New To C&c Cages, Can You Offer Advice?

[Danny]

Hi,
Me and my fiancée recently bought x2 Guinea Pigs and we love them to bits. We bought a small cage from Pets At Home and we are beginning to think they'd prefer something bigger. So we have been looking at C&C cages.

We are thinking of having a 3x2 with a 2x1 loft. I have a friend who can get correx sheet at trade so that isn't a problem. I just have a few questions

Will this be big enough for 2 piggies?
What I would like to know is what would you say the pros & cons are?
Also is there anything you think we should know?
How often should you change the bottom sheets so it doesn't smell?

 

[sport_billy]

Hey Danny,

Your cage looks to be 100cm at the moment, it is criminal that Pets@home get away with selling these for piggies unfortunately. 120cm cages such as the Ferplast 120cm is ideal for 2 piggies.

As for C&C 2x4 is the minimum for 2 piggies even if you have a loft.They take up less room than you think.

I personally love C&C and am a complete convert, we converted last year when we bonded Cookie with 2 friends. I don't see any cons to be honest at all. The pro's is more space for piggies and you have easy access to reach into them that you don't with traditional cages.

We have found that buying some PVC plastic picnic sheet from Dunhelm Mill and cutting it to fit the bottom of the cage, then putting a good layer of newspaper on top keeps the corex underneath protected and clean. Every cage clean just take the PVC plastic tablecloth out and spray it and make sure it is dry before putting it back.

 

[Danny]

If I get a 4x2 with 2x1 loft will I need to add extra support to the loft? or will just cable ties all round be fine as it is only 2x1?

Also how often do you change the fleece bedding?

 

[piggyfan]

Fleece needs to be changed every three days and washed at 60 degrees. You can also use vet bed which needs the same care but I prefer it.

 

[Chief Guinea Pig]

If I get a 4x2 with 2x1 loft will I need to add extra support to the loft? or will just cable ties all round be fine as it is only 2x1?

Also how often do you change the fleece bedding?

Cable ties should be fine. It doesn't add to the floor space though, and can be considered annoying when cleaning the main part of the cage, and trying to pick up the pigs inside. Also the risk of them falling off the ramp, and the ramp takes up a little floor space too.

 

[Danny]

What are advantages of having a loft then?

 

[Chief Guinea Pig]

What are advantages of having a loft then?

They can be used as a loft, a get away area if a piggy wants time on their own, other than that, not much really.

 

[Chief Guinea Pig]

And also a kitchen area...

 

[Danny]

Was thinking of having it as a hay room like I've seen a few

 

[Chief Guinea Pig]

Was thinking of having it as a hay room like I've seen a few

That is a nice idea. As long as it's not too big from keeping you to reach under for the main cage, then good luck!

 

[Danny]

We were literally just going to have a 2x1. Think we'll give it a go and if they don't use it I'll just remove it

 

[madguinealady]

There was a video on YouTube of someone that made a box with correx that fitted snug under the loft and could just be slid out to clean it.This would mean your loft could be bigger

 

[Danny]

I was going to make a correx tub to fit throughout the bottom section which could just be pulled out. So I'm guessing the only trouble would be when it comes to trying to catch them, but my fiancee does that anyway as I'm disabled so I'm not good with my hands

 

[Mackers]

I'm a convert to c&c cages. FAR more user-friendly than any shop bought cage and there's the beauty of being able to configure them to almost any shape to fit where you want to put it. I have a 5x2 grid cage for 3 piggies with a 5x1 grid loft. They use the loft for eating their fresh veg and snoozing as it gives them a chance to get away from each other.

I line my cage with disposable puppy pads from B&M ( non-scented ones). I spot clean daily (poop scoop & remove any wet pads plus change their litter in litter trays) and then do a full clean out every weekend. I found fleece to be a lot of work and I couldn't stop it from smelling, despite daily spot cleaning and changing the fleece every 2 days. The piggies, without doubt, preferred to be bedded on hay covering the whole cage. However, due to Jaffa having breathing issues, they're now on disposable puppy pads, which works well.

It's such a shame that Pets at Home continue to sell woefully inadequate cages to unsuspecting members of the public. How on earth they felt that cage was suitable for 2 piggies is beyond me. They seem to forget that cute little baby piggies DO actually grow into adults. I'm sorry you were let down with bad information but it's great that you're changing their environment to something far more suitable. They are very lucky piggies to have found caring owners. Hope the c&c goes well. I've made a couple of ramps so give me a shout if you need any help.

 

[Danny]

We were looking at just buying one of the ramps from eBay but adding some sort of tube to it so they can't fall

 

[Danny]

Just ordered a 4x2 cage with 2x1 loft also found a local place who can do the correx board for the lower part and loft for £15 I'm going to have a go at making a ramp with the off-cuts

 

[MochaMoo]

Just ordered a 4x2 cage with 2x1 loft also found a local place who can do the correx board for the lower part and loft for £15 I'm going to have a go at making a ramp with the off-cuts

Aw, you won't regret it! I have loved my c&c ever since I bought it! And the piggies (& bunny, who has her own c&c) love it too! They have much more space & it's so much easier to clean. They had a lovely 5ft store-bought cage before, & while it was very spacious, it was a nightmare to clean! I'm not too tall & had to pretty much climb into the cage to clean it! Haha. The c&c is much, much easier I'm just looking into increasing mine & looking at prices of correx.. Someone has quoted me £24 per piece & £10 postage! :O Think I'll look on eBay xx

 

[hattie.r]

Aw, you won't regret it! I have loved my c&c ever since I bought it! And the piggies (& bunny, who has her own c&c) love it too! They have much more space & it's so much easier to clean. They had a lovely 5ft store-bought cage before, & while it was very spacious, it was a nightmare to clean! I'm not too tall & had to pretty much climb into the cage to clean it! Haha. The c&c is much, much easier I'm just looking into increasing mine & looking at prices of correx.. Someone has quoted me £24 per piece & £10 postage! :O Think I'll look on eBay xx

Go to Teacratepackcaging for cheap correx!

 

[Danny]

I found somewhere local so I could pick it up. So £15 for 4x2 base and 2x1 loft with some offcuts to make a ramp etc

 

[Danny]

Is it best to use the plastic "corners" or not to? Do they stay in place?

Hoping our cage arrives tomorrow and I ordered the correx earlier which I pickup tomorrow. Mega excited

 

[Danny]

Our kit arrived today and we are just waiting for the correx to be delivered. We are really excited

Today our grids arrived so I've started building our c&c cage, we are just waiting for the correx to be delivered before our piggies can move in. I have a square to fill that gap for the loft but I'm going to cut a 3x3 hole in it for the ramp to go through.

I'm a little OCD so I spent ages making sure things were inline

 

[7squeakers.]

Well done on making your first C and C cage! It looks great. Your 2 boys are going to be so happy and you will see lots of popcorning!
Good luck with the ramp. If you find the boys refuse to use it, one trick oft mentioned here is to drape a hand towel over it to give them grip.
What are you going to use on the floor? Fleece is very popular. I use it myself. With only 2 piggies on it, it will take a long time to get very dirty and smelly. Have a look at www.ziggyspiggies.co.uk for made to measure fleece liners. This is my set-up;

 

[Abbie]

Your cage is looking great

The pigs are going too have sooo much fun with all of the new space you have given too them!

 

[Danny]

I'm really proud of myself. I have finished the base using 4mm correx and also built a ramp using crap bits I had left

They are still yet to use the loft but I'm going to be patient with them. They have started pop-corning so I think they are happy so far.

 

[Abbie]

That looks great they will be so happy!

I don't know if you have tried it yet, but when I had a loft I put little pieces of their favourite veg on each step! It just encourages them too use it worked pretty well for me!

 

[Danny]

Jacob is the first to use the ramp into the loft and I got a little excited haha

 

[Guinea Slave]

Wow that is so good! Compared to the cage they were in before as well, they won't know themselves. What wonderful Guinea Slaves you are! I would love to have seen their faces when you first put them in.

Brilliant!

 

[Abbie]

Awww, what a little cutie he is!

Glad he's using the ramp now! just one more pig too go!

 

[Danny]

Dark pictures I know but it was taken about 4am. Joshua ha now used the ramp into the loft I'm really proud of myself for making the cage

 

[hattie.r]

my girls are still rather tentative about their ramp but are desperate to explore-they just need to be brave! great to see yours enjoying their new cage