C&C cage musings...

[hellsbells82]

I have two pairs of piggies (boars) who currently live in my kitchen, one pair under the counter in a R5A cage with a stand, and the other on top of the counter in a skyline maxi. Anyway the plan has been for ages to have a two tier 4x2 C&C cage, and my grids eventually arrived last week so I built the frame today, but haven't ordered Correx yet and just wanted to get some feedback first really.

* The cage is going under the counter, but is deeper so will stick out, but I'm concerned that the lower level will be a bit dark and they won't see much, do you think using a bright Corex in white or yellow would be better than grey/black etc? Has anyone else got a two tier cage and how do you find the bottom level for light etc?

* Our last piggies drowned after a burst pipe/ceiling collapse/massive flood while we were out and it's made me feel really uncomfortable about having a cage on the floor, obviously what happened was a freak accident and is unlikely to ever happen again, but being in the kitchen the washer could flood or something, so am thinking about having it a few inches off the ground, and also to keep it warmer/out of drafts - has anyone done this, am considering making either a wooden frame or using bricks and will need a bottom level for the cage too.

 

[NotFondOfCarrots]

That's awful, poor piggies!

I bought black correx when I did mine, but I have shavings down... http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=66796

I suppose the only way to try it out, would be to try it out, if that makes sense? Depending what bedding you have, I don't think the correx colour would make a massive difference if there's something on top of it?

Edit: I should add, I don't have a 2-tier one, sorry! Read your post a bit quick there...!

 

[hellsbells82]

Thanks, I use fleece and currently it's brown, as I like the poops to blend in, but am considering switching to bright green to make it seem lighter, and thinking maybe with a brighter corex the bottom level won't seem too dark? I was also considering mirroring the wall behind the cage to make it brighter, but am not sure what OH will make of that!

 

[hellsbells82]

am now thinking building it in the garden perhaps wasn't the brightest idea- I'm not sure I can get it through the back door now!

 

[JoBo]

Hi Helen we used perspex for our lining in the end so its actually transparent, but it is extremely difficult to work with. However the end result is really durable and permanent. Husband saw it as a bit of a challenge. You are more than welcome to come and have a look x

 

[Wiebke]

I find that the lower level of my cage is indeed much darker.

I have used white correx from s sign shop off the yellow pages which has been cut to size by them.

I have zip tied the lower front grids in a way that they open up like doors over the whole front so I can pull out the downstairs correx for cleaning. You will find that it means otherwise a lot of uncomfy wiggling on your belly!

 

[hellsbells82]

Hi Helen we used perspex for our lining in the end so its actually transparent, but it is extremely difficult to work with. However the end result is really durable and permanent. Husband saw it as a bit of a challenge. You are more than welcome to come and have a look x

ohh thanks Jo, although I'm not sure my OH is up to DIY challenges at the mo as he's flat out with uni work, and I want it NOW! Although he was quite excited when he saw my cage yesterday.

 

[hellsbells82]

I find that the lower level of my cage is indeed much darker.

I have used white correx from s sign shop off the yellow pages which has been cut to size by them.

I have zip tied the lower front grids in a way that they open up like doors over the whole front so I can pull out the downstairs correx for cleaning. You will find that it means otherwise a lot of uncomfy wiggling on your belly!

That's what I've done with the bottom doors too, although I put the cage out on the lawn yesterday as a spare run and put Charlie and Simba in the bottom, it was pretty tricky to get them back out from there lying on my stomach on the lawn so think bribery will be the way to lure the piggies out! Yours doesn't look too dark though, I like the light corex I think as it will reflect light a bit. I just hate the thought of one pair living in a gloomy cage, especially Fitz and Roy who were stuck in a dark shed in their previous home

OH has suggested getting some little battery powered LED lights or something for them, but I'm pretty reluctant to put anything on or in the cage, but then I guess I can leave the bottom doors open some of the time to give them more room and light.

 

[Wiebke]

That's what I've done with the bottom doors too, although I put the cage out on the lawn yesterday as a spare run and put Charlie and Simba in the bottom, it was pretty tricky to get them back out from there lying on my stomach on the lawn so think bribery will be the way to lure the piggies out! Yours doesn't look too dark though, I like the light corex I think as it will reflect light a bit. I just hate the thought of one pair living in a gloomy cage, especially Fitz and Roy who were stuck in a dark shed in their previous home

OH has suggested getting some little battery powered LED lights or something for them, but I'm pretty reluctant to put anything on or in the cage, but then I guess I can leave the bottom doors open some of the time to give them more room and light.

You haven't got the space that you could have the upper cage one grid further back than the bottom cage? That would allow much better light and accessibility.

You can bring in more light by making sure that the downstairs ceiling is white and/or have a couple of mirrors at the back of the lower cage.

My lower floor is much darker indeed.

 

[hellsbells82]

No unfortunately 2 grids deep is the max space to allow us to still be able to actually access the kitchen I could move them into the spare room but am really reluctant as I'm in the kitchen most of the day so they get lots of attention there, and as it's a loft conversion it's only got skylights too! I did think I could cut one square out of the top, a bit like a sunroof, to let more light in, but obviously that would reduce the space for the pair on the top, I think mirrors might be an idea, Ikea do those long wavy ones which I could attach long ways behind the cage and might help. The cage does face a 6 foot window but feel like the bottom won't get the light, but am thinking if it's raised off the ground then it may catch a little more light, plus it will help with my panic of floods. Am guessing a big sheet of MDF with some legs on could make a sort of table to elevate the cage off the floor a bit.