which may give you ideas on how do do this..

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/cage-size-guide.120795/

Lisa & Ali..

 

[smileyface:)]

it may help to only have their hay on the top level and just fleece on the bottom - I found keeping the hay separate from the fleece makes cleaning really easy as I can lift out their stuff, shake off the poops and then scoop them up with a dustpan, then put the fleece back. I use a puppy pad under their hay so each day that is just rolled up with the used hay and binned, ready for a clean pad and new hay.

you could also put panels on the outside of the cage to cover the parts they can't see through anyway, if you know what I mean, and other people put bunting on too, whatever makes it feel more personal to you.

 

[biscandmatt]

if they hardly use it then i'd get rid of it and have a one level cage and more floor time. then extend a little if possible

 

[Flutterby]

I am a voter for single floor, they are easier to clean and easier to access for the piggies

 

[Florrieberry]

it may help to only have their hay on the top level and just fleece on the bottom - I found keeping the hay separate from the fleece makes cleaning really easy as I can lift out their stuff, shake off the poops and then scoop them up with a dustpan, then put the fleece back. I use a puppy pad under their hay so each day that is just rolled up with the used hay and binned, ready for a clean pad and new hay.

you could also put panels on the outside of the cage to cover the parts they can't see through anyway, if you know what I mean, and other people put bunting on too, whatever makes it feel more personal to you.

I do the opposite and have fleece upstairs with a bowl of pellets, and bedding (shavings covered with hay) and a fresh hay pile downstairs. My cage is very similar to yours but my piggies love running up and down the ramp, so much so I would like to add another floor! Some nights they are all up in the loft.