Hi and congrats on your new baby! I started with the very basics as well with a rescue we got through our pet store. Unfortunately here, we are limited and the local rescue adopts in an area of our PetSmart. However, Gracie was 8 months old when we brought her home and asked the store. Purchased everything they said was best and it is now in storage-brand new.
We purchased very little for our cavy cages. Although we have added products from this site, we had a LOT more fun creating and making our own. We started with purchasing a package of storage grids for about $20 plus shipping from amazon. We went to Ollies and purchased plastic ties to re-inforce for about a dollar. We started with a 4x8 tarp under the cage and used the ties to twist up. Then added puppy pads and 5-x60 fleece blankets for the liner. This was the beginning and we started on a 2x4. However, that changed very very quickly. We found corrugated cardboard at home depot, bought another package of storage grids for the same price and added two lofts with many of the supplies here (a bit at a time for price balancing). We also eventually got some accessories from the other link here at guineapigmarket. However, with so many cages now in the house, I learned to get fleece at wholesale and some uhaul pads to go over my bases made of corrugated cardboard.
You can really have a ton of fun with this, honestly and the cost can be very little for basics. My daughter gets allowance but also does chores and helps to make the cage and accessories along with using allowance for the ones she likes from this site. It's a project I never thought I would enjoy with my daughter but a passion and joy we now both love.
If your area is not limited, I suggest to talk to your local rescue for 'piggy dates' to find a rescue whom will bond best. Any rescue will be very happy to help you with that and bonding a 6 month old rescue can be simpler for all if you let her have some say, if at all possible. While this was only our experience, Gracie just could not be bonded with another sow. I am told this is pretty rare but she is also very close with my daughter. My daughter has an open cage that is only used as a kitchen and sleep area while she is let to have the run of the room and has been from the beginning. My daughter stays in there all day and is home schooled so Gracie is used to this. She is also roughly the size of our 2 lb chihuahua and plays with her pretty much all the time .
Take a look on google search as well for cavy cages. Pinterest even has tons of pics and ideas for cages. Trust me, you and your little ones can really have a blast with this and we can now kick out a base and cage in about 45 minutes after doing this and changing so many times. Please start larger as vs basics. Our family room and my daughter's room is now cavy cages and our guinea pigs are so happy for it. I have three in our family room but it is now 6x 2 and lofts. I promise they noticed; anytime we added for them, they did zoomies and popcorned non stop. Also, check out requirements for their dietary needs. We were quite surprised that it was not as simple as what the pet store portrayed. Their salad time each day is a fun time that we chart every day to be sure everything is balanced. Make certain there are two of everything. Especially water bottles and tons of hay!
We purchased very little for our cavy cages. Although we have added products from this site, we had a LOT more fun creating and making our own. We started with purchasing a package of storage grids for about $20 plus shipping from amazon. We went to Ollies and purchased plastic ties to re-inforce for about a dollar. We started with a 4x8 tarp under the cage and used the ties to twist up. Then added puppy pads and 5-x60 fleece blankets for the liner. This was the beginning and we started on a 2x4. However, that changed very very quickly. We found corrugated cardboard at home depot, bought another package of storage grids for the same price and added two lofts with many of the supplies here (a bit at a time for price balancing). We also eventually got some accessories from the other link here at guineapigmarket. However, with so many cages now in the house, I learned to get fleece at wholesale and some uhaul pads to go over my bases made of corrugated cardboard.
You can really have a ton of fun with this, honestly and the cost can be very little for basics. My daughter gets allowance but also does chores and helps to make the cage and accessories along with using allowance for the ones she likes from this site. It's a project I never thought I would enjoy with my daughter but a passion and joy we now both love.
If your area is not limited, I suggest to talk to your local rescue for 'piggy dates' to find a rescue whom will bond best. Any rescue will be very happy to help you with that and bonding a 6 month old rescue can be simpler for all if you let her have some say, if at all possible. While this was only our experience, Gracie just could not be bonded with another sow. I am told this is pretty rare but she is also very close with my daughter. My daughter has an open cage that is only used as a kitchen and sleep area while she is let to have the run of the room and has been from the beginning. My daughter stays in there all day and is home schooled so Gracie is used to this. She is also roughly the size of our 2 lb chihuahua and plays with her pretty much all the time .
Take a look on google search as well for cavy cages. Pinterest even has tons of pics and ideas for cages. Trust me, you and your little ones can really have a blast with this and we can now kick out a base and cage in about 45 minutes after doing this and changing so many times. Please start larger as vs basics. Our family room and my daughter's room is now cavy cages and our guinea pigs are so happy for it. I have three in our family room but it is now 6x 2 and lofts. I promise they noticed; anytime we added for them, they did zoomies and popcorned non stop. Also, check out requirements for their dietary needs. We were quite surprised that it was not as simple as what the pet store portrayed. Their salad time each day is a fun time that we chart every day to be sure everything is balanced. Make certain there are two of everything. Especially water bottles and tons of hay!