So I'm a newbie. I just built a basic 2x5 C&C cage (no upper levels - my piggies hate ramps) for our three piggies, and I am mystified by the concept of a kitchen. Right now, I just put their dry food in a food bowl which moves around the cage. Their fresh food takes up a lot of space when they get it a couple of times a day - I put the veggies on a large tray/platter which I place basically in the middle of their cage, and later remove after they have eaten. They have water bottles at each end of the cage as well. Their hay goes into a large walk-in box (entrance/exit on each side), almost the size of a kitty litter tray. This box also moves around the cage. Basically, the entire cage is their kitchen.
I am intrigued by the idea of them pooping and peeing mostly in that space, but not sure how to go about setting this up. How do you make a kitchen in a 2x5 or similar? How big should it be? Is the kitchen supposed to have bedding, hay, and all the fresh food and water, with none of these items available outside of the kitchen?
Also, a slightly different question: how important is it to have a hayrack? Right now I just provide hay in a large walk-in bin - no hayrack.
I am intrigued by the idea of them pooping and peeing mostly in that space, but not sure how to go about setting this up. How do you make a kitchen in a 2x5 or similar? How big should it be? Is the kitchen supposed to have bedding, hay, and all the fresh food and water, with none of these items available outside of the kitchen?
Also, a slightly different question: how important is it to have a hayrack? Right now I just provide hay in a large walk-in bin - no hayrack.