Penthouse Apartment For One Of Our Trio.

[Nick c]

We have three boars, which I now know was ambitious. We have had to seperate Butterscotch who was the middle one in the hierarchy. At the moment he is in a 2x2 c and c directly above Ginger and Biscuits 4x2. He can see, hear and smell them and they even stand on their back legs so that they can rub noses through the bars with him. I have read about having the cages side by side in these circumstances but not over and under. My first question - is this ok? We dont have space to get them side by side.
Assuming the above is ok I want to give Butterscotch more room. My first thought is to build a slightly bigger floor of approx 2 1/2 feet x 2 1/2 feet, but with an extension sticking out which would be for a hay tray/kitchen. I would also include an integral shelf on which I would fix his pigloo. This would mean that the 2 1/2 feet x 2 1/2 feet area would be virtually unobstructed. My second question - is this still too small an area for Butterscotch?
All three of them seem happy with the current set up. Butterscotch frequently popcorns in his own little home and has regular floor time with Ginger, who is the most dominant of the three. Biscuit can sometimes join them with supervision, but I don't think him and Butterscotch will ever live together again.
I would appreciate any comments and suggestions before I start building!

 

[Critter]

To be fair although there are recommendations for space I think sometimes it's down to individual piggy personality with regards how much they need, plus the space available (I appreciate you haven't the floorspace) and how much floor time you give them, in effect there must be piggies living in the recommended spaces but feeling closed-in, and others living in large spaces who would be happy just bumbling about in a smaller one!

Bigger is always better, but I do appreciate it's not always possible and it is nice that they have nose-to-nose access with your plan.
I like the extension idea.

Another alternative may be to have two lots of 2 x 4 on top of each other and having a step built downwards from the top cage so that you lone pig can sit and touch noses with those on the bottom. I don't know how to explain what I mean, but imagine if you had them all living together in a two-story, you would have a ramp perhaps on the side, from one floor to the next. Imagine the ramp is blocked off half-way up so that no-one can go all the way up or all the way down it, but the one at the top could meet with the others at the bottom and touch noses?

 

[Nick c]

Hi Critter, I didn't want to build a complete 2 x 4 over the ground level 2 x 4 as this blocks our view (selfish) but also the interaction as all of us adults and kids constantly fuss and cuddle all three pigs. They are at one end of a long but narrow kitchen/diner where we spend a lot of our time.
I like your idea of a ramp with a dead end - I know exactly what you mean and could incorporate that easily.

 

[Critter]

I know what you mean. Most areas of my cage are semi-open or completely open as we also like to interact with the piggies while they're in their habitat.
It doesn't seem like there's a perfect solution but you now your piggies better than anyone, and I would say go with what you feel is right