Cage flooring

[guineapigfan9000]

I was just wondering about using vinyl as a floor for my cage. Is it good? Do the guinea pigs chew on it? I've heard of some people using it instead of coroplast.
Mine are actually in a hutch rather than a C&C but it is the right size. Only the floor is wire and I wanted to cover it with something other than layers of newspaper as I have found out that newspaper is inadequate.
The wire is very close-together wire - with vinyl over it will feel smooth and flat for the pigs. But will they nibble on it and will this present a problem?

 

[sweetjay6891]

Well, usually people put that as a base, then newspaper, then fleece or towels. Are your guinea pigs inside or outside?

 

[guineapigfan9000]

Outside (temperature controlled and monitored).
I'm using newspaper at the moment, but the main problems are:
#1: You have to put SO many layers before you can't feel the wire any more.
#2: It gets wet quickly and then you can feel the wire again.
#3: It has to be taken out and then replaced.

Why I want to use vinyl:
#1: Only one of two layers will probably be enough.
#2: It won't get soaked through when wet.
#3: It can be taken out and cleaned.

I'll put bedding etc on top as I do now with the newspaper.

 

[sweetjay6891]

Is their a reason that they can't be indoors? That way, you can get a C&C cage for them.

 

[fourbwabbys]

Newspaper isn't suitable bedding. It's not absorbant and they basically sit in their own pee. Try shavings, a paper based bedding, or fleece. And what are the inner dimesnsions of the hutch?

 

[sweetjay6891]

Shavings over wire won't work.

 

[fourbwabbys]

Oh. I thought she was going to put the vinyl down as coroplast, then bedding on top.

 

[sweetjay6891]

Not sure, I just don't like the whole outside hutch wire thing. It depresses me.

 

[Fay]

Get a proper sized cage, Keep them in your home, Make a coroplast tray for the bottom, then layer it with newspapers then on top of that either bedding like carefresh or towels and then fleece. A wire bottom cage isn't suitable for guinea pigs. Are you breeding these guinea pigs?

 

[JarBax]

A wire floor is completely unsuitable for guinea pigs' tender feet - whether it is covered or not. As you are discovering, the covering isn't working!

A hutch is not recommended either - as the wood can harbour bacteria and other nasties. Keeping your pigs outdoors is a concern also, even though you have them with temperature control - you cannot possibly interact with them as well as you could if you were to bring them indoors.

This site advocates proper housing for guinea pigs - a good sized, hygenic, ventilated c&c cage - where the pigs are kept indoors, and to the highest standards of care.

You can use vinyl as an alternative to the coroplast in the c&c cage - though it is often chewed, and as wire bottomed cages/hutches are dangerous for guinea pigs, you'll not get far with advice on alterations.

Taking a look at the galleries, will inspire you to consider an indoor c&c cage for your piggies, where wire bottoms are no longer a problem! Your pigs will flourish, and with improved interaction, you will appreciate them more than you dreamed possible with the outdoor, hutch existence they presently endure.

 

[guineapigfan9000]

No chance of an indoor cage I'm afraid :weepy:
Family members with very serious allergies, unfortunately. I just found out I can use coroplast to cover the wire! I'm getting it tomorrow!
I know wire is a mess but the biggest cages have wire floors unfortunately.
Answers to people's questions:
#1. They're outside, but with temperature control. Seriously, even if there was a room to keep them in inside without the chance of allergies, it would have to be very out-of-the-way, probably a little room with a tiny window which would be un-connected to air-conditioning and get really cold in winter and hot in summer.
#2: Yes, they have to be outdoors because of the person with the allergy. Even if I gave them to someone else, they would still be outside, unfortunately, and no doubt they'd be bred. The only other owners I know are someone who also keeps theirs outside and people who breed. Seriously, my greatest regret is that they can't be inside but they just can't. :weepy:
#3: I'm not putting shavings over wire, I'm going to put the vinyl down instead of coroplast (well I was until I found out I could get coroplast instead!! lol). I will use as many layers as I need to until the wire is completely covered.
#4: The cages are proper-sized. Unfortunately the wire-bottom ones are the biggest. I'm going to connect the cages to make a HUGE cage of 15 square feet.
#5: No, I'm not breeding them. I don't breed guinea pigs, I never have. I did buy some from pet shops before I found out about CavySpirit but now I don't.
#6: One of the hutches has a wooden part but yesterday I hit it with like half a litre of vinegar to kill germs. When I connect the hutches I will hopefully dispose of the wooden bit.
#7: The galleries have inspired me to make a C&C cage but I can't keep them inside because of the person who's allergic to them.
I do love these guinea pigs and appreciate them. And I mean what I say about regretting that they can't live inside - I apologize to them about that every day. I think the coroplast will make life easier for me and the cavies.
I hope it does - I worry about them so much it is making me tired.

 

[guineapigfan9000]

Okay, I just had an idea. It's a long, long shot but it might work. Since the person with the allergy is in charge of deciding whether or not the pigs are allowed inside, that's who we need to convince.
I'm going to have a shot at convincing them! Please just post pics of C&C cages. I'll go through the gallery looking for some pictures as well. Just make sure the cages in the pictures are clean - really, really clean, only a bit of hay (because they have hayfever and the thought of all that hay might put them off), full of happy-looking guinea pigs, and, most importantly, neat-looking. I don't care about neat-looking but they do.
Then I'll show them all the pictures and maybe... dare I even think about it... the guinea pigs might be able to move indoors.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

Are you not giving unlimited hay? More than likely the only cage photos you will find in the gallery are of those just built and the member hasn't put the hay in the cage for the pigs as of yet. Pigs need unlimited amounts of hay, it's very essential to their health. There are several types of hay and some aren't as dusty as others and produce less allergies.

#1. They're outside, but with temperature control.

Are they in a temperature controlled shed or outbuilding or are they just outside?

 

[guineapigfan9000]

They aren't in a shed but the temperature is controlled. Sheds are generally made of metal which I imagine would become very, very hot in summer.
I check the thermometer every half-hour or so when I'm at home, and as soon as I get back from being out.
Still, I do HATE the fact that mine have to be kept outside. They do have hay to eat and I am working on a hayrack as they tend to do their business in it, which renders it unsuitable for eating. When I connect the two cages together it will be better and bigger.
Tried to show C&C cages to allergenic family member. They showed no interest. Sigh. This could be harder than I thought. And that's saying something.