Guinea pigs in crates?

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ceretrea

ceretrea

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Having seen alot of C&C DIY cages on here, I wondered if anyone uses other types of indoor caging?

Basically something as large as a Nero would be too much for me I think in terms of cleaning and moving? I was thinking of a dog crate with attached playpen, does anyone else have this sort of setup and is it any good? I have some Correx I could make a second level out of it and have the base covered with fleece etc? Something like a 48" crate.
 
ceretrea said:
Having seen alot of C&C DIY cages on here, I wondered if anyone uses other types of indoor caging?

Basically something as large as a Nero would be too much for me I think in terms of cleaning and moving? I was thinking of a dog crate with attached playpen, does anyone else have this sort of setup and is it any good? I have some Correx I could make a second level out of it and have the base covered with fleece etc? Something like a 48" crate.
Click to expand...
i guess it depends what the crate is like but for the size it would need to be would it not be as heavy? for the actual 'cage' we have a ballpit from mothercare its feather light and we put it inside a double duvet cover with fleece as bedding. they have a seperate run aswell but both are easy to clean as i just get inside :D
 
debbie ann said:
i guess it depends what the crate is like but for the size it would need to be would it not be as heavy? for the actual 'cage' we have a ballpit from mothercare its feather light and we put it inside a double duvet cover with fleece as bedding. they have a seperate run aswell but both are easy to clean as i just get inside :D
Click to expand...

Well I've not heard of that one before :) Have you got any pics?
 
hubby got the camera but ill try take some tomorrow if * want. I dont like cages myself as they look too cagy lol :D wanted something that would blend in aswell and the thing we got cost about 18 which was a bonus :D we did have a pink zoozone inside it for a hidey house but it caused problems with our older piggy being possesive over it so we took it out and now just have a 3rd of the ball pit covered at the top, hard to describe but piggys like it, i can put a link to the item itself...
 
Trouble is the rats would make mince meat of that during their free range
 
When you talk of a dog crate, I'm not really sure what you mean. I have a dog crate here, for my dog when we go out, and it would just be really unsuitable for guineas. Also when you say a Nero is too big for you, which one are you talking about? There is a Nero 2,3 and 4. For two guinea pigs you would need the Nero 4 (4'). It is unlikely that a rescue would rehome guineas to live in anything much smaller than this, or a dog crate. If you have rats that free range, you would need something much more secure than a dog crate for your guineas. xx
 
I mean't a Nero 4. And not a dog carrier, a metal dog crate that many keep their dogs and house bunnies in overnight.

There are various sizes up to German Shepherd size but this is a basic pic:-

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/basic-wire-dog-crate-by-savic-13655?DisplayProductList=true

The key is a slide out tray which is easier for me to access with my back. To repeat also that it would have an attached pen and the pigs would only be **** it at night and while the rats free range.

Also, its quite secure against leisurely ratty curiosity...its not the same as having wild rats trying to get into a hutch.

ETA the base length is the same as the Nero 4
 
hi:)p i would say no this isn't suitable for guineas i think its to open all round and they would get a draft and become ill even if you covered it..i know i wouldn't rehome any of my rescue going into this cage:) why not have a look at a Nero 4 or a ferplast cage and get a stand for them which have wheels on (easy for moving around) this will stop the need for bending down and help your back as both have big doors on them opening at the front and a big door opening on the topxx
 
I know the extra large crates are meant to be great for bunnies, and they'd be plenty big enough for guinea pigs. If they had little houses and bedding then they'd probably be warm enough in a warmish house.

The only problem I can think of is the bar spacing might be too wide. I guess it depends on the type of crate, but I was looking at the crates we use in college for holding the dogs until they are groomed. I was thinking the same thing about keeping guinea pigs in them, but I thought a small guinea pig might put its head through the bars and get it stuck. A baby guinea pig would have no problem getting through. But maybe different crates have smaller spaces?

Or maybe you could put some smaller mesh around the edges?
 
ceretrea said:
Having seen alot of C&C DIY cages on here, I wondered if anyone uses other types of indoor caging?

Basically something as large as a Nero would be too much for me I think in terms of cleaning and moving? I was thinking of a dog crate with attached playpen, does anyone else have this sort of setup and is it any good? I have some Correx I could make a second level out of it and have the base covered with fleece etc? Something like a 48" crate.
Click to expand...

also some thing ive done with mine is-i have a nero 3 and have added a second level in with wood and correx and guttering lined with carpet for the ramp,you can get stands for these too on wheels this will give you extra floor space xx
 
That crate is really unsuitable. I have the exact same Savic one for my dog, in the largest size that they make. It is not really to do with size, it is the bar spacing as someone has already said, pigs could get stuck in the bars, its way too open. There is plenty of height in them to build levels, but just not right for guinea pigs. Sorry but if it were me homechecking it would have to be a no.
I think Claire's idea of the Nero on a stand, might be helpful to you. If you had a cage at waist level, that could make accessibility easier for cleaning. xx
 
CiaraPatricia said:
I know the extra large crates are meant to be great for bunnies, and they'd be plenty big enough for guinea pigs. If they had little houses and bedding then they'd probably be warm enough in a warmish house.

The only problem I can think of is the bar spacing might be too wide. I guess it depends on the type of crate, but I was looking at the crates we use in college for holding the dogs until they are groomed. I was thinking the same thing about keeping guinea pigs in them, but I thought a small guinea pig might put its head through the bars and get it stuck. A baby guinea pig would have no problem getting through. But maybe different crates have smaller spaces?

Or maybe you could put some smaller mesh around the edges?
Click to expand...

I could put some correx around the base on the outside which would serve as good draft exclusion. I'm not certain about the bar spacing, I think you are right about it being too wide, I could mesh it but I find meshing cages fiddly at best.

The cage on a stand would'nt make any difference to my back as I would have to bend to put the piggy on the floor. Its more a case of handling the large base for cleaning. But perhaps I can clean it in situ.

I know you all keep saying 'no rescue would rehome to you' :red and I do understand where you are coming from. Please understand that I am here to learn and I ask these questions for open honest answers and if, during the course of discussion, it becomes apparent that an idea is not valid then I do take that on board so please don't worry that i will get something anyway if its not suitable for the piggies.

My mice have very large Freddy2 cages to play in and my rats will have the largest cage I can afford (and suitable). The piggies would have the same luxuries afforded them and be very very spoiled :))
 
It's good that you are researching all options, and trying to find something that suits both you and the guineas. Not sure if there is an official acceptable spacing. If you are maybe thinking about babies for instance, the average square on a c & c are too big, I have had quite a few escapees through them, but these are good for bigger pigs. I have just had a look at Archie's crate(it's about 4' x 3') and to be fair, the bar spaces in the bulk of it would be fine for adult pigs. The spacing around the base would maybe need looking at. There would be plenty of space to build things. I think I may be changing my view here, having just had a look at my own crate. The other thing is though, I can't understand how getting down on your hands and knees to clean/handle pigs etc, is easier than a Nero 4 on a stand. If you just take the top off, you could clean it out without any bending, where it was. xx
 
nutmeg said:
It's good that you are researching all options, and trying to find something that suits both you and the guineas. Not sure if there is an official acceptable spacing. If you are maybe thinking about babies for instance, the average square on a c & c are too big, I have had quite a few escapees through them, but these are good for bigger pigs. I have just had a look at Archie's crate(it's about 4' x 3') and to be fair, the bar spaces in the bulk of it would be fine for adult pigs. The spacing around the base would maybe need looking at. There would be plenty of space to build things. I think I may be changing my view here, having just had a look at my own crate. The other thing is though, I can't understand how getting down on your hands and knees to clean/handle pigs etc, is easier than a Nero 4 on a stand. If you just take the top off, you could clean it out without any bending, where it was. xx
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thats what i thought it would be easier in getting a cage with a stand....
as you would need to bend down when cleaning and picking the guineas up in using a crate,i would think it would be defo harder with a crate xx
 
I was thinking along the lines of lifting the base up off the stand? For my current cages, cleaning means lifting the base up to empty and clean. But perhaps there is a different method that means I can clean the base where it is, without lifting it...in which case then yes it would be easier to have a nero on a stand :)

Hope that makes sense x
 
I never lift my cage to clean it, just a routine clean its just out with the rubbish and in with the new! I just wipe it around with a damp cloth. The only time I ever lift it is in the summer months when the piggies are out and i give it a proper clean with animal disinfectant!

If you get the nero 4 with the stand you also get storage space underneath, which is always a bonus!

What bedding do you use that you have to empty? Could you line the base with newspaper so you could just roll it up and throw away without moving the cage?
 
i use a brush and pan to empty the cages then get the hoover pipe in there:)) to suck up the little bits then wipe with a cloth i also use fleece in my big massive cage ferplast 140 once all the fleece is out i hoover hose the extra bits that have fallen out when removing the fleece xx
 
I do think the removable bases in dog crates would be good to clean. If you used a smaller mesh attached, and some correx, and they had a little house to go into, with lots of bedding, I think that should be fine really. It might be as easy to get a guinea pig cage in the end though . . . you could put a layer of newspaper at the bottom so you can just roll it up with all the bedding to get the bedding out.

I don't see why rescues wouldn't rehome to you, if you had the cage modified for piggies.
 
Lucky said:
I never lift my cage to clean it, just a routine clean its just out with the rubbish and in with the new! I just wipe it around with a damp cloth. The only time I ever lift it is in the summer months when the piggies are out and i give it a proper clean with animal disinfectant!

If you get the nero 4 with the stand you also get storage space underneath, which is always a bonus!

What bedding do you use that you have to empty? Could you line the base with newspaper so you could just roll it up and throw away without moving the cage?
Click to expand...

At the mo I use Finacard. The rats will have fleec as they can be litter trained. The piggies could have either...fleece might work quite well. Do piggies like to dig?
 
CiaraPatricia said:
I do think the removable bases in dog crates would be good to clean. If you used a smaller mesh attached, and some correx, and they had a little house to go into, with lots of bedding, I think that should be fine really. It might be as easy to get a guinea pig cage in the end though . . . you could put a layer of newspaper at the bottom so you can just roll it up with all the bedding to get the bedding out.

I don't see why rescues wouldn't rehome to you, if you had the cage modified for piggies.
Click to expand...

Yeah thats the trouble I find, if you have to mod something too much you're better off going for a proper cage instead. I think with bunnies it wouldn't need much modding at all but I've had a mesh a cage before now and I'm not doing a 48" dog crate :))
 
I use hay personally but have been thinking of switching to fleece as it would be tidier! But my pigs do love to dig, that would be the only downside, that they would not be able to burrow! There are lots of members on this site though that say their pigs popcorn over clean fleece!
 
clairelove said:
also some thing ive done with mine is-i have a nero 3 and have added a second level in with wood and correx and guttering lined with carpet for the ramp,you can get stands for these too on wheels this will give you extra floor space xx
Click to expand...

Ooop, missed this. I could then add my second correx level just as well in a Nero 4 or ferplast 140?

Incidently, tempting as it is to go with Savic brands again, how sturdy are the ferplast cages does anyone know?
 
ceretrea said:
At the mo I use Finacard. The rats will have fleec as they can be litter trained. The piggies could have either...fleece might work quite well. Do piggies like to dig?
Click to expand...

guinea pigs dont digg,but i have 2 rats and they chew up there blankets to bare in mind the fleece you use for the rats will be shreaded before no time i just use newspaper as they like to rip it up and make a bed out of it and it still soaks upxx
 
ceretrea said:
Ooop, missed this. I could then add my second correx level just as well in a Nero 4 or ferplast 140?

Incidently, tempting as it is to go with Savic brands again, how sturdy are the ferplast cages does anyone know?
Click to expand...

i have one on a stand and its very sturdy I'm very pleased with it xx
you can add an extra floor in the nero 4 or 3 with wood and correx very well the ferplast 140 is 5ft long lol but in the smaller ferplast cages you can do the same guinea pigs dont dig as such ...but they do like to hide under the fleecexx
 
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ceretrea said:
Ooop, missed this. I could then add my second correx level just as well in a Nero 4 or ferplast 140?

Incidently, tempting as it is to go with Savic brands again, how sturdy are the ferplast cages does anyone know?
Click to expand...
I know we always talk in terms of Nero's, but it's just for size purposes. I have got all different makes and they are fine. x
 
clairelove said:
guinea pigs dont digg,but i have 2 rats and they chew up there blankets to bare in mind the fleece you use for the rats will be shreaded before no time i just use newspaper as they like to rip it up and make a bed out of it and it still soaks upxx
Click to expand...

I think it depends on the rat...mine will be lazy boys so I don't think they'll be fussed about much. I'll bear that in mind though, if they start shredding then I'll switch them to paper.
 
clairelove said:
i have one on a stand and its very sturdy I'm very pleased with it xx
you can add an extra floor in the nero 4 or 3 with wood and correx very well the ferplast 140 is 5ft long lol but in the smaller ferplast cages you can do the same guinea pigs dont dig as such ...but they do like to hide under the fleecexx
Click to expand...

And cleaning without lifting means I can go bigger :)

Aww, that must be a cute sight...instead of little mouse/fleece lumps..big piggy/fleece lumps :))
 
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