Piggy Paradise Updated!

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Wiebke

Wiebke

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I've had a big piggy reshuffle over the weekend! I made the decision to split up my big group, the Tribe, due to a recurring bullying problem. Hywel and his three equally dominant top ladies, the peru family, have gone into the newly extended Teddy cage, whereas the two Teddy girls have got their corner in the big Tribe pen. My long suffering OH has been working hard this last week to extend the Ikea table in order to accommodate a 2x5 grid C&C cage and to build me a brand new sleeping area with mezzanine.

This is how my piggy paradise is now looking:
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Left table: Terfel's Train (the cataract group of 4)
Right table: Hywel's Triad (the 4 very dominant top piggies of the Tribe)
Left pen: the 6 Tribe undersows
Middle pen: the 2 Teddy sows
Right pen: Maelog's Troop (5 elderlies piggies)

Here are some pictures of the new Triad cage:
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The mezzanine sits on a plywood and wood frame, which lifts out for cage clean. The frame allows for plenty of air flow and light while still giving the piggies the comfortable feel of living in a snug set:

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The ramp is firmly hinged to a plywood top, which easily lifts out for poo patrol:

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During cold nights, I can peg a fleece to the top and back to exclude drafts and make the sleeping areas warmer. The ramp has a little rails in order to prevent accidents.

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I am happy to say that Hywel and his ladies love their new home and that they were not trying desperately to get back into their former home during their roam on the living room floor today. Tegan would have loved to join her friends, but as much as I love my surprise baby - she is a bit of a sneaky bully herself, having learned from the best!

PS: All three boars are neutered and I don't have any suicidal jumpers and climbers or other pets. As the piggies live in firmly bonded groups, they very much accept their cages as their specific territories, whereas the living room is the (safe) space that they all roam in turn and where they have their special corner under the tv cabinet to leave their messages for each other.
 
That is a wonderful set up! How lovely your OH is to help you build piggy accomodation.
X
 
Wow that must have been a challenge working all of that out . Glad they all seem settled. Know exactly how you feel as we split the herd up for the same reason and they are much happier in their smaller groups.
 
What can one say except WOW! Always envied your setup and that of Guinea pig slave. I note you both have OHs that do piggy housing construction. That must be the secret!
 
OMG Wiebke, How did I miss this... It looks ace! Is it down the right hand side of your room? Do you use correx under the fleece on top of the tables?

Piggies must love it
 
sport_billy said:
OMG Wiebke, How did I miss this... It looks ace! Is it down the right hand side of your room? Do you use correx under the fleece on top of the tables?

Piggies must love it
Click to expand...

The new cage is on top of the right hand table; it used to house Nerys and Nesta this autumn. At the moment, I am using Ikea cupboard lining on the table, but I have ordered more 3mm correx, which is a lot cheaper - as long as it has support.

PS: I am using Ikea linnmon 75x150cm table tops which are ideal for a 2x4 grid cabled tied C&C cage, but my hub has extended the tables to accommodate a 2x5 ft cage.

Here is what he has done with the table as seen from underneath; it hardly shows:
 
That is fantastic I refuse to ever let Edward see it or he will give me one of his looks:D
 
Wow, Lovely setup, how long does it take you to clean, I have around a six foot with an upper floor too, have to clean every day though, washing vet bed every three days.
 
sharonS said:
Wow, Lovely setup, how long does it take you to clean, I have around a six foot with an upper floor too, have to clean every day though, washing vet bed every three days.
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I prefer not to clean all cages at once (this one was for the sake of the picture), as it takes me a few hours and I end up with mountains of smelly towels and fleece in the kitchen. Usually I do one or two cages at a time. It is quite a commitment, though! I poo patrol daily and change the bedding about every four days, so I have one day for human washing in between... ;)
 
Wiebke said:
I prefer not to clean all cages at once (this one was for the sake of the picture), as it takes me a few hours and I end up with mountains of smelly towels and fleece in the kitchen. Usually I do one or two cages at a time. It is quite a commitment, though! I poo patrol daily and change the bedding about every four days, so I have one day for human washing in between... ;)
Click to expand...


I only have 6 in a C&C cage and that takes some commitment, so i know what you mean. You wouldn't have it any other way though if they are your passion.
 
I have 7 and they take up a third of my lounge - when (if ) I ever get the money I want to change their C & C cage to a plexiglass one one so its all clear - mine looks like a prison camp!
 
Cavyhappy said:
It's amazing, how do you clean all of them!?
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Preferably not on the same day! But hideys are wooden frames with correx tops that lift out easily, so it is not quite as bad as you may assume. ;)
 
Wiebke said:
Preferably not on the same day! But hideys are wooden frames with correx tops that lift out easily, so it is not quite as bad as you may assume. ;)
Click to expand...
Good to know that it's possible to have as much piggies as you want, and it's not the biggest fuss cleaning the cages :)
 
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