Stealth pig cage!

Dill&Pepper

Dill&Pepper

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Aug 19, 2017
Messages
137
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Location
Bucks, UK
Having downsized house a few months ago and then unexpectedly finding myself increasing from 2-3 pigs (unexpected death of Dill, then Pepper suffering acute pining so had to pick up a suitable companion ASAP which turned out to be a pair of baby girls) I’ve been racking my brains trying to work out how to fit a 5x2 cage into my tiny living room, so last night I constructed this:
7C32E44D-CF5B-44A8-BC66-C1722BB24CBB.webp

I made the front and side coroplast lower than normal to maximise light, didn’t put a loft at the end so that end’s brighter and the front 3 panels swing out for cleaning and so I can just open it up for floortime and they can hop out.

Quite pleased with it really, but will be interesting to see how the coroplast table leg guards hold up - the table was cheap so I don’t mind if it gets chewed, but I don’t think varnish is good for pigs. Any ideas for improvements welcome!
 
Dill&Pepper said:
Having downsized house a few months ago and then unexpectedly finding myself increasing from 2-3 pigs (unexpected death of Dill, then Pepper suffering acute pining so had to pick up a suitable companion ASAP which turned out to be a pair of baby girls) I’ve been racking my brains trying to work out how to fit a 5x2 cage into my tiny living room, so last night I constructed this:
View attachment 93408

I made the front and side coroplast lower than normal to maximise light, didn’t put a loft at the end so that end’s brighter and the front 3 panels swing out for cleaning and so I can just open it up for floortime and they can hop out.

Quite pleased with it really, but will be interesting to see how the coroplast table leg guards hold up - the table was cheap so I don’t mind if it gets chewed, but I don’t think varnish is good for pigs. Any ideas for improvements welcome!
Click to expand...
 
Isn't that going to be really hard to clean weekly and spot clean daily under such a low coffee table? Not to put a downer on your creative ideas but i would think you may find it really hard to keep reaching under the table.
 
Kindness said:
Isn't that going to be really hard to clean weekly and spot clean daily under such a low coffee table? Not to put a downer on your creative ideas but i would think you may find it really hard to keep reaching under the table.
Click to expand...

Yes, that’s my biggest concern. I managed to ‘build’ it ok and was planning on pulling the fleece out, shaking and rearranging but you’re right it is very narrow. I’ll see tonight when I do the first spot clean...

Skypipdot said:
I would pull the top of the table off and put hinges on the back with hooks on the wall. Easier cleaning
Click to expand...

Unfortunately part (b) of the plan involves putting something not easily moveable on the table, so I’m not going to be able to lift it up. Great idea though, if I ever get more space that’s probably what I’ll do!
 
Dill&Pepper said:
Yes, that’s my biggest concern. I managed to ‘build’ it ok and was planning on pulling the fleece out, shaking and rearranging but you’re right it is very narrow. I’ll see tonight when I do the first spot clean...



Unfortunately part (b) of the plan involves putting something not easily moveable on the table, so I’m not going to be able to lift it up. Great idea though, if I ever get more space that’s probably what I’ll do!
Click to expand...
Not knocking the cage, its a really nice idea looks cool. Lots of space
 
Hmmm.... spit-balling here on the cleaning issue. Could you split the cage into a 2x3 and 2x2 and "bridge" them together? (Does this break the minimum space requirements...?) That way you could keep the 3x2 under the table but slide it in and out for sweeping especially if you join them together using a set of cheap carabiners you can get off eBay for quick joining and unjoining. The 2x2 could stay where it was and the bridge could be a simple tunnel that you fix in place perhaps with a few holes and a cable tie fixing it to the grids. You'd have to bend your grids at the top so they'd fit under the table though. :/ not a perfect solution but perhaps one that's slight less effort than picking up that table everyday.
 
A thick cardboard tube would be safer.the ones about 5mm thick. Any print factory would give you one
 
BlueBird said:
Hmmm.... spit-balling here on the cleaning issue. Could you split the cage into a 2x3 and 2x2 and "bridge" them together? (Does this break the minimum space requirements...?) That way you could keep the 3x2 under the table but slide it in and out for sweeping especially if you join them together using a set of cheap carabiners you can get off eBay for quick joining and unjoining. The 2x2 could stay where it was and the bridge could be a simple tunnel that you fix in place perhaps with a few holes and a cable tie fixing it to the grids. You'd have to bend your grids at the top so they'd fit under the table though. :/ not a perfect solution but perhaps one that's slight less effort than picking up that table everyday.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I’ve only got about 2 inches to play with and then I hit the doorframe. Another clever idea though, what I could do is lose half a grid off the end and then make a tunnel...

Skypipdot said:
A thick cardboard tube would be safer.the ones about 5mm thick. Any print factory would give you one
Click to expand...
D’oh - I actually have cardboard tubes from academic posters, just need to saw one up! Thanks - the coroplast leg protectors are already getting chewed!
 
It's tricky finding space :(. Would it be possible to use a smaller cage and then have a run attached when needed? Even a huge secure outdoor run for an hour a day? Then you may find space to pop the cage on the table? The minimum for 3 pigs is a 2 x 4 or a 140+ cm cage, if you have them access to an outdoor or indoor run for an hour a day a smaller cage would be ideal.
 
Kindness said:
It's tricky finding space :(. Would it be possible to use a smaller cage and then have a run attached when needed? Even a huge secure outdoor run for an hour a day? Then you may find space to pop the cage on the table? The minimum for 3 pigs is a 2 x 4 or a 140+ cm cage, if you have them access to an outdoor or indoor run for an hour a day a smaller cage would be ideal.
Click to expand...

They’ve been in a 2x4 since I got them but it’s starting to feel a bit cramped now the ‘babies’ are 6 months old. They’re quite a fractious group, there’s the start of a face-off between my older, timid sow Pepper and the really outgoing, dominant baby for top spot; and little Pickle at the bottom of the pecking order was getting quite a hard time. Plus Pollyanna (the dominant baby) is a complete cow when she’s in season. All in all things seem a lot more settled with a bit of extra space, and I’m just going to have to live with the inconvenience I think :D. At least now I don’t trip over the cage when I walk through the door which was what I’ve been doing for the last 6 months!
 
I think that's a brilliant space saving idea.
If you find it difficult to clean under a higher table would be easier. You could either put longer legs on that one or replace it (I know more expense!). I used to have this arrangement
IMG_6278 (2).webp
but now have this, the table top is an old door, the legs came from B&Q. With the extra height you can reach underneath to clean.
IMG_0274.webp
 
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