Want a Guinea Pig(s) Another piggy

[mmas4]

Right now I have 5 sows in a 2x5 stacked c&c cage. I was looking on craigslist and I found a peruvian female piggy and I want to adopt her (after I make sure she is for sure a female). Is the cage I have now big enough for 6 sows? I can afford the extra veggies and hay but I cannot expand the cage. I dont want to crowd the cage so I will not get her if the cage is not big enough.

 

[brindyzoeycandy]

Personally, I don't think 2x5 is a big enough cage for five sows - stacked or not. The max 2x5 can hold is four sows - if I were you, if you really wanted to adopt that peruvian piggie, is to have three girls in one cage and three in the other. Or even if you don't adopt her, have three in one cage and two in the other.

 

[cam767]

A 2x6 is the minimum size for 4 pigs so I would think a 2x5 would definitely be to small for 6 pigs.

 

[mmas4]

How would it help to have 3 on the top floor and 2 in the other? Wouldnt that be less space for them? I keep the bottom floor open for running laps. If I divided the cage There would be less running space because I would need a kitchen and cozies on both floors.

 

[mmas4]

I just looked and I have enough grids and coroplast to expand the cage a little. It would be the 2x5 with a 1x2 to make it an L shape, if that makes any sense. I would can do that for both floors. Would that be good enough for 6 sows? I really want to adopt her because I have always wanted a long haired piggy and right now she is in a 3 square foot cage and I think she is only fed pellets.

 

[cam767]

What size is your top level? Are they both 2x5?

 

[brindyzoeycandy]

Upper levels really don't count for square footage if you don't have the bottom level the right size.

It would help because the top two would have above the recommended space, and the bottom three would have the recommended space. I'm guessing you have your cozies/kitchen on the top floor - if they chose to all run laps on the bottom floor at the same time, it wouldn't be big enough. If anything, though, the ramp actually takes away a bit of space, unless it's external.

I've seen how your cage is in the closet (which is a brilliant idea, by the way) - could you possibly make your cage a 3x4? It wouldn't be as long, but it would stick out a bit more. 3x4 is the same as a 2x6, so you could fit five sows in there if you really wanted to. Or, since you are hoping to adopt this new girl, you could stack it (like you have right now, just a dif. size) and have three on the bottom and three on the top, and it would be even bigger than a 2x5 - and def. bigger than having five sows in two stacked 2x5s, together.

 

[mmas4]

Both levels are 2x5.
They dont run laps at the same time. Some of them dont even run laps (unless they only run laps when Im not looking). I have only ever seen 2 pigs running laps at the same time. Some of them even love to run up and down the ramp.
I really dont want to divide the cage. I feel that they have more space they way the cage is now. If I divide it and after putting in another kitchen and cozies they would not have much space to run around. They are also all bonded.
I cannot make it a 3x5. It will take up too much space in my room which is the bunnies space. I really wish I could though.
I dont think I will adopt her. I dont have a quarantine cage and I dont have the money to get one. I think I will still expand so its a 2x5 with a 1x2 to make it an L shape, so it will be like a 2x6. Will that be big enough for 6 sows, like in the future when I decide to adopt another?

 

[mmas4]

I changed my mind. I will not make the cage bigger, but I will make the ramp differently so there is a 2x4.5 space for them to run around without anything being in their way. I think that will be easier than expanding the cage. I might expand it another time.

 

[brindyzoeycandy]

I didn't say 3x5, I said a 3x4. It wouldn't be as long, but it would stick out a bit more. (might even be easier for cleaning as you could reach around the side)

Even if you do change the ramp, I still think it would be too small and you would get a lot more space if you put two at the top and three at the bottom, or vice versa.

I guess you mean a 2x6 L-Shape, right? If you do that, it wouldn't fit six sows, but it can fit the five you have now.

For a quarantine cage, what I do is a set a couple of grids up, and put lots and lots of puppy pads down, then set fleece down. Since I have so many puppy pads, it doesn't leak through. Or you can use a heavy-duty shower curtain.

 

[mmas4]

I really cannot make it a 3x4. My room is not that big and is also my rabbits cage so if I make their cage bigger, it will take space away from my rabbits. I also need space for myself. There is only like 3 feet between my bed and their cage. It would also be harder to clean because they way it is now I only need to reach 2 grids to clean the back of the cage.

 

[mmas4]

They also get floor time in the whole kitchen, twice a week, for 5 hours. They dont do much during floor time either but they do explore a little and I found out the more tunnels they have the more they explore.

 

[brindyzoeycandy]

Okay, that's fine. I still think you should put two in the top and three in the bottom, and that way you could adopt your new sow and put her in the top.