Nina
Junior Guinea Pig
I'm just wondering if anyone else has come across this with their Pigs before?
My young girls are currently in a Liberta cage with bars approx 20mm apart, obviously the base of the cage is plastic. My mum has caught one of the girls 'climbing' on the side bars she said it was just like a hamster... I honestly didn't believe her. However a couple of weeks ago I popped one piggy back after lap time whilst the other was still out I turned to look at the cage to see a bum and legs waggling in midair half way through the bars! I turned to look at my mum horrified and immediately turned back to see her waddling along the floor back towards my lap! I have no idea how she managed to get through the bars, they really aren't that pliable and based on her size there is no way she should have been able to squeeze through.
Up until this point, the cage was actually stacked on top of my boys cages several feet in the air. Its safe to say, it is now on the floor, and barricaded from all sides.
Well, last week I was cleaning the girls out and placed the frame of the cage on the floor, with the girls inside whilst I cleaned the base. Two minutes later the other little girl Rose casually strolled past me having a wander! Now Rose is the smaller piggy and doesn't seem to be developing as quickly, but still she shouldn't be able to get through bars that close together.
Now, clearly they are able to get through the bars. But in my lifetime of owning pigs (and my mums) we have never had pigs who have even attempted to escape through bars - let alone climb them! Am I the only one who's come across this? I'm beginning to get slightly worried about what i've let myself in for with these girls, as butter may not melt but they're certainly keeping me on my toes!
(P.s. Just to clarify any concerns about the cage, I'm aware that the Liberta cages are not good accommodation for adult pigs. This is a temporary cage for whilst they are young only, at the moment they have lots of room to run around and in 6 weeks they will be going into their proper cages with their husboars (who are currently recovering post snip.) I wouldn't dream of keeping them in this one long term, just thought I should clarify!)
My young girls are currently in a Liberta cage with bars approx 20mm apart, obviously the base of the cage is plastic. My mum has caught one of the girls 'climbing' on the side bars she said it was just like a hamster... I honestly didn't believe her. However a couple of weeks ago I popped one piggy back after lap time whilst the other was still out I turned to look at the cage to see a bum and legs waggling in midair half way through the bars! I turned to look at my mum horrified and immediately turned back to see her waddling along the floor back towards my lap! I have no idea how she managed to get through the bars, they really aren't that pliable and based on her size there is no way she should have been able to squeeze through.
Up until this point, the cage was actually stacked on top of my boys cages several feet in the air. Its safe to say, it is now on the floor, and barricaded from all sides.
Well, last week I was cleaning the girls out and placed the frame of the cage on the floor, with the girls inside whilst I cleaned the base. Two minutes later the other little girl Rose casually strolled past me having a wander! Now Rose is the smaller piggy and doesn't seem to be developing as quickly, but still she shouldn't be able to get through bars that close together.
Now, clearly they are able to get through the bars. But in my lifetime of owning pigs (and my mums) we have never had pigs who have even attempted to escape through bars - let alone climb them! Am I the only one who's come across this? I'm beginning to get slightly worried about what i've let myself in for with these girls, as butter may not melt but they're certainly keeping me on my toes!
(P.s. Just to clarify any concerns about the cage, I'm aware that the Liberta cages are not good accommodation for adult pigs. This is a temporary cage for whilst they are young only, at the moment they have lots of room to run around and in 6 weeks they will be going into their proper cages with their husboars (who are currently recovering post snip.) I wouldn't dream of keeping them in this one long term, just thought I should clarify!)
