C&c Design Question

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MyGuineaPigPals

MyGuineaPigPals

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So I have a 2x5 cage housing 2 pigs with a divide

I want to modify it to hopefully adopt them some gf's and need to know if this would be enough space

So here's a pic and basically it'll be 2x5 grids with a divide directly down the middle (red line) making 2 cages of 2x2.5
however if i add some low level lofts across the back section (the green lines) will that make it big enough to house 2 in each side or not? just trying to make space to hopefully adopt some girlfriends for my boars when they are neutered but trying to make sure i can do it logistically before i spend on the ops Untitled.webp
 
That's not big enough. Recommended size for two pigs is 2x4 grids.
It's also not big enough for one pig. Recommended size for one pig is 2x3.

Since you have enough space for a 2x5 cage, can you stack the cage?
Some ideas:







Wood for support:
HPIM1096.JPG
 
Sorry hun but if you can't provide more space its not fair to take on more.Probably not what you want to hear
 
The guidelines say that minimum size cage for two piggies is 4ft x 2ft (120cm x60cm). From what I can see on the C&C website, a 3x2 cage measures 112x77cm isn't this the same square area?

I agree that keeping 2 piggies in a 3x2 C&C cage is pushing it a bit . Personally, I would only ever consider keeping 2 guinea pigs in a cage this small if I could guarantee daily floor time.

What concerns me most is how many potential Guinea pig owners are being recommended accommodation much smaller than a 3x2 C&C cage. The first cage I ever bought was recommended by my local pet shop as suitable for 2 guinea pigs - it was a Hagen Zoozone Animal Cage and measures Size: L72 x W46 x H32.5 cm. I have just looked on a certain website and there are several positive reviews from people who are keeping 2 guinea pigs in this type of cage.
 
yeah i know i would be cutting it fine using the size that's why i thought I'd get some opinions on it but daily lap/floor time is part of the plan to make it easier for them, thats what i thought about the square area plus having a loft I know doesn't give them room to run but gives them space away from each other if they want it too which is why I had hoped it might have been doable

the only other thing i guess i could look into is having 3 stacked so 2x5 at the bottom then 2x4 on top and another 2x4 on top of that. but i just don't think i have the correx to do it though does anyone else have three stacked is it structurally sound?
 
A 2 x 3 is .78m square area more than the RSPCA minimum of .75m, and I thought that was recommended for 2 pigs.
And I know that the upstairs space doesn't count but why not? It's still usable space.
 
a 2.5 x 2 isnt as small as it sounds I just worked it out a ferplast 120 which is said to be suitable for 2 provides 0.55 sq m (based on internal measurements of actual floorspace not manufacturer stated size value taken from guineapigcages.com) whereas a 2x 2.5 without the loft provides 0.58 sq m so with the loft for a well bonded pair that is middle aged etc if you're really stuck I dont think it sounds that bad! Loads of people use 120cm cages and arent considered to be giving their pigs too little space.
 
Dashiman said:
A 2 x 3 is .78m square area more than the RSPCA minimum of .75m, and I thought that was recommended for 2 pigs.
And I know that the upstairs space doesn't count but why not? It's still usable space.
Click to expand...
i think loft space isn't counted as its not space they can sprint around as such but in terms of bonding i think it would be ok as it gives them somewhere to be away from each other and where the fleece beds will be kept.

Bekki said:
a 2.5 x 2 isnt as small as it sounds I just worked it out a ferplast 120 which is said to be suitable for 2 provides 0.55 sq m (based on internal measurements of actual floorspace not manufacturer stated size value taken from guineapigcages.com) whereas a 2x 2.5 without the loft provides 0.58 sq m so with the loft for a well bonded pair that is middle aged etc if you're really stuck I dont think it sounds that bad! Loads of people use 120cm cages and arent considered to be giving their pigs too little space.
Click to expand...
thank you i am totally rubbish at the maths and it even took me a while to work it out from you comment but it does make sense and is hugely helpful to me :)

i wouldn't want to do anything that is going to be too small for them and want to go as large as I can but don't want an adoption house check to refuse me after putting in all the effort and spending on adapting what I have got. I am going to have a think about it until pay day and then when that comes around i may look at starting to neuter them.

I can't help wonder that those who said no above now they see the actual figures in sq meters do you still feel the same? it is smaller than ideal but isn't too small to physically house them if they are bonded in theory and thus i would happily go the extra mile to make sure they got extra floor time or lap time to compensate as i want happy piggies no matter what! and being able to give a forever home to 2 unwanted piggies would be awesome too
 
You may well get a rescue turning you down if they dont think it through logically, as around here people say a 4x2 or a 120cm is the minimum now that doesnt even make sense the 4x2 gives 1 sq m and the 120 gives 0.55 sq m they cant both be the minimum required. I personally have nothing against 120cm cages providing out of cage time is given and most rescues do consider it fine housing wise so if you get a no explaining the maths may help :-) I do always think bigger is better but neutering them and finding them girlfriends is a better option for them than living alone id rather a pair of pigs live in a 120/equal space than lone pigs in larger.

the 1.5 x 1 grid loft adds an extra 0.18 sq m of useable space (well 0.2 sq m but accounting for the inner being a bit smaller 0.18 is probably about right) together that adds up to 0.76 sq m of useable space.
 
The recommended RSPCA area figure I think is .75 sq m (The minimum cage size for two guinea pigs should be 120cm x 60cm x 45cm) not .55 sq m.
I could be wrong but I was lead the believe as long at the area was greater or the same the exact sizes could be changed. My 2 x 3 is 110cm by 70cm giving just over the minimum but not ideal (Edited to add I hope I'm right I have a homecheck on Wednesday). (Roll on the warm weather so hey can go in their run and explorer the garden.) I get the feeling different c and c cages come up slightly different sizes depending on wire thickness and connector size. Please anyone correct me if I'm wrong on any of these points.

But back on topic I would think 2.5 x 2 grinds would be two small.

Website for RSPCA figures http://www.rspca-online.co.uk/guineas/needtoknow/accommodation/

Hope this makes sense in a rush sorry.
 
@Dashiman the 0.75 sq m is the size of a ferplast 120 measured externally however the base slopes and juts inwards and the manufacturers measurements including outer extremities like clips to make it sound bigger the actual internal floorspace of the 120 is 0.55 sq m :-) internal floorspace is the only fair way of measuring cages because some bases slope and some dont and that can make some cages sound bigger than others when in terms of useable space they actually arent. On the face of it you can look at a 120 and a 3x2 and think they're the same size both ~0.7 sq m but in actual fact the 3x2 does provide a significantly larger amount of floorspace purely becuse there is no slope to the base, what you see is what you get if you will.
 
Bekki said:
You may well get a rescue turning you down if they dont think it through logically, as around here people say a 4x2 or a 120cm is the minimum now that doesnt even make sense the 4x2 gives 1 sq m and the 120 gives 0.55 sq m they cant both be the minimum required. I personally have nothing against 120cm cages providing out of cage time is given and most rescues do consider it fine housing wise so if you get a no explaining the maths may help :-) I do always think bigger is better but neutering them and finding them girlfriends is a better option for them than living alone id rather a pair of pigs live in a 120/equal space than lone pigs in larger.

the 1.5 x 1 grid loft adds an extra 0.18 sq m of useable space (well 0.2 sq m but accounting for the inner being a bit smaller 0.18 is probably about right) together that adds up to 0.76 sq m of useable space.
Click to expand...
your a genius i really need to borrow your brain sometime haha! yeah well they are both quite skittish boys and i give them as much lap time(shoulder time as they prefer it) as physically possible, but they are not the cuddly type of pigs that some others are and i would rather they had a female companion than them being at all lonely - plus they are super gorgeous studmuffins and the sow world should not be deprived of these handsome specimens!
 
Bekki said:
@Dashiman the 0.75 sq m is the size of a ferplast 120 measured externally however the base slopes and juts inwards and the manufacturers measurements including outer extremities like cips to make it sound bigger the actual internal floorspace of the 120 is 0.55 sq m :-) internal floorspace is the only fair way of measuring cages because some bases slope and some dont and that can make some cages sound bigger than others when in terms of useable space they actually arent.
Click to expand...


The c and c measurements of my cage are internal usable space. I understand what you are saying (I didn't think of it like that) and have no idea what the answer is in regards to what the RSCPA actually mean.:hmm:
 
@Dashiman The RSPCA have done externally they say 4x2 hutch or cage, they wouldnt go to the effort of internal in general its not really required to go to such pedantic ways of measuring them, but for this example to @TBones it was useful :-) as its the only fair way to compare commercial cages which are considered the minimum to C&C :-) plus I'm a scientist waiting for an experiment to finish so I can go home ... I need things to occupy me :D
 
Off point I'm online listening to my uni lecture and it's not holding my attention as you can tell. Well if I fail my home visit I wont be a unhappy bunny.
 
Dashiman said:
Off point I'm online listening to my uni lecture and it's not holding my attention as you can tell. Well if I fail my home visit I wont be a unhappy bunny.
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A 3x2 should pass a homecheck :-) which rescue is it?
 
From what I understand each cage would be 2x2half so the home check could be a problem if they are sticklers.Do you use connectors or cable ties as connectors make it that little bit bigger?Are your boars quite big?Would you put a solid barrier between the two couples?To me it doesn't seem big enough but mine are spoilt.Have 4 girls in 15 foot square and 5 in soon to be 18 foot square.I realise I may go over the top with space and am lucky to be able to do this but if you are using cable ties you are only getting 90 x 72.
 
madguinealady said:
From what I understand each cage would be 2x2half so the home check could be a problem if they are sticklers.Do you use connectors or cable ties as connectors make it that little bit bigger?Are your boars quite big?Would you put a solid barrier between the two couples?To me it doesn't seem big enough but mine are spoilt.Have 4 girls in 15 foot square and 5 in soon to be 18 foot square.I realise I may go over the top with space and am lucky to be able to do this but if you are using cable ties you are only getting 90 x 72.
Click to expand...
i mainly use connectors and just use cables ties for doors or if i run out of connectors. but even then my cable ties aren't tight as these guys aren't gona go anywhere well in theory i would be adopting from hazel croft as they are my nearest so i wonder what they would say for this?
 
You can buy connectors seperate from eBay if you need them.Some rescues stick rigidly to their criteria but if you ring them in advance.I thought 2 piggies would be ok in a 3x2 in theory so I've learnt something too.Was told when I had my four girls in a 5x2 it was too small.Just don't want you to be disappointed or end up with piggies that fight due to lack of space
 
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