Help me decide on the layout for the c&c cage.

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michellexgix

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Ok, Help me decide on a layout for my guinea pig C&C cage. I think I am just going to go with a plain C&C cage design for my guinea pig. I think something like this but a 2x4 instead of a 2X5.
http://www.guineapigcages.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/20997
But I havent decided yet, will I give them the extra floor and not have storage at the bottom or should I have storage at the bottom and only have them on three floors? What do you think?
Oh and currently, I just got one little piggy but once I make this c&c cage I am getting another.

I am building a rabbit cage too, they will be side by side in my room by eachother.This is the rabbit cage except its not divided into two and its out of coroplast. http://www.guineapigcages.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/12605
 
By the way, I am sorry about all the questions about my c&c cages lately but just want to get the design perfect for them. Its my first time making a c&c cage and while I am doing it I want to do it right! So please forgive me :)
 
My two share a 2x5 with a 1x2 hay loft. They loves it. My bit of advice would be that my pigs seem to love to do laps of the cage, so make it a shape they can do laps in easily like the rectangle shape of a 5x2. and also keep the edges clear so they are free to lap as fast as they like :)
 
I've been looking at the first link you posted too! I'm going to build a 4 storey 2x5, but each group will only have access to one floor each (I have groups of sows each with a neutered boar) and then floor time as well. I'm going to have storage at the bottom. But will allow for more pigs in the future.... Just don't tell the bf ;)

How many piggies do you have/plan on getting? Sorry if you have posted before.... My 2x5 will have 3 piggies on each floor.
 
Hello, I have just one little piggy at the moment. I just have him three weeks. I plan to get another little one once the cage is up and going. To be honest with you I really would love as many as I could but not allowed :( I want them to have loads of room. Not sure if I am getting another boy or a female, depends when I get my one neutered.
 
Oh also, how high do you think I should make the coroplast around the sides? I know they reccomend 6inches but I think thats too high, I want them to be able to look out. I am using fleece as bedding so there will be no bedding kicked out or anything.
 
Splat n Dexter said:
How easy would it be to clean out the first cage? It looks difficult to get at.
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If my build all goes to plan, the front panels will open fully, 2 panels on one side and 3 on the other (because I plan on having it 2x5), they will swing open so that the tray can be pulled out for cleaning/catching the piggies.


michellexgix said:
Hello, I have just one little piggy at the moment. I just have him three weeks. I plan to get another little one once the cage is up and going. To be honest with you I really would love as many as I could but not allowed :( I want them to have loads of room. Not sure if I am getting another boy or a female, depends when I get my one neutered.
Click to expand...

Well, with a cage as big as you are planning, I'm sure you can squeeze one or two more in ;) I bet once the household see's the amount of space they have and the fact that it will be no extra cleaning/space required, you'll be able to have a couple more. My C&C will give my groups more cage space each, but take up less floor space of my house.


michellexgix said:
Oh also, how high do you think I should make the coroplast around the sides? I know they reccomend 6inches but I think thats too high, I want them to be able to look out. I am using fleece as bedding so there will be no bedding kicked out or anything.
Click to expand...

I might not go up to 6 inchs on mine, it will all depend on the correx sheet size and how economical I can be with it to be honest - But, to ease your mind a little, my piggies (1 year 1 mth and 8 mths) peek over the edge of the tray bit of their Trixie Rabbit 150 which is 8.5 inches high with no problems :) I might go for 4 or 5 inches.
 
I had a quick measure and my correx is about 5 inches. However, I've recently cut the correx at the front of the loft down to 3 inches so that the girls can look over it and I can see them better and it's fine. If you want to tuck the fleece over the correx I wouldn't go any lower as it pulls out.
I have full height correx panels on the back walls to stop hay and bits going down the back as I can't clean behind the cage easily.

If you plan on getting a baby guinea pig then you will need to have the correx higher as they can squeeze out through the grids, but you can cut it down later. :)
 
flips said:
I have full height correx panels on the back walls to stop hay and bits going down the back as I can't clean behind the cage easily.
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Oooo good point flips! I plan on having the mesh panels all the way down the back of the cage on all floors to stop spillages.

I think I saw a post about you looking for panels in Ireland? Don't know whether you have B&Q over there but they have started selling black units (just grids, no mesh panels) http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=10687690&fh_view_size=150&fh_start_index=0&fh_location=%2f%2fcatalog01%2fen_GB&fh_search=cube&fh_eds=%c3%9f&fh_refview=search&ts=1279920186214&isSearch=true
 
KimberleysWheekers said:
Oooo good point flips! I plan on having the mesh panels all the way down the back of the cage on all floors to stop spillages.
Click to expand...


I did use some mesh at the back but they don't feel as sturdy as the grid squares. I haven't got any weight on mine as it's mostly an open plan cage but you might want to bear it in mind if you're doing multi levels. See what you think when you get them. :)

Quick pic.
010.jpg


I lined the back wall with correx (fixed with cable ties) then sat the correx tray inside the frame as usual. If I ever re-do it I will try and get a lighter colour to reflect more light but black was by far the cheapest.
 
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I am either planning on making the front two middle ones open up or else allt he front four. I am not sure yet. Do you think there would be any way of having both? You could open up front two sometimes and front four while cleaning? I also got to cat proof mine so it has to be completely safe.

Tell me about it, I say they will fit hehe.. I would love to have loads lol. My family are like animal mad so I know they will give in easily hehe! But I am deffo getting one more, don’t want this guy to be lonely L I was also listening to guinea pigs videos on you tube and he started talking back to the laptop, broke my heart L So deffo getting at least one more lol.

I think I will go with 3 inches so. Oh also what would you consider young pigs that can fit out through the holes? How many weeks about?

Thanks for the link, I already have it saved in my computer but thanks anyhow. I will try and get up to b&q some day soon to see if they sell them there. Might try ring them too, but I'm shy on the phone :P The b&q is a bit out of the way, and I don’t drive, I'm just 16 lol so counting on my brother.. But he will **** bring me up, like I said, animal mad over here lol
 
michellexgix said:
Might try ring them too, but I'm shy on the phone :P The b&q is a bit out of the way, and I don’t drive, I'm just 16 lol so counting on my brother.. But he will **** bring me up, like I said, animal mad over here lol
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Aww don't be shy! Just ring and say you saw something on the UK website and give them this reference EAN: 0000005232581 - They should be able to help you with that :)
 
flips said:
I did use some mesh at the back but they don't feel as sturdy as the grid squares. I haven't got any weight on mine as it's mostly an open plan cage but you might want to bear it in mind if you're doing multi levels. See what you think when you get them. :)

I lined the back wall with correx (fixed with cable ties) then sat the correx tray inside the frame as usual. If I ever re-do it I will try and get a lighter colour to reflect more light but black was by far the cheapest.
Click to expand...

My plan is to have wooden beams and a bit of a frame around it (plans are getting rather adventurous in my head!) to support it, so the mesh panels shouldn't matter too much *fingers crossed!*

My original C&C had black, I asked for it specifically because I had a grey base/black bar cage and I wanted to have the same for the C&C but in reverse. They do white but it was £16 a sheet :( Hoping to find it cheaper somewhere else. I want the white to reflect down to the lower levels to brighten it up for the poorer piggies who can't afford the penthouse :)) That was a bit mean of me wasn't it haha none of my piggles are poor!


michellexgix said:
I am either planning on making the front two middle ones open up or else allt he front four. I am not sure yet. Do you think there would be any way of having both? You could open up front two sometimes and front four while cleaning? I also got to cat proof mine so it has to be completely safe.

Tell me about it, I say they will fit hehe.. I would love to have loads lol. My family are like animal mad so I know they will give in easily hehe! But I am deffo getting one more, don’t want this guy to be lonely L I was also listening to guinea pigs videos on you tube and he started talking back to the laptop, broke my heart L So deffo getting at least one more lol.

I think I will go with 3 inches so. Oh also what would you consider young pigs that can fit out through the holes? How many weeks about?
Click to expand...

About the doors.... I'm planning on having them hinged on the sides so that they open out left and right (rather than up or down) and mine will be 3 panels out to the left, 2 panels out to the right. Each floor will open seperately because mine will be lots of different piggies, so can't have one set jump out whilst cleaning another :)) I'm intending on having a bolt in the middle to hold the two shut (something like this), or a hook type thing (perhaps like this) - I have been thinking about this since seeing this persons cage. I'm thinking now about perhaps having a hardboard/ply board floor rather than grids, but having spoken to my BF and Lisa and her hubby, they will most likely weigh about the same.

If you go for a 3 level 2x4, so long as all the piggies use all the floors, I would say you are ok for 6 piggies in there :) flintstones has 6 piggies split over a 3 storey 2x4 (but each pair has their own floor) and they have loads of room! If they don't like the ramps though, then 6 piggies all stuck on one floor would be too many.

If the grids are too big for you piggies, you could always temporarily slot something higher in between the panel and correx tray (some more correx that you have left over or a cardboard box cut into strips) It will only be a temp thing until they are a bit bigger, shouldnt cause a problem at all :)
 
Thanks for the link LOL, thats the one that I was already looking at, think its the cheepest I can get! Thanks for it. Now all I need is the cubes. I got a fair idea on the price now, so now i need to save, save, save lol!
 
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