1st pic of our 3x3 C&C

[SushiNut]

We'll be getting the two 1 month old cavies early next week . Let me know if everything looks ok:
- Bedding: wood pellets & feline peline topped with pine shavings
- The water bottles are going to be next to the food cups...how to I hang them if the walls are 12" high?

 

[dagwellismypigy]

cut a hole in the coro so the spout can go through and cut alittle section off where it hangs from out too. The cage looks great!

 

[Emily F.]

The cage looks great, and I assume your going to put hay in there?

 

[Denise]

Looks really good. My only concern is the sides look too high. You will have trouble hanging the water bottle and the piggies can't really see out. If you do decide to trim it down, don't trim around the hay rack. It well help keep the hay off the floor. Other than that, great job. Good luck with the new babies!!!

 

[Poohbear]

wow those walls are high! maybe add a secong floor with lower walls so they can see?

 

[dagwellismypigy]

It's baby proofed, that's how high the sides are supposed to be.

 

[DocDolittle]

I suspect you mean kiln-dried pine, correct? Other than that, looks good!

 

[SushiNut]

Oops, looks like we got natural pine. I thought we only had to avoid cedar, but we noticed that the pine smelled quite a bit when we were layering it. I've removed the entire bedding, pellets and all, and bought a bag of aspen shavings to start over with. Thx for the heads up!

Also, thx for the water bottle idea too!

 

[dagwellismypigy]

Good looking out for the pigs!

 

[Ly&Pigs]

You can still use the pine if you spread it out in a large container and let it air for a few days.

 

[SushiNut]

Yeah, I read previous posts about letting the pine air dry. The pine was from a small $5 bag, so it's not a big loss to toss the entire thing. We plan on buying aspen in larger bags from a local feed & supply store (along with Mazuri food pellets). I just got a small bag for now since the feed store wasn't open today and we're getting the two brothers tomorrow. Pics to come!!!

 

[SushiNut]

oh, we might get kleenmama's food pellets instead of Mazuri, not sure yet. (broken link removed)

 

[AngelsCavies]

Hey great cage. Looks like you get everything up and ready. I bet you are excited. I would be If I was getting new ones. But I got plenty. I have 22 piggers and they all are my babies.

 

[SushiNut]

quick update: we're definitely picking up the two baby brothers this afternoon! My wife was very sad we couldn't pick them up yesterday, but the owner said ok for today. Sweet!

Oh, I ordered a bag of Cavy Performance (should arrive Thursday) and will mix it in with the Mazuri the owner has been feeding them, eventually moving to just the Oxbow. The owner is giving us about a month's supply of hay since she has a small farm.

My latest question: I've read previous posts on expected behavior when a pig is introduced to its new home. This would include (I think):
- No floor time for the first few days so that they can get familiar with their cage
- Monitor their eating & drinking, feed by hand if necessary. I was thinking of weighing them when we first get them and checking on the weight every 12 hrs. They're about 4 weeks old. I'm guessing +-1 oz is ok, +- 2oz is a warning, and +- 3oz is a trip to the vet...all of this after trying to feed by hand.
- Dim/turn off the lights if they are still stressed
- This is is kind of fuzzy: Should we hold them often after ~1 day in their cage so that they become familiar with us?

 

[pennick]

After I put mine in their new cage, I let them be for 1 day to get settled in. They would explore their new surroundings, eat and drink. Then the giant (me) would kneel down by their cage and off they ran and hid in their hidey houses. Then I would baby talk to them often. I always gave them plenty of time alone to adjust. I would say on the 3rd day I would take them out for lap time, one at a time, 3 times a day for maybe 10 minutes. I would wait a few weeks for free time. Let them get adjusted to you and your family and their new home. There is no rush.

 

[AngelsCavies]

I agree with pennick. But you and your wife are prepairing very well and I am excited for the both of you. Hope you have pics today of your 2 new babies. Congrats

 

[dagwellismypigy]

It depends on how the pigs are, since they are so young , they probably will be really freaked out. I hope everything goes great!

 

[Baby Bears]

It is so nice to see someone who is taking such responsibility about the adopting of new guinea pigs. I wish all people were so responsible when they went out to get pets. You are gonna have some very lucky little piggies!