Member Gallery: C&C cages/homemade cages

[Sweet Potato]

I don't know if I've already posted my cage on this thread but I can't seem to find it so here goes...

It's a 4x3 C&C with a 1x3 loft.
It houses 2 lovely Boars.
The ramp is recycled from an old pet shop style cage that we had before we knew better. The hay tray is from Amazon and was sold as a large potting tray or paint drip tray I think.
For bedding i use old towels with cheap fleece blankets on top and bath mats in areas that i want to make extra cosy.
I spot clean daily full clean weekly and it's really easy to do although the full clean usually takes about an hour because of having to set up the run to move the piggies into and cleaning everywhere thoroughly.

 

[Rilenceny]

4 by 9 C&C currently holding 6 girls. I started finding a width of 2 grids too small and piggies aren't able to run lapses especially when you have to put hideys and all foe them, they really took away most of the spaces.

 

[Wiebke]

4 by 9 C&C currently holding 6 girls. I started finding a width of 2 grids too small and piggies aren't able to run lapses especially when you have to put hideys and all foe them, they really took away most of the spaces.

Hi and welcome back!

The cage looks great!

However, considering that hay/grass fibre should make 80% of what a piggy eats in a day (a little veg only replaces the role of supplementary forage for extra vitamins, minerals and trace elements and is NOT the mainstay of a guinea pig diet). What is in the cage is not even enough for a single guinea pig. A good grass hay based diet can really add as much as 1-2 years to an average healthy life span.

Would you consider creating a hay area so you do not end up with a big mess all over the cage in just a few hours?
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

 

[RosieLily]

Lily’s and Rosie’s mansion. Very basic compared to some of the masterpieces here :’)
They have 3 water bottles now and their hay is in a big box.

 

[Rilenceny]

Hi and welcome back!

The cage looks great!

However, considering that hay/grass fibre should make 80% of what a piggy eats in a day (a little veg only replaces the role of supplementary forage for extra vitamins, minerals and trace elements and is NOT the mainstay of a guinea pig diet). What is in the cage is not even enough for a single guinea pig. A good grass hay based diet can really add as much as 1-2 years to an average healthy life span.

Would you consider creating a hay area so you do not end up with a big mess all over the cage in just a few hours?
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

Excuse me but that bunch of hay is definitely not just what they are eating daily, i am home all day and I refill everytime they are done with it so they're constantly getting fredh enough hay, and they finish every morsel of it so no messes, but thanks for the reply.

 

[T-Rex]

It’s such a amazing size cage @Rilenceny so I guess it’s just a shame there’s not more hay in there. It’s great you refill it constantly, but I must admit that I find there’s no greater joy than watching my 4 pigs run, make tunnels, lay and play through big piles of hay. And since I’ve made half my cage a hay cage I’ve noticed their behaviour change more, they really do love to interact with the hay.

 

[Wiebke]

Excuse me but that bunch of hay is definitely not just what they are eating daily, i am home all day and I refill everytime they are done with it so they're constantly getting fredh enough hay, and they finish every morsel of it so no messes, but thanks for the reply.

Burrowing in soft hay is one of the best enrichment activities for guinea pigs; hay is more than just food. Your hay pile looks unfortunately very disproportional to your otherwise great cage.
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

 

[Rilenceny]

It’s such a amazing size cage @Rilenceny so I guess it’s just a shame there’s not more hay in there. It’s great you refill it constantly, but I must admit that I find there’s no greater joy than watching my 4 pigs run, make tunnels, lay and play through big piles of hay. And since I’ve made half my cage a hay cage I’ve noticed their behaviour change more, they really do love to interact with the hay.

Burrowing in soft hay is one of the best enrichment activities for guinea pigs; hay is more than just food. Your hay pile looks unfortunately very disproportional to your otherwise great cage.
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

Like wow, look, I AM IN a country where we do not sell hay in bulks or bales, and hay goes all the way up to at least 11$-25$ SGD per KG, and there is no way I am wasting hay and dumping them out because they are no longer fresh.

I was laughing at how people on Youtube videos on a rescue were saying how the UK Guineapigs forum people were rude and assuming, because I was here and it was all cool, well at least almost a decade ago. In school, you're taught to raise questions politely and not jump to conclusion based on your unjust assumptions. This is also not an oral examination where you start making up several stories based on a sole picture. Stop acting like your words are what meant everything, you're not the god or whatsoever to decide what is right and what is wrong. Learn that people hail from different parts of the world, things are expensive or cheap in different countries and not everyone have to be doing things YOUR way.

Also, just because I have a life and doesn't come on here as frequent anymore does not mean I stopped being a Guineapigs owner over the long years-- We have small animals savvy vets in Singapore and yes, my oldest pig is now 8 years old and she is still thriving and happy, with absolutely no molar issues and still able to popcorn and wheek when vegetables are prepared. I don't see anything wrong with them "being unable to burrow in their hay" because welp, that is not the ONLY thing they CAN do. It's real disgusting how this forum has became.

 

[T-Rex]

Not sure where I was rude or assuming really in my reply. But considering the fact that hay makes up the largest part of a guinea pigs diet from the photo that you posted the small amount there in only one place in the cage really doesn’t look to be enough for your herd of pigs to my eye.

I think if you are going to post your cage on an open forum then you have to be prepared for someone else to offer an opinion on that. And I don’t think anyone was rude to you. Just polite and constructive. Doesn’t mean we think we are God or our view is the only right one.

 

[RosieLily]

Like wow, look, I AM IN a country where we do not sell hay in bulks or bales, and hay goes all the way up to at least 11$-25$ SGD per KG, and there is no way I am wasting hay and dumping them out because they are no longer fresh.

I was laughing at how people on Youtube videos on a rescue were saying how the UK Guineapigs forum people were rude and assuming, because I was here and it was all cool, well at least almost a decade ago. In school, you're taught to raise questions politely and not jump to conclusion based on your unjust assumptions. This is also not an oral examination where you start making up several stories based on a sole picture. Stop acting like your words are what meant everything, you're not the god or whatsoever to decide what is right and what is wrong. Learn that people hail from different parts of the world, things are expensive or cheap in different countries and not everyone have to be doing things YOUR way.

Also, just because I have a life and doesn't come on here as frequent anymore does not mean I stopped being a Guineapigs owner over the long years-- We have small animals savvy vets in Singapore and yes, my oldest pig is now 8 years old and she is still thriving and happy, with absolutely no molar issues and still able to popcorn and wheek when vegetables are prepared. I don't see anything wrong with them "being unable to burrow in their hay" because welp, that is not the ONLY thing they CAN do. It's real disgusting how this forum has became.

No need to take it so personally. People were merely giving suggestions, nobody was commenting on your life or how you care for your animals in general.

My pigs used to have their pile of hay that lasted them 24h, but after piling it up in a box, it’s so much fun to see them burrow in it and build little “sleeping hideys” for themselves.

Don’t insult the forum. People take time out of their days to give advice and offer tips. If you’re not happy with it, I hope you can find a more “suitable” forum, but getting nasty and starting a rant over this is uncalled for.

 

[Bradshaw Piggies]

Our C&C creation. Our spare room has been completely taken over! The covered areas are also C&C so they have that space too

 

[Pip79]

Wow! These enclosures are awesome.
We have a 4 x 2 c&c cage with loft that we purchased from Kavee. It houses 3, 9 week old abyssinian sisters. There are on fleece which I had reservations about but it really is amazing. I brush it off daily and if the weather allows I hang it out to air while the piggies are in the outdoor hutch/run. I've made my own hidies out of old blankets which they love to run in and out of and in the loft area they have a litter tray with shaving and hay which they use as a loo! They have a hay bag hung on the side and loose hay under the loft as well as a bed where they snuggle together at night. We raised the cage up ourselves so as to get storage underneath, put in a little door and built a ramp down to the floor so they get the run of the room in bad weather and for a few hours before bed.

 

[Black piggies]

Absolutely love your set up. So many areas for the piggies to go. Very pretty and the ramp from cage to floor is my fantasy set up. Where did you get the little gate? Super cute. I'd love to create something like this.
When the piggies aren't spritely young things, they may find the ramp to the floor a bit steep..

 

[Pip79]

Absolutely love your set up. So many areas for the piggies to go. Very pretty and the ramp from cage to floor is my fantasy set up. Where did you get the little gate? Super cute. I'd love to create something like this.
When the piggies aren't spritely young things, they may find the ramp to the floor a bit steep..

It was a quick set up with the ramp hence the dodgy angles lol, looking at other options, maybe a 3 way rather than the 2 way to make it less steep. The little gate was off a pen we had so just cut that in.

 

[Siikibam]

Looks good. Is it possible to expand it? I’m not sure what the Kavee grids measure but a trio needs 5x2 which is 12sq feet. Is that ramp for access to floor time? You could perhaps prop it on something so it isn’t as steep. Or lengthen it somehow. I would have loved that for my piggies when they lived indoors.

 

[Pip79]

Looks good. Is it possible to expand it? I’m not sure what the Kavee grids measure but a trio needs 5x2 which is 12sq feet. Is that ramp for access to floor time? You could perhaps prop it on something so it isn’t as steep. Or lengthen it somehow. I would have loved that for my piggies when they lived indoors.

It isn't as steep as it looks in the photo but we are looking to change it in the near future. They are in this enclosure at night and rainy days but have full run of the room during the day until I go to bed. The good days they have a hutch/run in the garden. We are looking into getting some more grids to expand definitely in time for winter.

 

[Siikibam]

It isn't as steep as it looks in the photo but we are looking to change it in the near future. They are in this enclosure at night and rainy days but have full run of the room during the day until I go to bed. The good days they have a hutch/run in the garden. We are looking into getting some more grids to expand definitely in time for winter.

It’s good you’re looking to expand. But the sooner the better. It’s fab they can enjoy free roaming, but the cage they’re closed in needs to meet the minimum space requirements. Second floors don’t count towards floor space.

Do they also have more than one hay station? By the way I love the fleece. It looks soooo soft and comfy!

 

[Pip79]

It’s good you’re looking to expand. But the sooner the better. It’s fab they can enjoy free roaming, but the cage they’re closed in needs to meet the minimum space requirements. Second floors don’t count towards floor space.

Do they also have more than one hay station? By the way I love the fleece. It looks soooo soft and comfy!

They have the mounted hay bag with 4 openings, loose hay under the loft at the side of their bed (snooze and munch) and a tray of hay in the loft but they tend to use that for a loo.
The fleece is amazing. I thought it would smell but it doesn't I wash it weekly but air it outside daily when I can. I will definitely need spare for the winter when I cant get it dry though.

 

[Deleted member 145237]

Piglet's home. I like the look of your cages with fleece on the bottom. I have some questions below


I took this photo just before giving him his dinner and more hay and replacing the hidey he'd 'eaten'. I've never heard of using a fleece until the last couple of weeks - back in the 70s we just put newspaper on the bottom and thick bed of hay. Things have really changed since I last had piggies. So my questions are:

1. Does it need to be a particular kind of fleece or will any be ok?
2. Don't they get their claws stuck in it?
3. How many days does it last before needing to be changed?
4. Does it have to be fleece or will another fabric work?

Thanks folks

 

[Piggies&buns]

Piglet's home. I like the look of your cages with fleece on the bottom. I have some questions below
View attachment 176372

I took this photo just before giving him his dinner and more hay and replacing the hidey he'd 'eaten'. I've never heard of using a fleece until the last couple of weeks - back in the 70s we just put newspaper on the bottom and thick bed of hay. Things have really changed since I last had piggies. So my questions are:

1. Does it need to be a particular kind of fleece or will any be ok?
2. Don't they get their claws stuck in it?
3. How many days does it last before needing to be changed?
4. Does it have to be fleece or will another fabric work?

Thanks folks

It needs to be polar fleece. Not all fleece will wick
no they don’t get claws caught in it
3-5 days between changes usually
it has to be fleece

you need to wash the fleece 3-4 times before use to get it to wick. This means urine will soak straight through the fleece to the absorbent layer below (people often use puppy pads) where it gets held and allows the fleece to remain dry.

the guide below tells you how to use fleece

A Detailed Guide For Fleece Bedding

 

[Deleted member 145237]

the guide below tells you how to use fleece

A Detailed Guide For Fleece Bedding

Oops - perhaps I should have looked through the guides - there's always one, isn't there . Thank you for that, though, it's really helpful. I've also just been reading a thread on that topic. I think I'll give it a try cos people's pigs look so snug and comfy.

 

[Pip79]

Piglet's home. I like the look of your cages with fleece on the bottom. I have some questions below
View attachment 176372

I took this photo just before giving him his dinner and more hay and replacing the hidey he'd 'eaten'. I've never heard of using a fleece until the last couple of weeks - back in the 70s we just put newspaper on the bottom and thick bed of hay. Things have really changed since I last had piggies. So my questions are:

1. Does it need to be a particular kind of fleece or will any be ok?
2. Don't they get their claws stuck in it?
3. How many days does it last before needing to be changed?
4. Does it have to be fleece or will another fabric work?

Thanks folks

Hi, my piggies are outside during the day so each morning I brush off the fleece bedding and if its dry out ill hang them on the line just to air and I wash them at the weekend. I love the fleece, lot less waste but I will definitely need another set for the winter as they can take a bit of drying.

 

[Canucks]

This is my temporary cage for our two new baby boars who came home yesterday (too shy to be out in the pictures just yet). They have an outside hutch and also a Kavee 5x2 being put together in a spare room but this one is to just get them settled in and used to having humans around, so it's a temporary lounge fixture.

It's made from c+c cage panels from Songmics on Amazon, size is 4 panels by 2, and a bit of tie wrap work was needed to strengthen some joins. It has a lid made of the same panels for when the cat is in the room. It's also raised up off the floor by being on storage boxes.

At the moment the bedding is a bit frankenstein, with a mix of old towels, pee pads and a waterproof mattress sheet underneath. Bit of a pain to brush the towels, but fleece liners (and correx) are on the way for the proper cage.

 

[Annie's pets]

here is our recently built c&c cage, we brought the grids from b&q, the correx came from a firm in leicester. We got the wood around the top of the cage, already on a roll from a garden centre, we also attached this to some wood for the ramp.A hanging basket, tilted on its side, filled with either hay or the dried herb mixtures has proved popular with them, and we put in a swing, which we put their fresh food on, they like this also.the cage houses 3 pigs, and is two squares wide, and six long. We also stuff old toilet rolls with hay, which they push around the hutch.We are very pleased with it, and our boy piggies seem to love it!

Hi there ! may i ask where did u get that ramp from ? is it easy for your piggies to use ?

 

[eileen]

hi ,the original photo seems to be from 2011.it looks like they are small/medium fiddlestix/lounging logs fittedtogether as a ramp.you could use correx,folded grids,some c & c cage companies have readymade ramps you can purchase.

 

[My Piggies]

Hi! This is the cage that my two girls and neutered male are currently living in. It is a 2x6 C&C cage, purchased from Guinea Pigs Australia.

It was originally a 2x4 C&C cage with a 2x2 loft (this was before I got Oscar), but I took the loft down and added it to the end of the cage due to my girl Violet (7 years, 8 months) having increasing health and mobility problems, and to give them more space, as the loft doesn't really count towards floor space.

The bedding is GuineaDad fleece liners (a 2x4 liner and a 2x2 liner). It is fairly easy to clean. I do spot cleaning twice a day with a dust pan and wash the fleece every week, which works for me and keeps the smell down.

Here's a photo (it was taken a couple days after adopting Oscar, which is why there are only hides with two exits/entrances - I usually have 1-2 tunnels and 2-3 houses/beds, along with the pocket in the fleece liner):

 

[Canucks]

So a week in and we've moved the boys' indoor cage to a better location, received our Kavee fleeces (which are lovely, so towels begone back to the laundry cupboard), added a correx liner, and I've used more c+c panels to build the cage up a level and add proper storage underneath. 24 panels in all. We're pleased with the improved version but I do feel an extension to 5x2 coming on.

 

[WheekHearted]

My c&c but it’s arranged slightly different now because the girl in the pic right below was able to crawl right through the heart shaped holes in the hay feeder.

 

[exia]

Got really fed up cleaning Joe and Bobs commercial treecage in the beginning of the summer. Bought a 6x2 C&C om Etsy and made it a 5x2 two-tier cage. Chip and Pikachu already had a 4x2. I dont really recommend build a 2x5 two-tier, it was some work to get it stable... But when that was done, I could enjoy cleaning it. Still does. And the amount of space we spare while our pigs has a big, nice cage!
We had to switch floors on the boys. Bob was a bit to hefty to zoom around and jump on the top. It sounded like an elefant march was coming through!


The most important, açcording to Bob, is that he can have a big box with hay to play and pee in. And he eats with big passion, as you can see!

 

[Siikibam]

Mine were in a stacked 2x5 when inside. It was pretty secure (lots of cable ties and some wood to support the upper level). The boys lived upstairs. I did worry when they (on a rare occasion) ran around but it was fine, no shifting. Looks good and I bet they loved it!

I would add hides (can’t see if there are two) and more hay as well.