Help with cage sizes please

[Smoo]

Hi everyone, I've just posted about vetbed for my cage (see vet bed rolls) basically I can't buy a big enough roll to cover my cage without stepping up to the next (more expensive) roll size.

I've decided instead I'm going to use it anyway but make a hay room on the end where the vet bed stops.
However, I've got a 5x2 C&C for two girls, if I add this hay room on the end it effectively turns it into a 4x2 with a 1x2 hay room. Does this count as reducing the overall size as i will be making it a separate room (hay+vetbed=mess)

I understand this is fine for two pigs but I really wanted it to be as spacious as possible (would of made it a 6x2 if it would have fit!) also in case I have to move one of my girls in with a pair in case they fall out or indeed if I find the urge to add another pig to the clan!

I ask because I know there is some debate over ramps etc taking floor space so it doesn't count so to speak. Will I have a 5x2 or a 4x2 with an extension?/
Thanks!

 

[Hermes]

Assuming it's all on the same level and the hay room is distinctly separate then you have a 4x2 with an extension because, as I understand it, the 'important' floor space is counted as the area the pigs can actually run about in when they fancy doing laps of the cage. If you're adding another pig at any point then you could always have a rethink then and maybe make a hayloft (on a second level) so you gain the additional floor space (and if you think carefully about your ramp positioning then you shouldn't lose too much floor space with that). As it is I think it'll be fine for your two girls, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Wiebke]

To be precise - provided that you are using 12in (35cm) grids, a 2x4 grid (70x140cm) cage has as much floor space as a 2x5 ft traditional cage (60x150cm).

So yes, you can keep three guinea pigs without problems in your current set up; if you move your hayloft onto another floor, you can technically even have four piggies in a 2x5 grid cage and be still within the RSPCA minimal space recommendations.