New cage --- help needed urgently

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paul1960

paul1960

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We've bought a new cage from Zooplus and have today transferred our two girls, Cocoa and Mocha, into it. They do not seem willing at present to climb up on to the platforms but we can't think of any way of affixing their water bottles to the lower solid sided section of the cage so they can have access to water. In the hutch they were in previously ,the bottles were fixed through the wired sides with the normal plastic fasteners.

Advice urgently needed please, both on the water situation and on encouraging them to climb up the slope. Thanks in advance.
 
You could drill a hole through the plastic base to fit the spout through ( carefully and slowly, you don't want to split the base ) and as for the ramps - try lining them with something grippy like a bit of carpet, seagrass matting or something similar.
x
 
Thanks for your reply. Going to try carpet on the ramps tomorrow. Any suggestions about a safe adhesive to use . Thanks
 
So the pen only has access to water on the higher level ?
Could you pop us a pic on pls as most pens I've seen you can attach the bottle of your choice, wherever is convenient.
Only other way around it is to put a heavy bowl of water for them which is not always the best option :{
 
paul1960 said:
Thanks for your reply. Going to try carpet on the ramps tomorrow. Any suggestions about a safe adhesive to use . Thanks
Click to expand...

I'd recommend something you can wash as ramps get dirty - we use strips of fleece which you can stitch together and fit it over the ramp like a sock. Easy to remove, wash and keep fresh for the piggies. Pillow cases may suffice...?/
Carpet will soak wee up and smell after a time if you can't wash it as well as risking infections to your furries :(
 
Sorry, should have clarified it would need replacing frequently! mallethead
 
For tonight I would put the water bottle in an old sock with a hole for the spout, then peg the sock to the corner of the cage so that it hangs down below the plastic.

A glass bottle may work. It sits in a wire frame and can be attached on the inside of the cage. You should be able to attach it lowest bars then the long spout will hang down plastic part. Just measured mine and from where the frame attaches to the bar, the end of the spout is 20cm further down.
001-7.jpg
 
flips said:
For tonight I would put the water bottle in an old sock with a hole for the spout, then peg the sock to the corner of the cage so that it hangs down below the plastic.

A glass bottle may work. It sits in a wire frame and can be attached on the inside of the cage. You should be able to attach it lowest bars then the long spout will hang down plastic part. Just measured mine and from where the frame attaches to the bar, the end of the spout is 20cm further down.
001-7.jpg
Click to expand...

:(|) Our piggies have these too :)) I love the little ducks and carrots inside...:x
 
Guinea pig slave said:
So the pen only has access to water on the higher level ?
Could you pop us a pic on pls as most pens I've seen you can attach the bottle of your choice, wherever is convenient.
Only other way around it is to put a heavy bowl of water for them which is not always the best option


thenewcage005.jpg






this is the cage we bought from zooplus..the water bottle will not reach the bottom, if i place them at the top where the ramps are.
the piggs will not climb up the ramps. to the second floor, so everything on the second floor is wasted..
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
paul1960 said:
Guinea pig slave said:
So the pen only has access to water on the higher level ?
Could you pop us a pic on pls as most pens I've seen you can attach the bottle of your choice, wherever is convenient.
Only other way around it is to put a heavy bowl of water for them which is not always the best option


thenewcage005.jpg






this is the cage we bought from zooplus..the water bottle will not reach the bottom, if i place them at the top where the ramps are.
the piggs will not climb up the ramps. to the second floor, so everything on the second floor is wasted..
Click to expand...

Ah, can see the issue. Whoever designed this didn't think like a piggy slave ;)
Lovely cage though. Can you not secure the bottle inside the pen rather than on the outside - I've done this before successfully :))
Click to expand...
 
paul1960 said:
Guinea pig slave said:
So the pen only has access to water on the higher level ?
Could you pop us a pic on pls as most pens I've seen you can attach the bottle of your choice, wherever is convenient.
Only other way around it is to put a heavy bowl of water for them which is not always the best option


thenewcage005.jpg






this is the cage we bought from zooplus..the water bottle will not reach the bottom, if i place them at the top where the ramps are.
the piggs will not climb up the ramps. to the second floor, so everything on the second floor is wasted..
Click to expand...

Ah, can see the issue. Whoever designed this didn't think like a piggy slave ;)
Lovely cage though. Can you not secure the bottle inside the pen rather than on the outside - I've done this before successfully :))
Oh lord, just noticed it's one of those with the little twisty thing that latches onto the bars rolleyes Attach it with the wire off your old bottle as low as possible, use your old bottle or find a tie wrap - anything to keep it secure will be ok.
Click to expand...
 
mallethead looking again at the pic. Move the bottle into the middle of the pen away from the ramp and rest the spout on the bottom bar inside or outside of the pen then secure :)
 
Guinea pig slave said:
paul1960 said:
Ah, can see the issue. Whoever designed this didn't think like a piggy slave ;)
Lovely cage though. Can you not secure the bottle inside the pen rather than on the outside - I've done this before successfully :))
Oh lord, just noticed it's one of those with the little twisty thing that latches onto the bars rolleyes Attach it with the wire off your old bottle as low as possible, use your old bottle or find a tie wrap - anything to keep it secure will be ok.
Click to expand...

yes see what you mean, i have used another bottle, the basic ones in shops, took the new twisty one off. have secured one for tonight with the sock method as described in here.. all feed-back is most welcome, and thanks..
Click to expand...
 
your ramps are probably too steep and too narrow. I made mine with a small wooden shelf with carpet suck on. It's 600mm x 200mm x 20mm. My pigs adopted it immediately. I secured it by drilling 2 or 3 holes at the top and cable-tied it through the holes to the platform. The shelf comes from Homebase (as does the carpet, which I glued using wood adhesive).
 
paul1960 said:
Guinea pig slave said:
yes see what you mean, i have used another bottle, the basic ones in shops, took the new twisty one off. have secured one for tonight with the sock method as described in here.. all feed-back is most welcome, and thanks..
Click to expand...

I bought a really expensive double storey pen which had the most c**p accessories so bought better bits n bobs. The piggies don't use the bloomin pens anymore as we converted to C&C last year. Maybe email Zooplus and explain your concerns with this, they are an excellent company with great customer service - they may offer you a little something for your furries for the 'inconvenience' :x
Click to expand...
 
I've got this cage. The water bottles that come with them are rubbish, leak no end. I got some strips of off cut vetbed, and you can trap it through the ramp which all mine then mastered using, I then attached the water bottle at the top of one of the shelves. The litter tray is rubbish for pigs, they won't use it, especially with the dangerous wire inside it, but it's ideal as a rat litter tray without the wire bit. Only thing is that there is a knack to pulling the tray out with the ramps in, you have to shimmy it forward, then support the base with your knee and hand, put spare hand through the door, flick the ramp over the ridge, then pull it forward then do the same again.
 
To be honest I would take one of the platforms out, then just get the bottle, & put one of those metal ring things that tighten with a screw (dunno the name, but all men seem to have these things in their tool boxes lol) then attach a chain through the metal ring, make sure it's long enough to dangle right down into the cage, much lower than where the plastic bottom starts.

We did this, fastening the chain at the top to a hook we placed over one of the bars higher up & it worked a treat. Hope that helps :)
 
I believe Sandra Turpin has this cage and has adapted it for her boys and they now use the top level, so don't be too downhearted hopefully you'll sort something soon. As a short term solution for water you can use a bowl or there are some hamster bottles which have a hole at the top where you can hook them then hook the other end onto the bars so they hang down low. Obviously its a hamster bottle though and will need to be checked more frequently until you fix the ramp scenario.
 
flips said:
For tonight I would put the water bottle in an old sock with a hole for the spout, then peg the sock to the corner of the cage so that it hangs down below the plastic.

A glass bottle may work. It sits in a wire frame and can be attached on the inside of the cage. You should be able to attach it lowest bars then the long spout will hang down plastic part. Just measured mine and from where the frame attaches to the bar, the end of the spout is 20cm further down.
001-7.jpg
Click to expand...

I had the bigger versions of your cage and as flips said - the glass water bottles can be attached to the inside of the cage (the bottle sits within a metal clip and is secured with a springy wire - so you can adjust the height of the spout) i used these bottles so my pigs had access to their water on the lower level - no need to modify anything :)

BTW - you can buy the glass water bottles from zooplus - or pet stores like Pets At Home sell them for around £5-£6 each
 
Sodapops said:
I had the bigger versions of your cage and as flips said - the glass water bottles can be attached to the inside of the cage (the bottle sits within a metal clip and is secured with a springy wire - so you can adjust the height of the spout) i used these bottles so my pigs had access to their water on the lower level - no need to modify anything :)

BTW - you can buy the glass water bottles from zooplus - or pet stores like Pets At Home sell them for around £5-£6 each
Click to expand...

thanks for that i will get on to ZOOPLUS site tonight, you said you had the bigger version of the cage, what did you think of it? and what did you pay for it..
 
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