Cage advice

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lilac

Hello
I am new on this forum. I am the proud new owner of Olly the pig. we aquired him as his old cage mate and him didnt get along so they had to be split and Olly came to live with us. He is currently living in an on loan cage (sticker on it says nero2) and it is too small. until I purchase my own.

I am looking at the large zoozone (100cm length) and the ferplast 100.

I'm veering towards the zoozone due to it having perspex sides. I have young children and i just feel it would be safer for the piggy and the children if they cannot poke fingers or anything else in. He has a run in the garden for exercise.

Is the zoozone large an "ok" cage for one?

He lives in the front room which has plenty of ventilation in warm weather

Thanks

Lilac
 
Please consider getting a friend for Olly :) Guinea pigs are heard animals and benefit so much from piggie friends!

A lone piggy should not live in a smaller cage than two. A lone piggy needs the room for toys and stimulation. I would recommend a cage that's 120 cm, at least. Even though he has a run, it's not exercise whenever he wants it. Piggies tend to be active in periouds throughout the day and night, not just when we are awake.

I can understand the idea with perspex sides. I haven't used one myself so I don't know. Does it have an opening on the side, or just at the top? Generally piggies are more comfortable if you approach them from the side as their main predator in the wild are birds of prey. Think about it when chosing a cage :)
 
perspex cages can quickly overheat in the summer as they lack proper ventilation, this can also lead to respiratory problems aswell. Your cage should be a minimum of 4ft by 2ft! Getting him a friend will be best for him as they thrive on companionship - they are herd animals!
 
I can only agree with the other comments. It's great of you to take Olly on and come on here to ask for advice.

You can get a 2x4 ft cage for less than £40 from this website. Its the skyline maxi XXL cage; I bought one last year when I rehomed Nerys and Nia from the RSPCA. http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/rodents/cages/guinea_pig_cages

It would be lovely if you could find Olly a new friend, either by finding a rescue near you where you are allowed to take Olly and let him choose himself or try to find him a baby boar.

Or you could think about having him neutered by an experienced vet and living with a sow - cross gender pairings are usually very stable and loving.
 
Wiebke said:
You can get a 2x4 ft cage for less than £40 from this website. Its the skyline maxi XXL cage; I bought one last year when I rehomed Nerys and Nia from the RSPCA. http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/rodents/cages/guinea_pig_cages
Click to expand...

Oooo has that come down in price? I always thought it was £40.

I agree with the other posters - Get the biggest enclosure you can afford. The one in this link is a great price for a good sized cage. I think you can get really thin clear plastic strips which you could put along the front outside edge to stop the little ones poking their fingers through. Then you will still have the top and three sides 'open' with the bars for good ventilation.

Although piggies don't climb like rats for example, they do pull themselves up by their front paws to have a look at whats happening around them. This would be hard for them to do on the one without bars as the surface would be slippy.
 
Thanks everyone

I'm going to order that zooplus cage and I will think about a friend for him. But I'm not sure its wise because he was the agressor of the old pair (his poor old cage mate had chunks of his ear bitten out and gouges to his nose and various other areas of his body) so it might be very risky and I cant afford nor have the space for a 2nd cage if it all goes belly up.

But it is food for thought. I havent ruled it out just yet

Lxx
 
Good news! Olly will love the extra room!

A little more food... if you go to a rescue for a friend, the rescue will always take the piggy back if it for some reason don't work out. The people at the rescue will also help Olly find a friend who matches his personality and they are pros at bonding piggies.

Another way would be to get Olly neutered and find him a wife. Mixed pairs are very stable and they really enjoy married life :)
 
I agree. Solo guineas rarely show all the natural behaviour. I have had 2 board neutered and both live happily with girls no problem.

How old is Olly?

OH and I used to have that cage - it's great.
 
I just wanted to update!

I got that 120x60 zooplus cage and Olly has a friend called patrick. They get on like a house on fire! Not a single barney atall! They have been together for about a month now. In fact I think patrick is the boss even though hes half the size of olly!

Right, back to the housing thread for ideas for new toys for their cage.

All's good in piggyland :)
 
lilac said:
I just wanted to update!

I got that 120x60 zooplus cage and Olly has a friend called patrick. They get on like a house on fire! Not a single barney atall! They have been together for about a month now. In fact I think patrick is the boss even though hes half the size of olly!

Right, back to the housing thread for ideas for new toys for their cage.

All's good in piggyland :)
Click to expand...

Oooo that's great :) Any pigtures of Olly and Patrick for us to drool over?
 
Lisajazz said:
I agree. Solo guineas rarely show all the natural behaviour. I have had 2 board neutered and both live happily with girls no problem.

How old is Olly?

OH and I used to have that cage - it's great.
Click to expand...

I bet you and OH were a bit cramped in a cage that size! (Would have been good for the GPs though:)):(|))
 
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