Making top level more sturdy

[Jilybean]

I have a 2 x 3 grid cage for my rabbit. It's 2 grids high. How can I make the upper level more supported so I can stick my guinea pig cage on top? Right now I have it zip tied. I need to know relatively quickly because I may be going to get my piggies tomorrow. Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

[akstrohm]

A rabbit cage should be much bigger than 2x3. A cage for two guinea pigs should be at least a 2x4. I would make your cages bigger to their final sizes before you worry about stacking them.

You can then use dowel rods or other things to support a second level. Look through the galleries here. They should give you lots of ideas.

[Jilybean]

On the rabbit forum, they told me 2 x 3 was good enough for two small breed rabbits, which I have, provided they get floor time, which they do.

[akstrohm]

Unfortunately a 2x3 is too small even for two guinea pigs who get daily floor time. I have read on here that 3x6 (2 grids tall) is the minimum for two rabbits. This is 3 times as big as what you have now. It's great that they get daily floor time, but they need to be active on their own schedule, not yours.

Assuming you have two guinea pigs, you should have at least a 2x4 for them. If you're getting boars, I would recommend a 2x5. Small animals need a lot more space than people realize. Making them larger cages gives them more exercise, it's more fun for them, it makes it more likely that they will get along with each other, and it's far easier to keep the cages clean.

[MapleOwl18]

I agree with akstrohm.

2X3 sounds to small for to guinea pigs much less 2 bunnies.

Here's an idea I like about supporting second level though.

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

[Jilybean]

The problem I'm having is that I've lost my house and I have one room to keep them and all my stuff in. I guess I have to just throw the rest of my stuff away because I don't want them to be unhappy. And I'll have to ask the people I live with to move their exercise equipment out of there because that's taking up half the room and they never use it.

[akstrohm]

I am sorry to hear that. Hopefully your roommates will clear out the exercise equipment soon. If you want to give us an idea of what stuff you have and how much space you're working with, we might be able to help you come up with ideas to fit everything in a bit more easily.

Until you get your new cages built, make sure your bunnies and pigs get a bit extra floor time (separately, of course).

[Jilybean]

Well, it's not my roommates, it's my parents. I had to move back home after my husband decided to cheat on me four times and that he's no longer straight. As far as the stuff, I just have boxes of stuff. Everything of mine is in boxes, totes, crates, and laundry baskets. I have no furniture and nowhere to put anything. I just now got a dresser that my parents weren't using, so now my clothes aren't on top of my dog's crate. The room is 8 x 10, with two doors, and they have an exercise bike and a treadmill in there. I also have a desk in there that I'm not allowed to move out either. I would have sooo much room if I could move those three things out. I do have the room animal proofed, despite all the exercise equipment. I have the bike where it won't spin and I have the treadmill folded up, tied up, and the cord up. I'm just going to have to suck it up and get rid of my things. They're just possessions. My animals are worth far more to me. I've just lost so much, the thought of giving anything else away is hard. I do know that my rats are in a large enough home. On the rat cage calculator, it's big enough for 5-6 rats and I have two. I just want my animals to be happy. That's what makes me happy. The cage Johnnie was in when I "adopted" her was too small for her to even turn around it. She was just sitting in her poop. She at least has a little bit more room. She runs around, and kicks her feet up in the air, and climbs the shelves, and headbutts her ball. I'll have to post pics.

[vicky2]

I've read that the minimum for one small breed rabbit is 2x6 so I would at least do them justice with a 2x6.

[akstrohm]

Can you just leave your rabbits loose in your room since it is already animal-proofed?

Then you would only need space for a guinea pig cage.

[Dichotomy83]

if you cant get rid of the desk, could you potentially cover the desk and put a cage on top of it?

[Jilybean]

Originally Posted by Dichotomy83

if you cant get rid of the desk, could you potentially cover the desk and put a cage on top of it?

.... You may have something there....

And I could put my rat cage next to it so it'll be big enough, with a piece of plywood under it. And I could put my guinea pig cage partially underneath the desk.... They'll enjoy it... It'll be like a big pigloo for them. I wonder if I could use grids to make the desk flat? I don't have a big vehicle to go get a piece of plywood. It'll sure make cleaning the rabbit cage easier... Right now I have to lay on my stomach with my torso in the cage to clean it.

[Jilybean]

Ok... I measured and this should work. I only have one question... How can I piece two pieces of choroplast together to make it big enough for a 3 x 6 grid cage? I have a 4 x 6 foot piece sheet of choroplast. In order for me to make it 6 cubes, I need it to be 87 inches, which is 7.25 feet. I can't get an 8 foot long sheet in the SUV I borrowed to get the 6 ft piece. With that sheet, I can do almost 5 grids x 3 grids. Is that okay?

[Jilybean]

I have the surface made. It's 3 feet wide and 2 inches short of 6 feet long, which isn't big enough for a rabbit cage, but is big enough for the guinea pig cage. Here's a pic.



I'm going to try to get dad to take me to Lowe's later this morning to get a piece of plywood.

[Jilybean]

Oh, and I hope my preacher doesn't ask where my Bible is... *hee hee*

[akstrohm]

Coroplast can be taped together with duct tape or packing tape quite easily.You can overlap it a bit if you want.

That is a great spot for a guinea pig cage! They will be quite happy there.

Is there any chance you could leave your rabbits loose in the room (obviously this only works if the dogs are not in the room)?

[Jilybean]

My parents won't let me leave my bunnies out. "They'll chew the walls up" and they probably would. They chew on EVERYTHING they aren't suppose too. I 'm still trying to decide which cage I'm going to put up there. I'm thinking I'll put the guinea pig cage on some totes on the other wall.

Right now the best I could do (because I don't have anymore choroplast and I have no way of getting more transportation-wise- we aren't near a bus route) is 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 grids (2 grids high) for the rabbits and 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 grids for the guinea pigs. When they get bigger and I don't have to worry about them getting their heads stuck, I plan to make a second level for them too.

[Jilybean]

Well, hit a monkey wrench in the road. I can't find cubes in town. So I'm going to have to spend three times as much getting them shipped here, which means I'll have to wait until I have more money. I looked for 6 hours today for them. I got the zip ties and the rods to support the upper level and then...no grids.

[Jilybean]

Through a lot of sweat, injuries (to me, not my pets) and brainstorming, I got the cages done. Don't ask me how. I didn't buy any more grids. I swear I had just enough and no extra. After over 9 hours of time spent on this project, I felt I've earned some bragging rights. Here's pics.

The Guinea Cage


The Bunny Cage (I'd like to point out, the purple "litterpan" in the pic is actually the cage we rescued her in.)


And, just because she's cute, Johnnie (we think she's a Polish)

[akstrohm]

Nice work! It's amazing how much more space you can find when you get creative. And your bunny is adorable!

The only thing I would suggest is babyproofing the guinea pig cage since your pig looks very small. You can do this by putting cardboard in between the coroplast and the grids.

Also, if money is short right now you might want to look into fleece as bedding. It will save you a lot in the long run.