Homemade Level And Ramp

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Gimz

Gimz

Teenage Guinea Pig
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i decided to have a go at making my own extra level for my Ferplast Casita cage, since the one it came with was a bit high and the ramp far to steep, if indeed it could be called a ramp.

So I took an unused couple of chipboard shelves and cut them up. I secured the ramp underneath with some old cupboard metal join pieces, which with a bit of bending allowed me a nice shape for the ramp.
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I wood glued the side pieces onto the edges (couldn't use screws on those thin strips because they would split the wood), to prevent the piggies accidentally falling off. Last touch was to use some heavy duty sticky furniture pads (that you use under chair legs to protect your wooden floors from scratches ) which I cut into strips. These formed the ramp strips to make it easier for the piggies to get up and down the ramp. If that doesn't work then I will Velcro some jeans material in place over the top of the ramp, to make it even easier for them to climb up.

Just waiting for everything to dry and then it's going to meet the two girls who will road test it! Hope they are as excited about it as I am to put it in their cage!

What do you all think of my first home built piggies project?
 
It's fantastic. Is that MDF? If it is , I would make sure your guinea pigs don't chew it as MDF isn't good for them .
 
Looking good :D

They said it's "Chipboard", MDF is a different type of wood :) Chipboard is what you would use for flat pack bookshelves, wardrobes, drawers etc. :)
 
I'm very weary about anything they chew LOL, but I suffer with severe anxiety so, I even pull out those little stringy bits you get on carrots!

I don't know what would is safe and what isn't tbh, I usually go and google things like that.
 
Yes it's definitely chipboard. Some of my sawing was a little off straight, but those bits will be buried under bedding so no one will see!

I have also covered over the screws now so they couldn't hurt themselves. To be honest it will get covered with newspaper and Aubiose and hay anyway so they will be fine.

Also being shelf material, there is that flat pack coating on the wood tops which will prevent piggie pee from soaking in.

Everything is now dry, so when I clean the cage later in it will go! Will post a picture once it's set up in there.

Thanks for all your lovely messages on this project
 
Looking forward to seeing it :D I never thought about doing that when we have a R6 liberta, the shelf and ladder were a bit too much for the guinea's, I don't think they liked the gaps.
 
I also found with the supplied shelf that because it needed to wedge under the cage sides, that it wasn't very moveable. Was a real pain when the piggies hid under there to get them out. Since my build above is free standing, if they take refuge under there when it's cleaning time or cuddle time, I can just lift it out if the cage. Instant piggie access for me!
 
Really good. Home.made, if you have the know how is nearly always 100% better than shop supplied
The shelves in those cages really are noting but a pain. I'm sure the piggies will appreciate it!
 
That's brilliantly done! :) Would be good to see it in the cage and hearing all the happy feedback of your piggies?

Your comment about jeans material on the ladder sparked my brain as i'm trying to figure out what to put over a c&c grid for mine and i've got a old pair of jeans i might just try, thanks! :)
 
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Fold back clips are great for securing. I remove the silver bits ...
 
Lofn said:
That's brilliantly done! :) Would be good to see it in the cage and hearing all the happy feedback of your piggies?

Your comment about jeans material on the ladder sparked my brain as i'm trying to figure out what to put over a c&c grid for mine and i've got a old pair of jeans i might just try, thanks! :)
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No problem. I mentioned jeans because I also made a piggie tunnel with a jeans leg folded around the shell of a large plastic drinks bottle, so they can't chew or hurt them selves on it. A Home improvised tunnel that both my piggies love!

Will post a picture later tonight of it altogether after their cage clean.
 
Gimz said:
No problem. I mentioned jeans because I also made a piggie tunnel with a jeans leg folded around the shell of a large plastic drinks bottle, so they can't chew or hurt them selves on it. A Home improvised tunnel that both my piggies love!

Will post a picture later tonight of it altogether after their cage clean.
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Gimz said:
No problem. I mentioned jeans because I also made a piggie tunnel with a jeans leg folded around the shell of a large plastic drinks bottle, so they can't chew or hurt them selves on it. A Home improvised tunnel that both my piggies love!

Will post a picture later tonight of it altogether after their cage clean.
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Wow! That is a FANTASTIC idea ! Patent it quick !
 
Gimz said:
No problem. I mentioned jeans because I also made a piggie tunnel with a jeans leg folded around the shell of a large plastic drinks bottle, so they can't chew or hurt them selves on it. A Home improvised tunnel that both my piggies love!

Will post a picture later tonight of it altogether after their cage clean.
Click to expand...
PiggyOwner said:
Wow! That is a FANTASTIC idea ! Patent it quick !
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:agr:I agree! That's super brilliant! So gonna do that thanks! :D I never would've thought of that and there's always empty bottles in my house, housemates love their fizzy drinks :p
 
If you just tuck the jeans leg in around the bottle then you can easy unravel again to clean and you can then swap in the other leg whilst the first is in the washing machine.
 
My brain is wizzing now with ideas how and where to place the jean tunnels :D I've got about 4 bottles and 2 jeans i can work with :D
is jeans safe to chew on? Just thinking with how Widget is ripping into the tunnel they've got he might give the jeans a few nibbles
 
It's pretty hard wearing material and as long as it's a really old pair that had been washed hundreds of times, then I don't see a risk. I tend to place some nibbles around the edge, every now and again, just to give them something to chew if they feel inclined.
 
Gimz said:
It's pretty hard wearing material and as long as it's a really old pair that had been washed hundreds of times, then I don't see a risk. I tend to place some nibbles around the edge, every now and again, just to give them something to chew if they feel inclined.
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Thanks :) yup a VERY old pair, only reason I don't wear them is they ripped on the inner thigh from wear :xd: That's a good idea thanks :D

How did your piggys take to your level and ramp?
 
Ramp is not in yet. Gonna have some dinner then move them out to their indoor run, so I can clean and reorganise the cage. Will post a photo later tonight
 
My little piggies loved their new ramp and cage set up. Both have already worked out how to get (with a bit of a pepper trail to help them!) up the ramp. I took some videos with them exploring and popcorning, which I need to work out where to upload. In the mean time here are the photos:

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Good ramp, the piggies are obviously enjoying it.In the winter I sew fleece tubes and put them over a fiddlesticks bridge.I make it long enough that there is a bit at the back if that makes sense.My piggies love it and they stay warm.
 
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