C&C making two seperate but stacked cages - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**Tessa Bea** · #1 11-03-09, 09:13 pm

I am looking through the pictures for ideas on this, and would appreciate everyone's input. I am probably adopting three boars in the near future, and need to make space for them above or under my current guinea pigs home. I think I have enough cubes to do the job, just need to buy more coroplast and rearrange things a bit. Here are photos of my current cage., front and side view. It's a pretty simple 2x5 C&C on a stand.

I'm thinking remove the supports in the middle and open up the underneath, convert it into a cage. I just don't want to have to struggle every time I need to get them out, is the problem. I'm having trouble figuring out the best way to make a gate/moveable wall/ what have you. Also, ideally I'd like to have everyone off of the ground... but I'm willing to compromise on that so I don't have to buy more grids or do more rebuilding right now.

**Seonta** · #2 11-03-09, 09:15 pm

What about something like this: Double Decker 2x4 - Guinea Pig Cage Photos

Of course I would have grids go all the way around.

**Tessa Bea** · #3 11-03-09, 09:27 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seonta

What about something like this: Double Decker 2x4 - Guinea Pig Cage Photos

Of course I would have grids go all the way around.

That's pretty good, but the height is a little much- though having the two grids between each really opens it up and looks like it's easier access. I would put grid doors in the spaces. I think I may put the new cage on the floor, then at another grid between that and the current cage... that would make it a little easier access, though it'd still be on the floor. I could do it reverse, add another grid on top of the current cage and then put the other on top of that, but that would be far taller than I would like.

**akstrohm** · #4 11-03-09, 09:33 pm

I'm not sure what space you're working with, but you could possibly make two rectangular shaped cages but put one on top of the other at a right angle. So if viewed from above it would be L-shaped. You could make a one-grid base below the bottom cage. Then the cages would only overlap by a 2x2 area, and you would still have the remaining 2x3 area to reach into the cage. If that didn't make sense, let me know and I will explain it differently.

Are the three boars already living together? If possible you might want to make a 2x6 for them instead of a 2x5.

**angiekay** · #5 11-03-09, 09:34 pm

I have a 3 level, with tunnels going to each level, BUT you could use that idea. I have mine on the floor of course, because it would be so high off the floor. The top level is 2 X 4 and the bottom level is 3 X 4 so that would work, just a suggestion.

**Tessa Bea** · #6 11-03-09, 09:53 pm

Akstrohm- that idea sounds just about perfect. We could turn the cage and put it on the other side of the dining room, have the other part of the "L" running along where the current cage is now, kind of. I would prefer to make a 2x6 for boars, I've never had more than one boar at a time so I was unsure of how much space they need.

EDIT- Yes, the boars are already living together. They are at an animal shelter at the moment so I doubt that they have ANY space at all, comparatively. They are littermates and were brought in together, they're all a year and a half old. I made a topic about them in the "Adoptables" section.

**akstrohm** · #7 11-03-09, 10:01 pm

They don't necessarily need a 2x6, but the bigger the better. Boars sometimes do better in even numbers, so since you'll have a trio, it might help to have a bit more space. But it's a good sign that they're already living together, so if a 2x5 is all you can do, go for it.

**Gonzo** · #8 11-03-09, 10:30 pm

I had this set-up when we had four piggies - two males and two females:

http://www.guineapigcages.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/4188

It may not be clear, but I used a section of shelving as the top door (we have cats). I built the table beneath them out of plywood and 2x4s.

**lissie** · #9 11-03-09, 11:36 pm

If you put the lower cage on the floor, and put a grid in between. It will look something like this. (scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page)
My Piggies - The Cozy Cavy

I don't think it's too high. I have a 2x6 cage on 2 grids high stand. I'm only 5'4 and it worked ok for me.

If space is not an issue, L-shape would probably be easier to reach in though.

**Tessa Bea** · #10 11-04-09, 12:41 am

Lissie - The floor cage, grid space, cage above seems like the most ideal set up for me at the moment. I would still be able to house everyone right next to the kitchen, which would be great. I wouldn't have to take up any more space, or do any drastic rearranging. I also noticed that the site you linked to had chopped grids in half for the borders of the cages- how safe is this? It'd be even more convenient if I did that.

Gonzo- Thanks for the idea. It looks really neat, but I do not have enough room for a table or 3 grids x anything. The floor, grid, cage would stay where I have them now. The "L" shape would go in a corner so it sort of borders the room. 3 grids would be too intrusive. If I put them in the living room, the three grid would work, but it has a door-wall in it leading to the patio and is more drafty so I prefer to keep them in the dining room.

**lissie** · #11 11-04-09, 12:49 am

From what I've read, the site I linked you to is the person who sells cozies. She's a member on Guinea Lynx. From her description of her cage on GL, she said "most of the pigs living on the upper deck are seniors."

I copied the cage idea from her and cut the front of my cage down. The front is 9". Although my pigs can jump up and down from a 6" bunkbed, they've never try to climb or jump out the front of their cage. Two of mine are 1 year old, and the other one is 2 years old. My pigs are quite well behave though. They've also never burrow in their fleece, and kept their cage pretty clean.

**Tessa Bea** · #12 11-04-09, 12:54 am

My three I have currently are very well behaved also, I'm pretty sure they'd do fine if I bring down the size of their walls to conserve grids- especially considering that two sides are already against a wall and a cabinet, respectively.

EDIT- also, should I make the floor, grid, cage method- I think I'll use the I-beam idea I saw on here as well because I am paranoid. Plus, they could double as hayracks, I think.

**lissie** · #13 11-04-09, 01:10 am

I-beam? Is that like putting one grid inside the cage to support the top level?

I don't like to use vertical support for my cage. I don't like to have to move the support every time I clean the cage.

This is my favorite cage support picture.
Lighting and reinforcement - Guinea Pig Cage Photos

I have one of those supporting the center of my cage.

**Tessa Bea** · #14 11-04-09, 01:14 am

No, I hate having to move things when I clean the cage as well. It's a hot tip that angiekay submitted a while back, here's the thread.

http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...nd-levels.html

**lissie** · #15 11-04-09, 01:19 am

Yeah. That's a nice one.

"Thank you, akstrohm, for this useful post," says:
Tessa Bea (11-03-09)

"Thank you, angiekay, for this useful post," says:
Tessa Bea (11-03-09)

"Thank you, akstrohm, for this useful post," says:
Tessa Bea (11-04-09)

"Thank you, Gonzo, for this useful post," says:
Tessa Bea (11-04-09)

"Thank you, lissie, for this useful post," says:
Tessa Bea (11-04-09)