PiggySmitten
Adult Guinea Pig
Just got a new double 120 cage delivered for when we add another sow shortly to our current 3 (she will be a baby and our others are still young so this should be enough space for now but I may need to rethink as they grow).
But there are 2 flaws with it in my opinion.
1. The small opening to access the lower level.
For cleaning I will have to take it apart I think and I'm going to try lining with old towel and fleece on top to make it easier too.
For taking the girls out I can also see it being difficult. There must be a very good reason why they haven't designed it with a bigger access for the bottom tier. If it is about rigidity to support the top tier then wouldn't it be possible to still have an opening that goes further across but with some unbroken bars above and below it?
I should add that I looked around quite a lot before picking this cage and felt even with this flaw it was still best for me (and was a very good price on Amazon at 54% off) and am still happy with that choice.
Moan over on that one!
2. The ramp to the upper level is very steep and it's a long way up or down. I am not happy with it as it is in terms of safety for our girls and will be doing something about it before they are allowed near it.
Getting to the point now, I saw (and admired) in the members gallery for commercial cages a great idea in a single tier cage where a mezzanine level had been put in using c&c and a ramp had been made by "bending a mesh c&c piece". Looking closely at it, the holes must be only maybe 2mm though and all my searches online to buy c&c grids only show up the much bigger holes. Does anyone have any ideas, other than putting a tube on it which I don't feel will work too well in this case) of alternatives to make a ramp with sides on it.
It will need to be something I can do myself without anything more than basic DIY tools.
I have found stainless steel mesh designed to be used on the front of cars online that was cheap. I just don't have any idea whether that could be easily bent and/or whether it would be pet safe (are there any metals or coatings to avoid?).
I think I'm going to add mezzanine levels if I can find a small pack of c&c grids (I'd only need 4 I think) but I'd also welcome any ideas on how best to fix them in the cage so they stay put.
On the upper tier I can only attach 2 of the 4 sides of a mezzanine floor (as one side of the cage opens fully).
On both levels there are far more horizontal bars than vertical ones (in case that makes a difference).
I saw in the Range today a cheap double tier cage which had mezzanine levels made of ply board which were attached with bits of string. Not too sure about that idea though!
But there are 2 flaws with it in my opinion.
1. The small opening to access the lower level.
For cleaning I will have to take it apart I think and I'm going to try lining with old towel and fleece on top to make it easier too.
For taking the girls out I can also see it being difficult. There must be a very good reason why they haven't designed it with a bigger access for the bottom tier. If it is about rigidity to support the top tier then wouldn't it be possible to still have an opening that goes further across but with some unbroken bars above and below it?
I should add that I looked around quite a lot before picking this cage and felt even with this flaw it was still best for me (and was a very good price on Amazon at 54% off) and am still happy with that choice.
Moan over on that one!
2. The ramp to the upper level is very steep and it's a long way up or down. I am not happy with it as it is in terms of safety for our girls and will be doing something about it before they are allowed near it.
Getting to the point now, I saw (and admired) in the members gallery for commercial cages a great idea in a single tier cage where a mezzanine level had been put in using c&c and a ramp had been made by "bending a mesh c&c piece". Looking closely at it, the holes must be only maybe 2mm though and all my searches online to buy c&c grids only show up the much bigger holes. Does anyone have any ideas, other than putting a tube on it which I don't feel will work too well in this case) of alternatives to make a ramp with sides on it.
It will need to be something I can do myself without anything more than basic DIY tools.
I have found stainless steel mesh designed to be used on the front of cars online that was cheap. I just don't have any idea whether that could be easily bent and/or whether it would be pet safe (are there any metals or coatings to avoid?).
I think I'm going to add mezzanine levels if I can find a small pack of c&c grids (I'd only need 4 I think) but I'd also welcome any ideas on how best to fix them in the cage so they stay put.
On the upper tier I can only attach 2 of the 4 sides of a mezzanine floor (as one side of the cage opens fully).
On both levels there are far more horizontal bars than vertical ones (in case that makes a difference).
I saw in the Range today a cheap double tier cage which had mezzanine levels made of ply board which were attached with bits of string. Not too sure about that idea though!
