Separate Sows in Ferplasts!

[Pipsypip]

Hi all, just looking for tips. My two older sows (both 5) have lived separately now for two years after bullying. They were in a separated C&C but due to us having to take on a family members cat, I didn't feel comfortable with the C&C on the ground and a lid didn't seem strong enough (this isn't a slight on anybody who has one, I'm sure it is safe enough, I have an anxiety disorder!). My girls are now in Ferplasts side by side on stands, but I'm wondering if anybody has any tips of what I can do to allow better visibility of each other due to the height of the base trays? At the moment I've made little wooden platforms so they can choose to look in at each other but they don't seem terribly interested in them!

 

[Betsy]

I have one sow (Thea) in a hutch and 2 sows (Misty and Bramble) in a Ferplast on a table which is level with the hutch. I tried to bond my old sow Thea with Misty and Bramble but Thea was having none of it. (Thea lost her best friend Lexi back in April and I adopted Misty and Bramble a week later). So now they live separately. Thea has perked up since the arrival of Misty and Bramble but doesn't want to live with them. They chat if they want to. They are quite friendly as long as they don't live together. The height of the base of the trays doesn't seem to make a lot of difference. If they want to have a chat they will have a chat.

 

[Cheekypigs]

They can easily see over the edge of the base tray by standing up against the side of the cage, so I wouldn't worry about it. The platform is a good idea, but if they're choosing not to use it, they clearly don't feel that they need it. Guinea pigs are not primarily visual creatures and their natural habitat is long grass, they rely more on sound and smell to keep track of each other. As long as they are able to see each other if they want to, I think that's good enough.