Added 2nd level. and now I can't figure out what to make a ramp/steps out of=( HELP.

[Crystal Lee]

So. I've added a small second level to my cage. But I'm not sure what I can use to make a ramp or steps of some sort for them to use to get up on it. I don't have room in my cage for a long ramp or long steps.
If I don't figure something out soon I'm just gonna take the second floor down...but I like it and am pretty sure my 2 piggies will like it too once I can figure something out..well IF I can figure something out...

Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas as to what I can use for a ramp/steps up to the second level?

[ferndalezoo]

How big is your cage? That will help with suggestions. Personally, my ramp is 2 grids, bent into a "U" shape, and attached with cable ties. The walking surface is covered in indoor/outdoor carpet. It doesn't take up much space, and seemed the sturdiest way to go.

[Crystal Lee]

My cage is 3 ft. 2 inches by 1 foot 8 inches. Yes I know it's smaller than recommended but I'm tight on money right now. I'm constantly cleaning the cage to make sure they have a good living enviroment and i have a huge playpen about 6 ft by 3 ft. that they run around in.

[ferndalezoo]

I wouldn't bother with a second level in a cage that size. It's already too small-- no need to cramp it up with ramps/extra levels that don't count for space anyway.

[4piggers]

My cage is 3 ft. 2 inches by 1 foot 8 inches. Yes I know it's smaller than recommended but I'm tight on money right now. I'm constantly cleaning the cage to make sure they have a good living enviroment and i have a huge playpen about 6 ft by 3 ft. that they run around in.

Why dont you take the supplies you used for the upper level and use it on the lower level? Then you can make an extra level when you can afford that, instead of vise versa?

[4piggers]

How big is your cage? That will help with suggestions. Personally, my ramp is 2 grids, bent into a "U" shape, and attached with cable ties. The walking surface is covered in indoor/outdoor carpet. It doesn't take up much space, and seemed the sturdiest way to go.

How easily to they bend? Do you wrap it around something to be sure its even?

[ferndalezoo]

I just stepped on one side, and pulled up on the other to make it bend. It worked well. Pics are in my gallery.

[4piggers]

I just stepped on one side, and pulled up on the other to make it bend. It worked well. Pics are in my gallery.

Ive been looking, thank you.

[Crystal Lee]

Everybody here needs to understand something. Yes my cage is smaller than what is asked for but I keep it very clean for them. I clean it about 4 times a day. I also have a 6 by 3 feet play pen for them which I make sure to get them into a lot so they get exercise. So I don't appreciate the somewhat critisism I'm getting from people saying my cage is too small. Yes, I know it's smaller than recommended but it's not like they are stuck in it all day. It's pretty much their sleep and eat area.

[ferndalezoo]

Your cage is too small-- bottom line, especially if it is shared by more than one pig. You keep it clean, and they get a bigger space to play in "a lot", and that's great, but you need to work out how to get them a bigger cage, and soon. Could you find a way to make the playpen their cage instead? What kind of cage are they currently in? Is it a pet store cage, or did you build it? Could you expand it? If it's a pet store cage, could you attach the playpen to it, and leave the door open, giving them free range of both spaces?

[Crystal Lee]

I've been trying to figure out how to do just that. Make their playpen their living quarters too. I'm still working on figuring out what to make the roof of it out of. It has to be really sturdy for I have a dog and 3 cats.

[fieryone]

Everybody here needs to understand something. Yes my cage is smaller than what is asked for but I keep it very clean for them. I clean it about 4 times a day. I also have a 6 by 3 feet play pen for them which I make sure to get them into a lot so they get exercise. So I don't appreciate the somewhat critisism I'm getting from people saying my cage is too small. Yes, I know it's smaller than recommended but it's not like they are stuck in it all day. It's pretty much their sleep and eat area.

Please don't take this as rude, but no one here is going to say that your cage is okay. This site is dedicated to getting pigs out of small pet store cages and into bigger living quarters. Regardless of how clean you keep it or how often they are let out, they still need to get into a larger full time cage so that they can exercise on their own time. Especially with two boys in a cage that size, you could very well have fighting pigs in no time once they enter puberty. The recommended minimum for two females is 2x3 grids (or 28" x 42") and 2x4 grids (28" x 56") for two males. So please don't take offense when people say that you should expand their cage. Everyone here will be more than willing to help you come up with ways to do just that for very little money. I think attaching their playpen to their existing cage sounds like an excellent solution. They could use their pet store cage as a kitchen area and the play pen as an exercise area.

May I ask what their playpen is made of? Is it something that maybe you could disassemble slightly to make a top?

[Crystal Lee]

My playpen is made of 14 metal panels specially made for a guinea pig playpen. I wouldn't be able to disassemble any of it to make a top. The only way I could make a top is if I bought something to make one. Which I might end up doing. I'm not sure just yet. By any chance do you know where I can find the best deal on cubes and coroplast?

[s.edwards]

I bought the cage kit from this site. I came really fast and was really easy to put together.

[seredman]

Hi I got my cubes from Target and they were only $16 for 23 grids, but you need to be careful that you don't buy the "new" grids with the large holes. I was able to find the safe crome ones. You can get away with the new style grids only if you use the ones with the large holes as the floor (which would be covered by coroplast) or roof. 23 grids is large enough for a completely enclosed 2 x 3. I completely enclosed mine because it is up off the floor. I have dogs, cats and kids to keep out of the cage.
The coloraplast I purchased from a local sign store and they even cut it to size all I had to do was score and bend, I paid about $10 for it.
Good Luck I hope you can find a way to get your GPs their bigger cage!