Ben and Jerry's new home finished

[Ben and Jerry]

It took me a few days working between resting my leg but I got there in the end. They have an L shaped loft 3 x 1 + 1 (if that makes sense). A large area of which is given over to hay the rest is 'carpeted' with vetbed over towels and I usually put their fresh veggies on there for them. They also have water and a couple of chewy things. The loft is accessed by a ramp. Because it would have been to steep if I did it in one I added a half landing and continued it along the return wall. I covered this in vetbed offcuts for grip.

The ground floor is an L shape 3 x 4 and two deep. They have their 2 pigloos, a cuddle cup, a suspended tube, a roll and rattle toy, a soft tunnel, their vanity mirror (and yes they kiss the piggy in it), a litter tray, food, water and a bunch of chewy sticks. Again carpeted in vetbed over towels.

Ben got really excited and after a few laps round the base and through the soft tunnel leapt straight onto the half landing and shot off up to the loft! Jerry thinks the big mound of hay is great and he burrowed right into it. I went to look and he'd completely disappeared but I could hear him chirping!

I'm pleased with it and so are they. :<> :<> xx>>> xx>>>

 

[Dindypig]

What a smart setup. Could I suggest that you put more hay into the upstairs covering three grids worth. It doesn't need vetbed under they hay, just 4 or 5 sheets of newspaper. Piggies diet consists of lot's of hay, so the more the merrier. They will love it even more and thank you for it. You're building skills are very good and I'm impressed with the whole setup, easy to reach into for cleaning too. I hope we hear more about Ben and Jerry as they grow.

 

[Ben and Jerry]

Thanks for the suggestion, I did put more in after the photo was taken but not as much as you suggested so I will remedy that now. I don't have vetbed under they and was wondering what the use as I don't have newspapers so I put a towel under it. I also notice how the loft was drooping under the weight of two fat piggies so I made a pillar out of rolled up correx and just propped it up under the bend of the loft. It seems to have worked. I have also added two more grids around the half landing so they can't jump out.

What a smart setup. Could I suggest that you put more hay into the upstairs covering three grids worth. It doesn't need vetbed under they hay, just 4 or 5 sheets of newspaper. Piggies diet consists of lot's of hay, so the more the merrier. They will love it even more and thank you for it. You're building skills are very good and I'm impressed with the whole setup, easy to reach into for cleaning too. I hope we hear more about Ben and Jerry as they grow.

 

[xkellyx]

Wow that looks amazing! Do you want to build one for me? Lol. I've currently got an indoor cage but next month I'm going to buy c&c cubes- would love to do something like you have! I have 3 boys aswell so need lots of space!

 

[twiams]

Looks great i’d love to have the room for something like this! i’m sure your pigs love it too

 

[Dindypig]

I don't have newspapers either but I have a lovely neighbour that gives me his rather than put them in the recycling bin. You could put a support bar under the length of the loft, a piece of wood with a notch at each end to sit into a grid square would be ideal. The extra grids round the half landing is a great idea (I missed that).

 

[Guinea Slave]

Fantastic set up! Can I ask? How did you make the ramp at the end? I have a very similar set up but have never used the top part so I use it for storage but would love to make it more accessible (they refused to use the ramp I made despite carpet like yours but it was much steeper. With a ramp like yours I think they would be fine.

 

[Ben and Jerry]

Fantastic set up! Can I ask? How did you make the ramp at the end? I have a very similar set up but have never used the top part so I use it for storage but would love to make it more accessible (they refused to use the ramp I made despite carpet like yours but it was much steeper. With a ramp like yours I think they would be fine.

I first cut a 8'' square of 4mm ply. I then cut ramp lengths of the same 4mm ply but only 6 '' wide. I then cut off the corner of the square so I had two sides 6'' long and two 8'' long. I then put the ramp on top of the square at the short side and drilled two holes through both ready for tie wraps. I repeated this with the other ramp. I then drilled holes down the longer sides of the square for tie wrapping it to the cage grids. Once I'd secured this I made sure the ramp lengths were correct and drilled two holes in the upper edge of the upper ramp to tie it to the upper cage level. I then tie wrapped them to the square and the grids. I went to all this trouble for both of them to complete bypass the bottom ramp and jump up onto the landing/square bit! I wonder why I bother. I used double sided tape to secure the vetbed to the wood of the ramps. I was worried about them falling or jumping off the ramp but they don't even look over the edge. Hope this helps, Jo

 

[xkellyx]

I don't know whether to blame my eyesight, my brain or my maths but how many grids have you used? I may do something similar for my 3 boys if you don't mind of course!

 

[Ben and Jerry]

I think I used 31/32 then put an extra couple under the bottom correx when I had it on the coffee tables. Now its on a one piece made to measure stand I took them out again.

I don't know whether to blame my eyesight, my brain or my maths but how many grids have you used? I may do something similar for my 3 boys if you don't mind of course!

 

[madguinealady]

i thought the ink on newspapers was poisonous to guineas I'm new to this and at the minute using sawdust in litter trays