good ideas to make a cage

[piggerlisious]

my pigs rare kept outside in sacure hutches. to me them being outside is more natural.

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by piggerlisious

my pigs rare kept outside in sacure hutches. to me them being outside is more natural.

Have you by chance noticed what the name of this forum is and what the site is about? I recommend you look up at the top of your page and take a look at the name of the site. Then click on that little word that says "Home" and read what that page has to say.

If you feel it's more natural for a domesticated animal to live outside then you should try living in their conditions for a few weeks and see how much you like it. THEN come here and tell me it's a good idea and "more natural".

I also must insist that you use proper capitalizatin in your posts. Please take a moment to read the posting rules http://cavycages.com/forum/announcem...nouncementid=7

While you are at it you should also read this http://cavycages.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3447

[CuteFluffyThing]

If you are using fence (more usefull for covering 5 square meters like mine) make sure it is at least 35 centimeters high (normally guineapigs wont do an effort to escape but you have tio be sure). Check every sqaure inch for places where they could escape. You can span nets over the outdoor run to keep predator birds out , and i use self made (less painfull) barbed wire , wich is usefull for keeping the cats out. Make sure your guineapigs have one outdoor home (easily made from a wine crate) and a stone home , dug a little into the ground. You can cover the stone home with golf plate , wich keeps the temperature inside.
You can also make a door in the stone home , so you can trap your guineapigs when you need to take them in.

[piggerlisious]

Originally Posted by voodoojoint

Have you by chance noticed what the name of this forum is and what the site is about? I recommend you look up at the top of your page and take a look at the name of the site. Then click on that little word that says "Home" and read what that page has to say.

If you feel it's more natural for a domesticated animal to live outside then you should try living in their conditions for a few weeks and see how much you like it. THEN come here and tell me it's a good idea and "more natural".

I also must insist that you use proper capitalizatin in your posts. Please take a moment to read the posting rules http://cavycages.com/forum/announcem...nouncementid=7

While you are at it you should also read this http://cavycages.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3447

how dare you speek to me like this!!!
also i dont keep them out there 24 7 they go out every day when its dry and sunny!
they have a hutch in there for shelter water to drink and food to eat. so dont tell me what is more natural!!!!

[Ly&Pigs]

Originally Posted by piggerlisious

how dare you speek to me like this!!!

Let me tell you something piggerlisious, you said that to a very knowledgable cavy owner as well as a Moderator. I wouldn't speak to VJ like that if I were you. Straighten up and start posting correctly. Consider this your first warning.

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by piggerlisious

how dare you speek to me like this!!!

How dare I? I dare because I am a moderator and I do not feel you are caring for your pets properly.

Originally Posted by piggerlisious

also i dont keep them out there 24 7 they go out every day when its dry and sunny!
they have a hutch in there for shelter water to drink and food to eat. so dont tell me what is more natural!!!!

<in my best sing-song voice> I don't believe you.<end sing-song> AND I will tell you whatever I feel is right.

You stll aren't using proper capitalization. Consider this warning #2. One more and you get a 1 week vacation from the site. Try to log back on during that time with a different name and I up it to a month.

[piggerlisious]

do care for my pets very well. so what if u are a mod who gives 1 ??? and sorry but im not actullly in school so whats the big deal bout how i rite?? yep warning num 3 oh well!!!!! annd i love my pets why would i have them??

[Ly&Pigs]

Piggerlisious, you are a fine hair away from being banned for at least a week and possibly longer. I would suggest you adjust your attitude and post correctly before it get's you tossed of this site permanently.

[Quiet Things]

I'm sorry to butt in but no one has actually asked piggerlisious how his pigs are kept. I mean we know outdoors but what if they are secure and covered? I too keep my pigs outdoors, we built a special kind of, well shed. It has an open front for fresh air etc. but we keep all their housing in that. Their housing too is very safe, I know becuae I built most of it. There is a lot of good quality materials, wire, wood etc. And I have been keeping them outside for 4 years as yet, no harm has been done and we have multiple stray cats and also a very aggresive dog (he live next door but once broke down the fence) I mean, its not an ideal thing for everyone to keep their pigs indoors, in my case it is a lot better and a lot more comfortable for the pigs to be kept outside. Its a very common thing in Australia. So yes, you might be all for the indoor keeping of the pigs but really every situation is unique and unless you really know what that situation is its should be hard to pass judgement.

[Percy's Mom]

Originally Posted by Quiet Things

And I have been keeping them outside for 4 years as yet, no harm has been done...

The "as yet" is the main point for keeping them inside as far as I'm concerned. You've been incredibly lucky that nothing has happened to your pigs.

Just because it's the norm for something to happen doesn't mean that it's the best thing or even the right thing. There are just too many variables to consider for me to even think about letting my guinea pigs live outside. The temperature isn't steady, there's wind, rain, animals, bugs, kids. Too many different things for me to worry about. And yes, I know that I'm very lucky to have enough space to build a large cage in my house, but there are numerous postings from other forum members that have teeny tiny living quarters and manage to rearrange things in order to keep their piggies indoors.

[Fluffball]

Im in Australia and I keep all my piggies inside with me.

Its very rare here in australia to keep them inside and because no-ones home all day everyday they would have to be shut up inside when its really hot!
By apiggy

What about keppng them outside and exposing them to 30 plus degree heat? Inside is much cooler than outside as you are in the shade, undercover. When my house is hot, I have looked up ways to keep them cool. Ice packs wrapped in a tea towel do wonders, the pigs lay on these and keep cool. Also ice cubes in their water, they can lick these and feel much cooler. If I was even in the shade outside I would still be hot. Then in summer you have such fluctuating temperatures.

Hot during the day, freezing cold at night. Cavies cannot be exposed to such extremes. Its not good for their health.

Cavies (and rabbits) here in Australia are predominantly outdoor pets. I would say at least 80% would be kept in places other than indoors.
Cavies (and rabbits) can live happily in cages outdoors, it is not a necessity that they stay indoors. Yes, they get probably more interaction, but they are not being "mis treated" or cared for any worse by living outdoors.
Matt&Guins

When I kept my rabbit outside it got bitten by a Red Belly Black snake, luckily it survived. Later my neighbour stole it.... I should of kept it inside with me. In Australia having the largest population of poisonous snakes and spiders I for one would hate being outdoors, let alone being a small animal. We have funnel web spiders, red backs. I wouldnt expose my cavy to these dangerous creatures.

I dont think its a ''culture'' here in Australia to keep them outdoors. I know rabbits are always kept outdoors but cavies are another thing. They are small, vunerable. The sheer temperature extremes we have here in summer would be reason enough alone for me to keep them in indoors. I just dont see how you can say that Australia has nothing wrong with keeping them outside, when the environmental factors alone are reason enough.

[Quiet Things]

Just wondering Fluffball, how a snake of the size of a red bellied black snake got into a secure hutch and run? I've seen and handled snakes and know that a red bellied black snake is not a small snake.

Yes there are fluctuating temperatures but in the heat my guinea pigs have always got shade, always got fresh water and have always got ice bottles. They live in secure hutches, very secure, nothing can get into them without first exploding a bomb near them or something. I know I've dropped a few of the cages when cleaning them, not a dint. They have a sheltered area that protects them from extremes, yes spiders are a worry but thats about the only one and spiders are as much as a problem inside as out in Australia. Any Australian should know that.
Before anyone can really say anything on what is "best" there should be extensive research done into what actually is good for a guinea pig, indoors. outdoors. conditions. Everything. But animal testing is bad, isn't it? We shouldn't do it and nothing should be subjected to being kept badly. And so, it is really individual opinion as to what is best and people need to respect that.

[Kriket]

Originally Posted by Quiet Things

Just wondering Fluffball, how a snake of the size of a red bellied black snake got into a secure hutch and run? I've seen and handled snakes and know that a red bellied black snake is not a small snake.

Yes there are fluctuating temperatures but in the heat my guinea pigs have always got shade, always got fresh water and have always got ice bottles. They live in secure hutches, very secure, nothing can get into them without first exploding a bomb near them or something. I know I've dropped a few of the cages when cleaning them, not a dint. They have a sheltered area that protects them from extremes, yes spiders are a worry but thats about the only one and spiders are as much as a problem inside as out in Australia. Any Australian should know that.
Before anyone can really say anything on what is "best" there should be extensive research done into what actually is good for a guinea pig, indoors. outdoors. conditions. Everything. But animal testing is bad, isn't it? We shouldn't do it and nothing should be subjected to being kept badly. And so, it is really individual opinion as to what is best and people need to respect that.

[Quiet Things]

Kriket I'm not so sure I understand the meaning of your sarcastic smiley.

[Fluffball]

Quiet things: I was only 9 years old at the time of ther rabbit incident. My mum had bought the hutch thinking it was okay, when the snake had got in. I do not exactly remember the details, only crying thinking she would die.

I have extensively researched on which is better that is why C & C cages are recommended by the majority of members here. The whole aim of this website is to educate on guinea pigs and their housing requirements. I hope to get my point across in a friendly manner so you can learn to understand why indoor is better.

The domesticated cavy has been bred specifically for an indoor life. The cavies we
have as companions and pets were not meant for an outdoor way of life. They are exposed to temperature fluctuations, draughts, predators human and animals alike, pests, the list goes on.

The biological structure of the domesticated cavy cannot cope with these extremes over a long period of time. Unless you provide a heated source of energy and a cooler source for your cavy it will not be able to cope with australia's temperature. Wild cavies have the benefit of having larger thicker coats while domestciated cavies do not have this luxury. The variety of colours that domesticated cavies come in makes them a visual target for predators. Wild cavies only come in brown and grey.

Dogs and cats have sweat glands. Cavies do not. How can a cavy outside in a hutch keep cool if it cant even cool its own body down? Its biological structure cannot cope with heat, and Australia being near the equator has one of the hottest climates in the world. Why subject your cavy to this heat. Mine are indoors and its stil hot. Imagine what it would be like outside...

Hutches also have major flaws in their design compared to C & C cages which are prefectly safe and in my experience have no flaws whatsoever.

Wooden hutches it can be difficult to clean and get dry, urine can soak through and cavies can also gnaw and destroy wood. Even with a paint base is applied that prevents urine soaking; the chewing should be a deterant enough. We had one member here have her cavy die as a result from a splinter getting lodged.

Metal hutches Disadvantages are that it can be hot in summer and cold in winter. These extreme temperature fluctuations cause your cavy a great deal of stress and can cause dehydration in the future.

C & C: The ultimate in cavy housing. An indoor housing only. Easy to clean, safe, secure, can be adapted and changed anytime, inexpensive, can have second and third levels, easy to build, no flaws whatsoever.

Hutches have a variety of problems. They are expensive, cause health problems in some cases, and are suceptible to temperature fluctuations.

Why have a hutch when you can have an indoor paradise for you cavies?

Cavies are hardy little creatures but they do not tolerate heat well. They come from the Andes mountains originally and prefer a cooler climate. Australia does not have this cooler climate they are not suited to our climate and environment at all. Moving to a shady area will not help. The humidity in the air can cause heat stroke and other fatalities. They need a sub temperate climate and Australia does not have this.

Their environment should not experience a high humidity and not go over 24 degress celcius and not below 18 degress celcius. Australia has a high humidity, experiences temperatures above 24 degrees and below 18 degrees. An outside environment is no good at all.

Drafts, temperature fluctuations, temperature extremes, humidity fluctuations, the possibility of toxic fumes from cars, furnaces, or chemicals and not being connected to the family activity are all reasons why an outdoor environmet are a bad idea for guinea pigs.

Those are your reasons those are researched. Id like to hear your resons why an outdoor environment is better and why you cannot house them indoors? If you have none other then '' you cant' e.t.c then I rest my case. Find one bad thing about an indoor environment. There are at least 10 reasons outlined above for why outdoors is not appropriate. Find 10 reasons why an indoor environment is no good and I assure you, there will be none.

If one of your reasons is smell, cavies do not have a musk gland, which is the cause of odour in animals. They also do not sweat. If bedding is changed regularly they do not smell at all.