Cage Does it have to be a rectangle? - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**Heady** · #1 10-24-09, 01:37 pm

I was thinking about adjusting my cage a bit to make it more accessible and easier for me to clean, but I'm concerned about taking it out of it's current rectangular shape. It's a 3 grid by 4 grid and instead of having 4 sides, I was considering making 6 so it fits in the corner of my living room (the same corner it's in now).

My worry is that it would make the space less enjoyable for the pigs, because instead of a large open area, there would be corners and edges to contend with and I didn't know if changing it would be going against the recommended square footage....if that makes any sense.

I'm sorry...I haven't gone to bed yet so my head is being a bit funny and I'm not even making sense to me. I'm confusing myself, so I hope I'm not making my post confusing.

If anyone has a clue as to what I'm talking about, let me know!!! I just want to have a great cage for them and I don't want to mess it up.

**blackarrow** · #2 10-24-09, 02:14 pm

Do you mean that it would then be shaped like a hexagon, or that it would be shaped like a fan or a baseball field (squared off on two sides but curved outward where the other two sides would be?) Either of those options would be fine, and probably the only reason more people don't do that is that it's harder to get the coroplast they use in a shape like that. If that's not your issue it shouldn't be a problem.

**trump_cinnamon** · #3 10-24-09, 03:05 pm

It's also ok to make it in an L shape, to go around a corner.

**Heady** · #4 10-24-09, 03:09 pm

Well, not really any curved shape. I jotted down what I'm thinking in my head so you can see what I mean.

Here:

If I'm not mistaken, I believe I have 14 total grids for the perimeter of my current cage. Taking that number, I figured I might be able to swing something similar to my drawing... Although like I mentioned in another post, I have yet to go to sleep (shot over the 24 hour mark) and my head is getting a bit muddled, so it's entirely possible that my idea is a bad one.

As much as I would like to use coroplast, I don't. I used some pieces of foam core I had lying around and covered them with a shower curtain and then used the remaining linoleum from the person I got Santino from for the 6 inch high border around the cage. I know that if I change my cage, it's going to involve more cutting of foam core, shower curtains and linoleum, so I'm not looking forward to that part, but I want the cage to be more accessible.

I hope all of this makes sense!!!

**Heady** · #5 10-24-09, 03:12 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by trump_cinnamon

It's also ok to make it in an L shape, to go around a corner.

AH! This is what I was looking for. I thought that by making it into that shape, it would lessen the amount of room needed for popcorning, tag, laps and waddles.

Good to know. I really do need to find someone local that has coroplast because I am SO SICK of cutting foam core, shower curtains, linoleum and then TAPE tape tape! So much tape! Ugh.

**Heady** · #6 10-24-09, 03:14 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackarrow

Do you mean that it would then be shaped like a hexagon, or that it would be shaped like a fan or a baseball field (squared off on two sides but curved outward where the other two sides would be?) Either of those options would be fine, and probably the only reason more people don't do that is that it's harder to get the coroplast they use in a shape like that. If that's not your issue it shouldn't be a problem.

You know...if I had the room, I think a hexagon cage would totally kick major booty! I love the idea and once I find a steady supply of coroplast, I may have to try it! That is if my husband can take his non-rocking rocking recliner into another room before I set it aflame on the patio during a manic moment *giggle*

**blackarrow** · #7 10-24-09, 03:24 pm

Yeah, with a cage that size for just two, you should be fine with it arranged like you're planning. I don't think you could get good "laps" out of a "cross" shape or a "T" shape but an "L" shape that's at least two grids wide everywhere shouldn't be a problem.

One thought, though - if it were me and the space allowed, I might consider making it 4 grids long on the longest side, so that it was essentially a 2x4 with an attached 1x2 bumpout on one end, if that makes sense, and putting the kitchen area in the 1x2 bumpout. That way they'd have the whole 2x4 part uninterrupted for running, especially if their hideys were kept out in the middle.

**Heady** · #8 10-24-09, 04:19 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackarrow

Yeah, with a cage that size for just two, you should be fine with it arranged like you're planning. I don't think you could get good "laps" out of a "cross" shape or a "T" shape but an "L" shape that's at least two grids wide everywhere shouldn't be a problem.

One thought, though - if it were me and the space allowed, I might consider making it 4 grids long on the longest side, so that it was essentially a 2x4 with an attached 1x2 bumpout on one end, if that makes sense, and putting the kitchen area in the 1x2 bumpout. That way they'd have the whole 2x4 part uninterrupted for running, especially if their hideys were kept out in the middle.

Hmmm. I might have to draw that one up to see if it's what you're describing. I think I understand, but I will have to see it in lines to really get it.

Okay...I drew what I think you're talking about...

With the exception of the wobbly lines, is this what you meant?

**distancel** · #9 10-24-09, 10:01 pm

I think this is what Blackarrow meant:

You make me want to redesign my cage yet again hehe but space wise anything other than a large rectangle wouldn't be very space efficient for me.

I too did not use coroplast for my cage and had heaps of cutting and taping I had to do! It really is a pain and silly me thought that contacting would be the best kind of waterproofing, which was a mission to put contact over a box shaped thing. Really need to get some but the places near me only sell it in bulk so I thought I'd be thrifty. Haha. Wish I didn't.

**pigsforlife** · #10 10-24-09, 11:53 pm

That is the one really annoying thing about C&C cages - I ALWAYS want to change them or modify them simply because I can!!

Distancels picture is was blackarrow meant I think. It makes sense if you can do it - they have a 2x4 area of uninterrupted running area/sleeping area and a 1x2 kitchen area off to one side.

**distancel** · #11 10-25-09, 01:07 am

Yes when I got my grids and started making my cage, I thought to myself 'There should have been a warning associated to these cages to let me know I would probably get addicted to expanding and redesigning' Hehe.

**Heady** · #12 10-27-09, 10:44 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by distancel

I think this is what Blackarrow meant:

You make me want to redesign my cage yet again hehe but space wise anything other than a large rectangle wouldn't be very space efficient for me.

I too did not use coroplast for my cage and had heaps of cutting and taping I had to do! It really is a pain and silly me thought that contacting would be the best kind of waterproofing, which was a mission to put contact over a box shaped thing. Really need to get some but the places near me only sell it in bulk so I thought I'd be thrifty. Haha. Wish I didn't.

Ahhh!! Thank you for giving me a visual aid! This makes sense now

I think it would work better than what I have now because the back would be more accessible. I wouldn't have any issues if I didn't have stuff in front of the cage, so maybe I'll move things first before I redo the whole thing.

I had considered using contact paper at first, but I figured the shower liner would be better.

"Thank you, distancel, for this useful post," say these 2 members:
blackarrow (10-27-09), Heady (10-27-09)

"Thank you, pigsforlife, for this useful post," says:
Heady (10-27-09)