Lots of questions--advice needed!

[Pigs4me]

I have a 3-week old male I want to put in with my 7 month old boar who really wants a cage mate. Right now they are side-by-side and have not really been able to come out to play together. My 7-month-old is chewing the bars like crazy as is the 3 week old. We have a C &C split level cage. The coroplast on the bottom level is 5" and on the top is is 3". The little one is in a Super-pet starter. He climbs like a monkey. Seriously.

Anyway, I checked out the baby-proofing pics, and I want to double check some things. How high do I need to make the cardboard I insert to baby-proof? I do not want to block the whole grid because my 7-month-old likes to watch the goings-on in the house and it seems like they would lack a lot of airflow.

Would plexi-glass or clear plastic be a safe option if I wanted them to be able to see out?

How long do I need to leave the cage baby-proofed? Is there an approximate age/weight where it is no longer an issue?

And, I am overly concerned about the 7 month old with the little one. I worry about his mounting and hurting the little one. Am I worrying about nothing? My older boar is a sweetie and was always with other piggies at the rescue.

Any thoughts or input here is greatly appreciated!

[Ly&Pigs]

You will need the sides at least 10" high for a while.

Plexi could be used but it's expensive.

There is no definite age/weight before removing the babyproofing. It will all depend on the individual pig. When they can no longer stick their head through a grid, you can then remove it. Generally, it can be anywhere from 3-5 months of age.

[Paula]

You could also overlap grids. There are some examples here:

Baby Proofing - Guinea Pig Cage Photos

Overlapping grids has never worked for me personally, but maybe you'll get some ideas.

I wouldn't worry too much about the older pig hurting the small one. It could happen, but it isn't likely, especially if they get along.

[Pigs4me]

Thanks! 10 inches seems about right. I have read that guinea pigs don't climb. This baby climbs! He is in a starter cage next to the big one and he scales the walls there. I like the idea of cardboard better than the extra grid just because of his monkey-ish ways. I worry about him hurting himself!

I just would like to be able to see them and for them to see us. Plexi probably would be expensive, buy my husband wants to look into it as he likes to watch their piggie shenanigans.

[Pigs4me]

We went with cardboard and put the boys together this evening. They love each other. Pratchett, my older boar, was grooming and rumbling on the baby. The baby, Patterson, follows Pratchett around. They share their greens and hay. It is adorable!