Is Their Home Ok?

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jessiewarry

jessiewarry

Junior Guinea Pig
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I am not sure if this is really going to work but I just wanted to post some photos of my guinea pigs cages to see if it is suitable for them or if I can improve it, baring in mind I don't have any more space apart from upwards. The cage is two tier (so each one is the same size) and I have separated it off for boys on top and girls underneath. They will hopefully be all together soon as the boys are booked in for neutering (I know the risks of this and if it doesn't work out i will go back to the original - and current - housing arrangements. they do however all get along fine during supervised floor time so i am hopeful) The first one is my females and the second is my males.
IMG_5693.webp IMG_5695.webp
 
I did give you cage sizes in your other thread but here's the links again :)

http://www.rspca-online.co.uk/guineas/needtoknow/accommodation/

http://www.guineapigcages.com/

Guinea pigs need as much space as possible for exercise and so they aren't under each others feet so to speak :)

I have my boars and sows in 2x5 C&C's, apart from the solo one who is in a 2x3 atm, going to have him neutered to hopefully put with the sows.

I really don't know what to suggest to you as you have limited space, maybe someone else will have some ideas for you.

There are three tier cages you can get, but it depends on what you are able to afford.

Here's an example of one and it's 120 cm wide.

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/hutches_cages/rabbit_cage/120_cm_cages/137450
 
PS I do apologise if you've already looked at the sizes etc. I have the memory of a gold fish lol.
 
:DThose cages look very small to me. Guinea pigs like to have a lot of horizontal space for running around in. They can't really do this in a stacked cage set-up. When you have the boys neutered, how do you intend to keep them all together if you can't expand outward? :hmm:
 
Kerrie74 said:
I did give you cage sizes in your other thread but here's the links again :)

http://www.rspca-online.co.uk/guineas/needtoknow/accommodation/

http://www.guineapigcages.com/

Guinea pigs need as much space as possible for exercise and so they aren't under each others feet so to speak :)

I have my boars and sows in 2x5 C&C's, apart from the solo one who is in a 2x3 atm, going to have him neutered to hopefully put with the sows.

I really don't know what to suggest to you as you have limited space, maybe someone else will have some ideas for you.

There are three tier cages you can get, but it depends on what you are able to afford.

Here's an example of one and it's 120 cm wide.

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/hutches_cages/rabbit_cage/120_cm_cages/137450
Click to expand...
I have 120 wide and 70 width at the moment. Each holding 2. That's what I was told when buying them was correct and now there isn't more I can do for widening or lengthening it. I could try making another tier but I'm not sure it would be stable. There isn't anything I can do for more width apart from move them outside but i don't exactly want to do that. They have a 120 120 run which they will each go in for an hour a day now (used to do every other day) but I more so meant enrichment :)
 
7squeakers. said:
:DThose cages look very small to me. Guinea pigs like to have a lot of horizontal space for running around in. They can't really do this in a stacked cage set-up. When you have the boys neutered, how do you intend to keep them all together if you can't expand outward? :hmm:
Click to expand...
Putting the ladder back in and they can all share the two tiers if they don't end up fighting :) & they run about in a run and as far as space is concerned I really can't do anything apart from another tier (possibly) because I brought them being told this size was plenty :D
 
I'd measure the cages to be on the safe side, to me and @7squeakers. they look really small, but it's sort of hard to judge in a photo.

We have very limited space here since moving from a maisonette with a big living room into a bungalow with smaller rooms.

This was a 100cm cage that I had Cesaro in for a few weeks, he's now in a 2x3.

2015-06-28 16.58.58.webp

He's now in
WP_20150704_002.webp
 
These are the other cages I have the piggies in (just trying to give you some ideas)

2015-06-28 16.57.58.webp

2015-06-28 16.58.01.webp

2015-06-28 16.59.42.webp

PS - excuse the floors and walls, not been decorated or carpeted yet.
 
:D 120 X 70 cm is a good size, fine for two piggies. Your two girlies just make that cage look so small! And you say you have a 4 ft. run that they go in every day. That's great. :tu:
 
Kerrie74 said:
I'd measure the cages to be on the safe side, to me and @7squeakers. they look really small, but it's sort of hard to judge in a photo.

We have very limited space here since moving from a maisonette with a big living room into a bungalow with smaller rooms.

This was a 100cm cage that I had Cesaro in for a few weeks, he's now in a 2x3.

View attachment 31770

He's now in
View attachment 31771
Click to expand...
They are 120 by 70 :) and they have a 4ft run for an hour. your cages are lovely but I need something closed it as there are other pets in my house. Even though I have a baby gate on my room I would need a closed in one to be on the safe size :)
 
Thanks.. you can put lids on single C&C cages :D not sure about two tiered ones though!

Your cage sounds fine then if you've took those measurements :)

Not sure what to suggest if you are intending on putting sows with boars when the boars are neutered :hmm: maybe someone else will have some ideas for you :D
 
Kerrie74 said:
Thanks.. you can put lids on single C&C cages :D not sure about two tiered ones though!

Your cage sounds fine then if you've took those measurements :)

Not sure what to suggest if you are intending on putting sows with boars when the boars are neutered :hmm: maybe someone else will have some ideas for you :D
Click to expand...
If putting them together doesn't work I will try and move my room around so that I can fit a 140 two tier (that means no tv :'( haha) if all goes well I'll get a thinner three tier I think :) thanks for the advice :p
 
Hi good luck with finding the best solution. Your cage looks like a ferplast two tier cage. We have a pair of sows living in one of those and I think that the single 120 tier is the minimum size for two sows that is recommended. We get our piggies out in a run as much as possible. Have you made plans for winter? We just get ours out on a big fleece in the living room when the weather isn't good enough to go outside in the run.

I'm not sure you can put two (neutered)boars together with sows, can you? I thought it was only one boar per sow/group of sows?

Do your boars get on together? If they do, might it be better to not bother neutering and just keep them as two pairs as you have now? I'm guessing perhaps they don't get on too well and that's what has led to your idea.

The only other thing I can offer is that if you have 4 piggies together, the minimum floor space requirement on one single level is unfortunately going to be bigger than a 120 base. I know you said you don't have space so this might not be an option for you but we had 4 sows using our ferplast 120 two tier cage for a short while before our c&c cage arrived so, to sort the minimum floor space issue, we put the two bases side by side and took out one of the tall sides that go on the bottom tier to support the top tier which gave us a square cage with bars on all sides. We put a wooden bridge between the two halves but the piggies didn't use it - they just jumped over from one side to the other!
 
PiggySmitten said:
Hi good luck with finding the best solution. Your cage looks like a ferplast two tier cage. We have a pair of sows living in one of those and I think that the single 120 tier is the minimum size for two sows that is recommended. We get our piggies out in a run as much as possible. Have you made plans for winter? We just get ours out on a big fleece in the living room when the weather isn't good enough to go outside in the run.

I'm not sure you can put two (neutered)boars together with sows, can you? I thought it was only one boar per sow/group of sows?

Do your boars get on together? If they do, might it be better to not bother neutering and just keep them as two pairs as you have now? I'm guessing perhaps they don't get on too well and that's what has led to your idea.

The only other thing I can offer is that if you have 4 piggies together, the minimum floor space requirement on one single level is unfortunately going to be bigger than a 120 base. I know you said you don't have space so this might not be an option for you but we had 4 sows using our ferplast 120 two tier cage for a short while before our c&c cage arrived so, to sort the minimum floor space issue, we put the two bases side by side and took out one of the tall sides that go on the bottom tier to support the top tier which gave us a square cage with bars on all sides. We put a wooden bridge between the two halves but the piggies didn't use it - they just jumped over from one side to the other!
Click to expand...
My run is indoors so it's fine for all weathers :) & the boar/sow thing is just a test. They get on fine during supervised floor time so even if the cage sharing doesn't work it will make my life a lot easier for cleaning because they can all go down together safely without having to watch them so I will defiantly get them neutered and try it :p
They get on perfectly and even are more than happy to share a hidey area, in fact given the choice they wouldn't dare be separated and squeal for each other when they are separate :)
My biggest length area is maximum 120 and width can be no more than 70 which is why I had to go for a double cage when my female (nutmeg) had the two boys, which was a surprise as we didn't even know we was pregnant till a week before they were born so it was a huge rush to find one to fit anyway! I could go triple teir but that's my only option :(
 
jessiewarry said:
My run is indoors so it's fine for all weathers :) & the boar/sow thing is just a test. They get on fine during supervised floor time so even if the cage sharing doesn't work it will make my life a lot easier for cleaning because they can all go down together safely without having to watch them so I will defiantly get them neutered and try it :p
They get on perfectly and even are more than happy to share a hidey area, in fact given the choice they wouldn't dare be separated and squeal for each other when they are separate :)
My biggest length area is maximum 120 and width can be no more than 70 which is why I had to go for a double cage when my female (nutmeg) had the two boys, which was a surprise as we didn't even know we was pregnant till a week before they were born so it was a huge rush to find one to fit anyway! I could go triple teir but that's my only option :(
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Well I wish you luck :) - I just remain a little bit concerned about putting 2 boars with sows even once neutered and even just while you cage clean. Even if they have previously got on fine, competition for sows may make them fight. Make sure you have some thick oven gloves handy in case you have to separate them.
 
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