Hello!

[miamikiwi25]

Hello everyone! I have been browsing through the forums on this site for a few months now, gathering information to build a new cage. My name is Jenni, and I have a beautiful pig named Bonita. I have had her since January of 2007, and she is currently being housed in a pet store cage. I have been gathering materials, and all I need if my coroplast, which is on backorder. I have all black grids, and soon black coroplast. I am housing Bonita in our living room, since it is in the center of our house and where my boyfriend and I spend the majority of our time, so she gets maximum interaction. I am being very picky on it being all black, as to not look like a child's cage... We also have two adventurous cats; so I am attempting to make a 2x4 cage that rests on 3 levels of grids, and I am using only cable ties. I have most of the base built, I decided against the connectors since they kept falling off. Bonita is fed Owbow Cavy Performance food, and unlimited amounts of timothy hay, and fruits and veggies for snacks. I am on my way to making her very happy, and glad to be able to chat with you all!

[pigsforlife]

Welcome to the forum Jenni! I will be happy to help you with any questions or problems you may have, as will the rest of the members. Have a look through the forum, take note of the sticky threads which are located at the top of each section. These hold invaluable information which have certainley helped me, and may be able to help you.

I am a cavy slave to 4 sows, all have unique personalities and all are absolutley adorable in their own special way. If you have not already I also urge you to look through Index of / and Guinea Lynx :: A Medical and Care Guide for Your Guinea Pig. Both of these sites, plus this one have helped to dramatically improved my girls life.

Keep us posted on how you go with everything! Oh, and pigtures are essential!

[miamikiwi25]

Thanks! I am slightly concerned with the stability of my cage. With me using only cable ties to hold it together, and having it 3 empty grids high (4 total with cage) will it be stable? Once I finish her cage, there will be tons of pigtures! I am just embarrassed now since shes in such a tiny cage.

[pigsforlife]

I am slightly confused. Are the 3 grids high the stands? Are you trying to make something like this http://www.guineapigcages.com/photos...to/180/cat/527?

If you are trying to make something like is pictured above, making the stands in a cubes (with 1 side open for storage) makes it quite stable. Use lots of cable tyres. Also, the placing of where you have the stands will effect, to some extent, how stable the cage is.

[pigsforlife]

After re-reading through your posts again, I think I get what you are trying to do. Defiantly try making the stands as pictured in the link above, this should help make it more stable. And as I mentioned before the location of your stands will effect the stability of the whole thing. You can also use connectors and cable tyres, like this http://www.guineapigcages.com/photos...to/202/cat/527.

Looking through the photo gallery is a good idea, and quite possibly will give you ideas. The photo gallery can be found here http://www.guineapigcages.com/photos/index.php. Have you seen this article on cage saftey http://www.guineapigcages.com/safety.htm?

[Love4Piggers]

Originally Posted by miamikiwi25

Once I finish her cage, there will be tons of pigtures! I am just embarrassed now since shes in such a tiny cage.

I know exactly how you feel right now. When I joined this site in mid-August, my 2 boys were living in a pet store cage, too. I was embarrassed, and didn't want to show any cage photos, either. But on Sept. 10th, my piggers moved into their first C&C, a 2x5. I am taking tons of pigtures now, (as well as video for myself,) and I have never seen them so happy, and getting along so well. It is bringing me so much joy to spoil them, since finding this board. I was amazed at the fast transformation, and how quickly they became spoiled! Pretty soon your girl will be just as happy in her new home. If you want to make her really happy, maybe you could consider getting her a piggy friend.
Guinea Lynx :: Companionship
You'd be surprised what a difference having a friend of the same species will make in your girl's life/behavior. Something to think about.

Bravo to you for doing your research on this site, and for making steps to better the life of your precious girl. Can't wait to start seeing pigtures!!

[Love4Piggers]

Oh, here's another really good link:
http://www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm

[Jenni_Feathers]

Originally Posted by miamikiwi25

My name is Jenni

You have the same name as me! Thats amazaing, you spell it the same as me too!

[Fluffy_Guinea]

Welcome to the forum Jenni!

You'd be surprised what a difference having a friend of the same species will make in your girl's life/behavior. Something to think about.

That is very true cavies are herd animals and are much happier in pairs or groups. No matter what even if you do spend tons of time with your pig another cavy would make her much happier. I'm not saying she's not happy I'm sure she is but having a buddy would make her much happier. Oh and nice color choice for your grids and coroplast it's my favorite color/shade after that is orange. Well I hope you enjoy it here I sure do!