C&C: C&C cage, been thinking.

[IluvePiggies]

Okay, so I've been thinking and I thought that my Guinea Pigs hate being in small spaces and that's when they fight. So, I thought, they'd be happier and healthier if a C&C cage was built. Not exactly really big to where they'd be overwhelmed but something big enough(Just one level) for the both of them without them being mad at each other. So here are my thoughts:
1: A kitchen built to the side with hay, their pellets and fresh veggies.
2: Potty by the kitchen but not in the kitchen(Only one is potty trained so I hope I can train the second one!)
3: Collecting as many tissue boxes and connect them together to make a home because I know that some pigloo's are very expensive(I'm sorry to say but I buy from Pet Stores that sell Animals but Petco and Petsmart actually have good conditons they keep their pets in. Dumbo Rats and Chinchilla's are in the bottom and usually Guinea Pigs are up front)
3: Using brown or white paper bags and occasionly stuffing them with hay.
4: (Maybe) using kids wooden blocks to making steps and a long walkway that's sturdy so they can come and get a treat if their good!
5: And if I don't do tissue boxes, I can put their cuddly-e cups underneath the hiding corner and just setting the tissue boxes anywhere.

Those are my ideas and I kind of want to know a few things about your cages so I can get a range of prices, etc.
Q 1: How much did you spend on your C&C cage?
Q 2: What are some other subsitutes beside Coroplast and Vinyl?
Q 3: Do your Piggies seem to be happier in a C&C cage?

I almost forgot the sixth idea: If I can't find another subsitute for Coroplast, maybe using the bottom of the two pet store cages I have now. They'd have to be cut but at least its plastic.

Thanks for anybody that helps!
Oh, P.S. Here are the links to the cages I have for my Guinea Pigs:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752728
http://www.petco.com/product/12284/Super-Pet-My-First-Home-Complete-Ki t-for-Guinea-Pigs.aspx

[tehdoc809]

First off, I don't know how many cavies you have, but that cage is too small for one, let alone multiple.

Secondly, sounds like decent Ideas, although just to warn you, most cavies like to potty where they sleep/eat, sounds nasty but its the truth.

Third, I bought two boxes worth of grids at 22 and change per box, so a little over 45 dollars. And I don't have my coroplast yet because we are waiting until we get our boar fixed and build them the cage for all three when it's safe to house the boar with the sows.

Fourth, Coroplast is easier to find then you might think. Open up the phone book to the yellow pages (if you are in the US, don't know about other countries) under sign makers. Typically they will have, and be willing to sell you some. The best quote I got was 20 dollars for a 4ftx8ft sheet... massive. So over all it looks like it will be about 60 dollars for the cage itself.

Last, yes. My piggies are way happier in their CandalmostC cage then when we had them in the store bought. The first thing my boar did when he hit the fleece in it was popcorn about 10 time then did some laps for about an hour... gerture being the fat baby.. waddled some laps then took a nap, but she seemed happier.

[piggers_sienna]

Instead of coroplast i use a shower curtain i got at the dollar store. And then I use old towels and matress pads and a fleece.

[Myspoiltpiggies]

Currently I have three 2x6 C&C cages in the shed. The building of these cost me I think £30 for the Correx and £22 for the grids (I later added lofts so bought more grids but that was only £10 as I bought from a different place). So the overall building of my C&C cages was about £62.

Now though I am building two 2x4 cages in my room because I don't want my guinea pigs in the shed anymore (and finally my parents have been persuaded it is for the best) I am finding it really hard to find Correx that isn't so expensive! I have e-mailed most of the Sign shops in my area and they all seem to have a minimum order of 5 or 10 sheets! But now I think I have found somewhere where I can get 2 sheets for £20. The delivery is £16 though. The two packs of grids I have just ordered are £44 plus £10 delivery. Sure I could probably find them cheaper but I like the grids Robert May do. So these 2 2x4 cages will cost me a mahusive £90! I still think it's worth it though.

I have used Linoleum in the past. Actually we have a mobile home and I built a cage in the shed there (it isn't really a shed, more like a laundry room) and I bring a couple piggies with me to stay in there.

The pigs definitely have been happer in C&C cages! At the moment, because of the transition from the shed to my bedroom, they are all in small boxes in my room and one of them, Rico, seems to hate it. He's jumped out a couple times.

[jenniwat001]

myspoiltpiggies-where abouts are you in the UK? I found 6ftx3ft correx sheets for £7.50+vat. They cut to size from a bigger sheet so you canget bigger or smaller.

My cage is 2x4 with an L shaped upper deck it cost me £22 for cubes and £17 for two sheet of correx + £2.99 for zip ties so a total of £42! My pigs absolutely love it.

Once I found correx (coroplast) it turned out to be much cheaper than lino or vynl. rang up sign makers and fter a while found someone who could help. A few phone calls and it was done.

Good luck.

[Emmy-Dan]

Where To Buy Correx (Corrugated Plastic) In The UK

Look at this thread. Sorry mods if I haven't done the link properly. Not sure how to do it or find where the information to check.

Hope the name of the link helps people though.

[Peggysu]

Q 1: How much did you spend on your C&C cage?
About $40.00

Q 2: What are some other subsitutes beside Coroplast and Vinyl?
Personally I like coroplast because it is light and extremely easy to clean. It's not that hard to find in the U.S. as long as you search.

Q 3: Do your Piggies seem to be happier in a C&C cage?
Of course.

Originally Posted by IluvePiggies

(I'm sorry to say but I buy from Pet Stores that sell Animals but Petco and Petsmart actually have good conditons they keep their pets in. Dumbo Rats and Chinchilla's are in the bottom and usually Guinea Pigs are up front)

Sadly you will not find any cage that is the acceptable size, to house a guinea pig alone, at any of the these stores. Guinea pigs need a lot of space so they can run and be mentally stimulated. If they are housed in a small cage they don't keep the muscle mass they need to be healthy. A bigger cage is always best. If they more room they will fight less. Also they love to run in circles. My girls zoom around the cage and popcorn all over, especially when they get their veggies or new fleece.

[Myspoiltpiggies]

Originally Posted by jenniwat001

myspoiltpiggies-where abouts are you in the UK? I found 6ftx3ft correx sheets for £7.50+vat. They cut to size from a bigger sheet so you canget bigger or smaller.

My cage is 2x4 with an L shaped upper deck it cost me £22 for cubes and £17 for two sheet of correx + £2.99 for zip ties so a total of £42! My pigs absolutely love it.

Once I found correx (coroplast) it turned out to be much cheaper than lino or vynl. rang up sign makers and fter a while found someone who could help. A few phone calls and it was done.

Good luck.

I am in East Anglia - in Cambridgeshire. What company did you buy from?

[IluvePiggies]

Originally Posted by Peggysu

Q 1: How much did you spend on your C&C cage?
About $40.00

Q 2: What are some other subsitutes beside Coroplast and Vinyl?
Personally I like coroplast because it is light and extremely easy to clean. It's not that hard to find in the U.S. as long as you search.

Q 3: Do your Piggies seem to be happier in a C&C cage?
Of course.




Sadly you will not find any cage that is the acceptable size, to house a guinea pig alone, at any of the these stores. Guinea pigs need a lot of space so they can run and be mentally stimulated. If they are housed in a small cage they don't keep the muscle mass they need to be healthy. A bigger cage is always best. If they more room they will fight less. Also they love to run in circles. My girls zoom around the cage and popcorn all over, especially when they get their veggies or new fleece.

I just found out that Carly likes to popcorn but she doesn't really jump that high or anything. Its kind of like a tiny jump. Its really funny! And Carly also likes to run around her pet store cage every now and then at 9 or ten in the morning! Its like she's trying to get Sandy(My other Guinea Pig, actually my fatty Guinea Pig) to exercise!

[Peggysu]

Originally Posted by IluvePiggies

I just found out that Carly likes to popcorn but she doesn't really jump that high or anything. Its kind of like a tiny jump. Its really funny! And Carly also likes to run around her pet store cage every now and then at 9 or ten in the morning! Its like she's trying to get Sandy(My other Guinea Pig, actually my fatty Guinea Pig) to exercise!

Not all pigs popcorn but if they don't have plenty of room or stimulation they won't run or get enough exercise.

[IluvePiggies]

Originally Posted by tehdoc809

First off, I don't know how many cavies you have, but that cage is too small for one, let alone multiple.

Secondly, sounds like decent Ideas, although just to warn you, most cavies like to potty where they sleep/eat, sounds nasty but its the truth.

Third, I bought two boxes worth of grids at 22 and change per box, so a little over 45 dollars. And I don't have my coroplast yet because we are waiting until we get our boar fixed and build them the cage for all three when it's safe to house the boar with the sows.

Fourth, Coroplast is easier to find then you might think. Open up the phone book to the yellow pages (if you are in the US, don't know about other countries) under sign makers. Typically they will have, and be willing to sell you some. The best quote I got was 20 dollars for a 4ftx8ft sheet... massive. So over all it looks like it will be about 60 dollars for the cage itself.

Last, yes. My piggies are way happier in their CandalmostC cage then when we had them in the store bought. The first thing my boar did when he hit the fleece in it was popcorn about 10 time then did some laps for about an hour... gerture being the fat baby.. waddled some laps then took a nap, but she seemed happier.

Carly and Sandy are housed in separate cages and have been quarattined for 2-3 weeks.........I like the idea of a shower curtian but what about wood then maybe fleece over the wood?

[rabbitsncavyluv]

A 2 by 4 C&C is the recommended size for a pair.

And it doesn't matter how clean the Petco/Petstupids tanks for their animals may look, it is what you do not see that is the problem. Conditions like this Hollister Seizure and Rescue

[jenniwat001]

I bought from MDP Supplies (mpdsupplies.co.uk) but pyramid display (Pyramid Display Materials) also do correx at about the same price-they have a depot in Birmingham but no closer I'm afraid. They do post but for a sheet or two its not great I picked mine up from MDP on the wirral near Liverpool-they were really nice.

[tehdoc809]

Originally Posted by IluvePiggies

Carly and Sandy are housed in separate cages and have been quarattined for 2-3 weeks.........I like the idea of a shower curtian but what about wood then maybe fleece over the wood?

Oh no no, the fleece is going to wick the urine through onto the wood which will absorb it and smell to high heaven, not to mention rot after a period of time. You could put the shower curtian on the wood then the fleece though, because the curtian won't wick or absorb the urine. Although if you are going to do that the layers I would use is Fleece > Fleece > Towels > Towels > Shower Curtian> Wood. Two layers of towels and fleece just for that extraness since you have multiple cavies.

[IluvePiggies]

Okay, if I want it to house let's say 3 Guinea Pigs would I need 2 bags of the shower curtains?

[IluvePiggies]

I am so excited! I was looking on Ebay and found out that people are selling C&C cage but most of them say 42x28....what size of these would be best for 3 Guinea Pigs in your opinion?

[gooberific]

Originally Posted by IluvePiggies

I am so excited! I was looking on Ebay and found out that people are selling C&C cage but most of them say 42x28....what size of these would be best for 3 Guinea Pigs in your opinion?

That's a 2x3, so you'd want a 2x4 (min) or 2x5 (preferred) for 3 pigs. (The bigger the better)

To put that in inches... 28x56+

[IluvePiggies]

Thanks! It should really help

[Mary16866]

I dont understand whats wrong with having a normal pet store sized cage as long as you give them time to run around. If you only put one in there i dont see how you would have a problem!

[Emmy-Dan]

Most, if not all are simple not big enough. If you check this forums measurement requirements and read up a little more about the positive effect it has on gp then you will soon understand the nesscity (sp) of this. Also gp require company and can be considered 'unfair' to be left without a friend. Making pet store cages even more unsuitable. Gp love lots of exercise and therefore need as much room as possible. All the best.