Keeping OH busy while he's off work....new cage almost finished!

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Teejay

Teejay

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Hello! :))

My OH has been off work, so, as I don't like to see him sitting down with nothing to do, I set him the challenge of designing and building a new cage for my 9 piggles (one group of 6 and one group of 3).

He also built the current cage, which is great and which has been a very happy home for the gang for about a year now, but we've just ordered a new settee and the current cage just wouldn't work with the available space.

Here's the old cage:
001-6.jpg


So after he reassured me that the new cage would give the gang more space and would me much more user friendly for us, Noel (OH) designed an L-shaped cage to fit into the corner of the room.

And here's the new cage, about three-quarters finished!
002-8.jpg


and a view of the inside, with the lovely new bedding Noel whizzed up on the sewing machine today:
003-8.jpg


The group of 6 (Pudding, Popsy, Lima, Pepper, Darklis and Diva) will have the top two levels (the ramp is yet to be fitted) and the group of 3 (Squeak, Coco and Cookie) will have the bottom level with an additional 'hay basement' (just to be different :))) which is about half the size of the whole level.

Noel's also incorporated a useful storage section underneath the cage.

What do you think?

Tracey x
 
Teejay said:
I hire Noel out you know! ;) Give him a space and he'll build a cage to fit it! LOL!
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Stupid parents! If I had my own way my piggies would live indoors free range-at the moment there outside in a massive hutch because apparently they "smell" inside!pow-pow
 
Whispa5 said:
Stupid parents! If I had my own way my piggies would live indoors free range-at the moment there outside in a massive hutch because apparently they "smell" inside!pow-pow
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I'd love mine to be free-range, but with two (castrated) boars heading up the two separate groups, it just can't happen, sadly.

It is lovely to have them indoors though, I love spending time with them!

x
 
ortonc said:
I'm impressed - carpentry and needlework. You have some lucky pigs!
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Yes, Noel's a jack of all trades! :)) If I could just train him to empty the bins and pick up his dirty socks......hmmmm.....;)

The pigs are very lucky.....and I bet they repay all of Noel's hard work by trashing the cage within about 5 minutes of being in there! LOL!

x
 
Wooooooooooooooooooowie it looks amazing I'm so jelous right now! (but also inspired :)) )
 
That looks great !

I love the idea of a hay basement too ! Much better than having hay dragged down the ramp and getting bottom level dirty !
 
twiams said:
That looks great !

I love the idea of a hay basement too ! Much better than having hay dragged down the ramp and getting bottom level dirty !
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Thanks! :)) It kind of ended up being a 'hay basement' by default, as I was keen to give the smaller group more space and the only space left was the storage area under the cage. So I pinched half of that and we're making it into the hay basement :))

x
 
Phoebe-PP said:
How much are you charging?! :)) That looks absolutely fab, what lucky piglets!
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We were actually talking seriously at the weekend about the possibility of Noel building bespoke cages for people (he really has done a lovely job of this new cage), and we think it would be too expensive.

The materials for the new cage have cost about £200, then it's taken him about 5 days to build it/paint it/make up the snazzy new bedding.

He's a bricklayer by trade, and he used to be self employed (as a general builder), so basing his 'daily rate' on what he used to charge as a builder, he reckons he'd have to charge £450 to build a similar-sized bespoke cage on-site. I'm not sure he'd get many customers at that price!

Although, decent triple outdoor hutches are about that price, so you never know!

Tracey x
 
Oh wow, that's fantastic! Oh to have an understanding OH. Mine is always moaning about the C&C (6X2) in the front room. We do have a tiny front room, and it does take up some space but they are my babies and I wouldn't have anything less for them! Please remind yourself how lucky you are that he likes the piggies and wants to get involved! :))
 
Guinea pigs <3 said:
Oh wow, that's fantastic! Oh to have an understanding OH. Mine is always moaning about the C&C (6X2) in the front room. We do have a tiny front room, and it does take up some space but they are my babies and I wouldn't have anything less for them! Please remind yourself how lucky you are that he likes the piggies and wants to get involved! :))
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You're so right.......he's a star really (although I do moan about him sometimes rolleyes) and I couldn't do the boarding business without him. x
 
Wow that is fantastic! Where can I find myself as useful hubby as urs lol
 
Well, the cage was finished yesterday, so the piggies were moved in and they're loving it! You'd think they'd lived there all their lives!

Plenty of space and I spied several popcorns last night, even from Lima, who's not normally the 'popcorning' kind of gal!

Tracey x
 
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