Woo! New piggy home has arrived!

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Wilbur&Otis

Wilbur&Otis

Junior Guinea Pig
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As a new piggie owner with a small flat I've gone for a R5A 120 for Wilbur & Otis's home (I'd love a C&C eventually when I get a bigger pad myself). It's been delivered today and I'm going to spend the evening setting it up and arranging it whilst my boyfriend heads off to the pub! (He's rubbish at flat pack stuff anyway). Has anyone else got one of these? (The R5A120, not the pub-going boyfriend! :)))

It comes with 2 ramps but I'm debating whether to put these in just yet as I dont want to overwhelm them - I've only had them a week and they're still very jumpy! Also I heard that the ramps can be a bit slippy so I'm thinking of covering them with something grippy if anyone has any ideas? ?/

My flat has wooden floor throughout and not much furniture so I'm hoping that once they've settled in I can have a ramp going from the cage to the floor and let them have free run of the flat. My main worry about this is how to prevent them going near any wires at the back of the TV etc or behind the fridge...?

Also a totally unrelated thing but can someone fill me in on what 'popcorning' is? I've heard the term a few times when reading articles on here but couldn't find an explanation of what it actually is?!? :{

I'll post a pic of the new set up if I manage to build it!

Thanks! Natalie, Wilbur & Otis (and Elmo the hamster) x
 
Your hutch sounds awesome, maybe give your piggles a chance to get used to what they have and then you can try them with the ramps.
Looking forward to seeing pigtures!

Popcorning is when your piggies do little jumps and wheeks when they're moving around. It's basically a sign that they are very very happy and they just can't hold it in - so they popcorn! :)
 
Hi, we've got this hutch and it's great, really happy with it.

we have both ramps in, although I extended them to make them less steep and stuck vetbed on them which gives them a great grip.

Happy building!
 
cool i was wondering what popcorning was as well. That mean my boys are happy to then :)

can't wait nto see your new cage. :)
 
Excellent. I'll be pestering you later then if I cant figure out the instructions on how to build it (I've heard its tricky). :p

Have you got a ramp leading up to the cage to let them out by too or is it too steep to do that being in a frame? I was going to attempt to make a bespoke ramp for the purpose. Vetbed's a great idea to cover the other ramps with too! Thanks!
 
Just ensure your flat is piggy proofed as they chew wires etc. A member on here had her piggy electrocute himself - was ok thankfully :...
Maybe purchase a couple of small metal playpens to surround the cage as a starter to give them run time and will keep them safe as well :)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Metal-Pla...UK_Pet_Supplies_Dogs&var=&hash=item61ccfd7c3c

Popcorning gets the name as piggies resemble popcorn exploding in a saucepan :{ Mine literally throw themselves sideways, upwards when happy and is great to see :))
 
Boo! Wont be any pics of their new home for a while - just unpacked the boxes and the plastic base is smashed up at the corners. grrr. Poor Wilbur & Otis will have to stay put in their temporary pad a little longer whilst I do battle with the online petshop. How annoying.
 
Wilbur&Otis said:
Boo! Wont be any pics of their new home for a while - just unpacked the boxes and the plastic base is smashed up at the corners. grrr. Poor Wilbur & Otis will have to stay put in their temporary pad a little longer whilst I do battle with the online petshop. How annoying.
Click to expand...

:Ayociexp121: How annoying! I hope you get a new one sent out to you asap! Poor Wilbur and Otis and ofcourse you!
 
The replacement cage arrived last Friday (intact this time - phew!) so after a couple of hours (and a few expletives!) armed with a spanner and an alan key it was ready for the boys to move in. I put one ramp and platform in, more to give them a hidey space under the lower ceiling than for the 2nd floor.

It's a big hit so far! I love having them higher up and on wheels and they love the extra space! I gought them a purple pigloo too which they seem to like, although both prefer to chase each other around it than actually go inside!

I used an old thermal sock stretched over the ramp to give it better grip but neither of the piggies seemed to know what it was for... until last night. :))

I've been leaving strategicly place veg on the top floor to check whether theyd figured out the ramp whilst I'm not around. When i got back from work yesterday the celery was still there intact so I knew they'd not been up there. A bit later I was half listening as the boys played a noisy game of chase and it all went suddenly quiet. I looked up to discover that Wilbur was sat upstairs on the platform munching on the stick of celery... he'd accidentally run up the ramp during a particularly speedy lap of the cage! :))

It took him a while to figure out how to get back down, but after a few tentative atempts to feel the ramp with his front feet he made it! So cute. Poor Otis meanwhile was completely baffled how Wilbur had got up there and there was a lot of curious squeeking going on. So funny to watch, can just imagine what he was saying!

Anyway, I took a few quick pics on my phone will try to add now...
 
The new home...

High_Peak-20120328-00391.jpg


IMG


Wilbur the explorer!

High_Peak-20120328-00387.jpg


"How did you get up there?"

High_Peak-20120328-00386.jpg


"...i'm not sure"

High_Peak-20120328-00382.jpg
 
These cages are lush, I have the 150cm one.
Just a little word of warning, ones on a stand like this have been known to have the bottom of the cage just fall out, when a little pressure is applied i.e. when cleaning them out.
So just be extra careful and maybe prop the bottom of it up with somethig just to be safe?

The piggie slook like they are very impressed with their new home, what lucky piggies :)) x
 
I've just had one of these delivered today so was really pleased to see your photos. Need to persuade DH to put it up now.
 
Its fab I'm really pleased with it, especially as the whole lid is hinged so you can just flip it up to reach in!

The instructions are rubbish though... When you set it up make sure that the little lip at the top of both the 2 main curved tubular bar sections is facing inwards as these support the roof eventually. I faced them outwards as it doesn't mention them in the instructions and had to take it all to bits again. mallethead

Good luck setting yours up! If you have any trouble and want any close up pics of any parts of the cage let me know! :)
 
just out of interest, did you order the cage from Zooplus? I had 2 cages in sucession delivered from them, smashed to pieces.
I got a refund in the end, and repaired the least damaged of the 2 basins. It is now held to the cage with bungees, and wire! The boys love it though.
 
Yes it was from zooplus! The first one the base was smashed to bits, I was worried the second one would be the same as the packaging is rubbish but luckily it arrived intact! Good idea with the bungies... I was planning on fibre-glassing the cracked corners if this one arrived damaged. :)
 
Seems to a common problem with Zooplus as you say the packaging is rubbish, just a bit of cardboard around it. I had a long 'discussion' with their customer services over the need to package them better. Doesn't sound like they listened!
 
bit late but am sure there is a post on here for putting it together, just can't find it!

I have it and it was a total mare to put together! Good luck

xx
 
It's done, we aren't divorced but it was a close thing. God what a nightmare!
Well worth it though, the cage is HUGE. Not sure where it's gong to go!
Will be putting piggies in tomorrow.
 
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Glad you managed to build yours in the end, the divorce comment made me laugh... things were similarly tense in our flat during construction! :(|)

Its brilliant being able to wheel the cage around... i bring them next to the sofa when I'm in on an evening and then push them back out of the way when the rest of the time... fab for vacuuming too!

I've used the spare side panels from the original damaged cage to fence of an area so they can run around in the kitchen... going to test that out today. Think the ramps that came with the cage are a little steep - have yours discovered how to use them yet? My piggies aren't keen on using them at the moment so I'm going to try and extend them somehow so they're not as steep.
 
No they haven't used the ramp yet, even with tempting celery up there! I've only put one ramp and platform in at the moment. Need to put a sock on the ramp I think.
 
I've lowered the shelf now and adjusted the sock and they're both using it much more easily. Originally i just pulled the sock up over the ramp but found it slid down when they used it so I've cut 2 little holes in the corners of the toe so that i can slide the sock on from the top of the ramp and then still clip it in place... works much better!

I also got 2ft of vetbed to try today as am worried the wood shavings i've been using might be irritating the boys bits. It looks like a palace now! drool
 
I have one of these, it was an absolute bargain off e-bay, but i have to say the ramp has never been used so the shelf is just really to provide a hidey hole underneath. The bottom tray has a tendancy to drop down too,so i wedge a small table underneath it, and don't wheel it around without hanging on to the underneath. Its a great size though.
 
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