A commercial cage that is big enough? - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**Cynth201** · #1 02-25-09, 06:20 am

Well, if anyone hangs around in the chinchilla, rat, or ferret community, I'm pretty sure you've heard of the Ferret Nation cage. If you haven't, well.. Here: Ferret Nation Habitat Model 142 - Ferret.com Simply because I think you're missing out if you haven't. Chinchilla and rat owners had some problems with it(bar spacing), so the same company released the Critter Nation. With that release, they also came up with the Guinea Habitat and the Guinea Habitat. I think it solves alot of the "not being able to build" problems, as well as having a door built in. The "Plus" one also has a fitting lid. They look just like a C&C cage, are the same size as C&C cages, but they don't look so "DIY". What do you think? Are these cages better, on the same level as C&C cages, or do you see an issue with them? The Guinea Habitat "Plus" retails for $55, the Guinea Habitat retails for I think $40. Guinea Habitat Plus

**BubuCandyBlue** · #2 02-25-09, 06:29 am

The size for one piggie is 7,5 sq ft, minimum (the site says 7), and for two 10,5 sq ft (the site says 8). I also think that the separator for the kitchen area takes away space for piggies to run freely. So what's left is not enough running space. With the extended cage, at the bottom of the page, looks better (also not having that divider). Still a C&C cage is cheaper and has more options.

**AnimalHouse36** · #3 02-25-09, 06:30 am

There are a couple threads on this I beleive.

See the divider in the middle? That will take away from running space.

**fieryone** · #4 02-25-09, 08:02 am

It may not be perfect, but it's definitely a step in the right direction compared to typical commercial cages. This is MUCH better than those sold in typical pet stores.

Just how expandable are they, I wonder? What about this picture?
Photo removed due to copyrights. Please do not post photos from other sites, instead just link the page.

The extension is missing the divider area, but I'm not sure how big it is. And does this mean that the divider areas are removable? My pigs have a divided kitchen area and I have to say that I like it that way. It keeps the Carefresh, hay, and excessive poops out of their main living area and when one goes in there to eat, they're not bothered by someone else who may be running around (Lucy LeSpazz). But I do think that C&C cages offer more flexibility and creativity.

**QuackXP** · #5 02-25-09, 02:44 pm

I noticed that the divider is adjustable and is a add on feature to a previous model. Does that mean its also removable? If so this is definably a step in the right directions.

Also this site on its home page lists 7.5 sq/ft as the minimum for two GP's and 10.5 as the recommended. If we are going to tell people that this cage minus the dividers is not proper for two pigs then the posted minimums need to be changed.

One design flaw I see is low solid walls. I'm betting allot of bedding gets thrown out.

**wigglesgiggles1** · #6 02-25-09, 04:25 pm

Just curious why just not make C&C cage, it would be bigger and cheaper?

**cavychuck** · #7 02-25-09, 05:20 pm

C&C cages aren't much cheaper. I spent around $55 dollars just for the C&C grids coroplast fleece, and mattress pad. also the C&C cage was a pain to get it put together and those plastic connectors were a total joke. After an hour of messing with them I went back to the store and got zip ties. Much easier and quick.

**Cynth201** · #8 02-25-09, 05:36 pm

I would rather buy the Guinea Habitat "Plus" because;

1) I would actually have to shop around and ask people to find cloroplast in my area, and I'm not a social person.
2) The Guinea Habitat has a removable canvas cover so I'm almost thinking you don't even have to use bedding?
3) It includes a perfect fitting lid, so again I don't have to go asking around for shelving stuff to make a lid.

The divider for the kitchen-like area is removable. Sorry if there was already threads about this, I am brand new to the forum and don't even have a piggy yet - I am just thinking about getting one.

**Skinny Pig** · #9 02-25-09, 06:17 pm

It doesn't mention a price!!! Seriously though, price does matter. Like the ferret cage, it costs $199.99 and a C&C cage costs way less, the only difference is that you have to build the C&C cage.

If the Guinea Habitat is costs less than a C&C cage and comes pre-assembled it is worth getting.

**fieryone** · #10 02-25-09, 07:49 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skinny Pig

It doesn't mention a price!!! Seriously though, price does matter. Like the ferret cage, it costs $199.99 and a C&C cage costs way less, the only difference is that you have to build the C&C cage.

If the Guinea Habitat is costs less than a C&C cage and comes pre-assembled it is worth getting.

On the site that they link to for purchasing them, they are $39.99, regular price is $59.99. Dividing panels, ramps, and the cover are extra. The one with the lid and dividing panel is $55.99, regularly $79.99.

I must admit that I'm intrigued by the washable canvas cover. But the cage is 8 sq. feet and that's not big enough for my 3 pigs. I don't have the room to put two of them together

Midwest Homes For Pets 171GH - Guinea Habitat

Midwest Homes For Pets 171GHP - Guinea Habitat PLUS

**cavychuck** · #11 02-25-09, 11:37 pm

I would go with the Commerical Cage its alot less work. Especially the coroplast was a pain to cut and get it the correct size.

**Peggysu** · #12 02-25-09, 11:55 pm

I would go with a C&C because it's easy to keep clean, cheap, and it can be re-arranged easily. I love mine and I would never change it.

**Ly&Pigs** · #13 02-26-09, 11:43 am

Nothing on the homepage needs to be changed as far as sizing.

One of these cages with no dividers would probably be suitable for 2 sows but not for 2 boars. Boars are very territorial and need larger spaces. You'd have to use at least two of these cages to house boars in.

Also is the square footage the overall square footage of the cage or the inner usable dimensions? There is a difference.

As far as that canvas lining. It would be a total mess in about a day. I wouldn't use that at all and instead use regular bedding or fleece/underpadding.

The options for attaching these cages together are also very limited. You basically can put them together one way and that's it. At least with C&C cages, you have a lot more flexibility to configure them in a way that suits the area you need to put them in as long as the size is correct for the amount of pigs you are going to house.

**wigglesgiggles1** · #14 02-26-09, 02:53 pm

Quote:

C&C cages aren't much cheaper. I spent around $55 dollars just for the C&C grids coroplast fleece, and mattress pad.

That must just be in your area because in mine I got the grids on sale for 16$ (12 grids), I went to a sign store and the guy was very nice and charged me 4$ for a sheet of coroplast big enough for my cage he said it was left ove so I can have it and the fleece I got for under 5$. So actually yes they can be cheaper and certainly bigger. It costed me around 23$ including tax.

**fieryone** · #15 02-26-09, 05:28 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by wigglesgiggles1

I went to a sign store and the guy was very nice and charged me 4$ for a sheet of coroplast

Wow! That's awesome. I had a hard time finding it around here when I was building my cage so I had to get some scrap linoleum instead. I want to redo my cage, so soon I'll be starting my hunt for coroplast again and will hopefully find a better deal now that I don't need it right now. Kinko's wanted to charge me $50 because "they couldn't sell it to me plain. They had to sell it to me for the printed price"

**Kipsie** · #16 02-26-09, 05:47 pm

I got my 2x6 foot cage (which is actually a dog/parrot kennel) for 20 bucks. I love the commercial cages though. They seem big enough for two piggies. I'm seriously considering getting one. Coroplast is too expensive in my area (at FastSigns), which is 45 dollars, so getting that commercial cage would be cheaper.

**Peggysu** · #17 02-26-09, 05:51 pm

You can find coroplast pretty cheap if you search. I called about 10 sign shops until I found one that would just sell me a sheet for 20 bucks. It can be a task to find it but worth it in the end.

**wigglesgiggles1** · #18 02-26-09, 06:35 pm

My aunt was friends with that guy so yes I guess I was very lucky.

**MapleOwl18** · #19 02-26-09, 07:31 pm

Ok Kipsie that sounds high to me.

Last week I bought a sheet of coroplast that was 8 feet long 4 feet wide and white for $23.91, at Fast Signs in Cleveland with tax. They would have sold me less but I had a blank out as to how much I needed for a 2X3 C &C cage expansion and knew I would need extra for the top cage expansion. I have the equivalent of 9 + 8+6=23 Cubes of cage space right now, and I think only ever used 2 sheets of coroplast. Where the heck are they charging you 45 bucks? I bought the white, corogated plastic.

Here's my pretty piggy cage.

**CavySpirit** · #20 02-26-09, 07:36 pm

If you are going to have to have the cage shipped, that's going to eat up any price difference. AND when you buy a sheet of Coroplast, you get EXTRA for making floors for upper decks or dividers or ramps or other uses.

And I guarantee that their walls on that cage are not high enough to contain bedding or hay. It will be a LOT messier.

"Thank you, fieryone, for this useful post," says:
AnimalFarm2006 (02-27-09)